GuidoCa
Member
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2015
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Italian
- Home Country
- Italy
- Current Location
- Luxembourg
Dear all,
I know that this point has been already discussed.
(https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/161772-ing-vs-to-infinitive).
However, there are some cases where the difference between ing and to+infinite is not yet clear to me.
The above-mentioned post says that the main difference is that ing form is used when the action takes place in the past, to+inf when it takes place in the future.
What about the present?
The Cambridge dictionary suggests that ing put emphasis on the action itself while to+inf on preference.
(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/verb-patterns-verb-infinitive-or-verb-ing):
ex1) I like to drink - (preference/habit)
ex2) I like drinking - (the action/process)
So far so good (this example comes from Cambridge).
ex3a) Figure 2 shows the probability of performing another activity before coming back home
vs
ex3b) Figure 4b shows the probability to perform another activity before coming back home
Are they both correct? Does 3a put emphasis on the process, while 3b on the preference/habit?
Thanks a lot !
I know that this point has been already discussed.
(https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/161772-ing-vs-to-infinitive).
However, there are some cases where the difference between ing and to+infinite is not yet clear to me.
The above-mentioned post says that the main difference is that ing form is used when the action takes place in the past, to+inf when it takes place in the future.
What about the present?
The Cambridge dictionary suggests that ing put emphasis on the action itself while to+inf on preference.
(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/verb-patterns-verb-infinitive-or-verb-ing):
ex1) I like to drink - (preference/habit)
ex2) I like drinking - (the action/process)
So far so good (this example comes from Cambridge).
ex3a) Figure 2 shows the probability of performing another activity before coming back home
vs
ex3b) Figure 4b shows the probability to perform another activity before coming back home
Are they both correct? Does 3a put emphasis on the process, while 3b on the preference/habit?
Thanks a lot !
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