Infinitive and Gerund with Different Meaning
The verbs that followed by an "Infinitive" or "Gerund" with different meaning
Forget
Gerund
Example:
- I can’t forget meeting her first time ever in my life. (Talking about past)
Infinitive
Example:
- Don’t forget to bring your wife to the ceremony. (Talking about the future)
Go On
Gerund
Example:
- She goes on writing stories. (Talking about the continuity of an action)
Infinitive
Example:
- Go on to meet him. (Talking about changing the activity)
Mean
Gerund
Example:
- You are coming office late every day. That means spoiling your image. (sth to be done to have result)
Infinitive
Example:
- I meant to join you in time, but there was traffic jam.
Quit
Gerund
Example:
- He quit working there. (He doesn’t want to work there anymore)
Infinitive
Example:
- He quit to work there. (He quit other job in order to work there.)
Regret
Gerund
Example:
- I regret being harsh to them. (You are not happy about doing something in the past)
Infinitive
Example:
- I regret to inform you that your sister doesn’t want to meet you. (Telling a bad news)
Remember
Gerund
Example:
- I remember celebrating her birthday. (Talking about the past)
Infinitive
Example:
- I remember to celebrate your birthday next week. (Talking about the future)
Stop
Gerund
Example:
- He stopped playing cricket. (To stop an activity)
Infinitive
Example:
- He stopped to smoke. (To stop for doing something else)
Try
Gerund
Example:
- She tried doing it with new machine but it didn’t work. (To test something)
Infinitive
Example:
- He tried to open the door. (He attempted to do it but didn’t succeed)
Some Words Are Little More complicated
Like
When “Like” is followed by “Gerund” and “Infinitive” having no difference in meaning.
Example:
- I like writing stories. = I like to write stories.
We use “Gerund” when we use like in the sense of “enjoy”
Example:
- She likes wearing Jeans.
When we talk about habit we use “Infinitive”
Example:
- My father likes to walk early in the morning every day.
Be Afraid
When you are worried or scared about something, use “Gerund”
Example:
- She is afraid of getting poor result of her exams.
“Gerund” and “Infinitive” are used with same meaning in other cases.
Example:
- They are afraid of telling you the whole story. = They are afraid to tell you the whole story.
Need
When “Need” is followed by “Gerund” it shows passive meaning.
Example:
- Your car needs washing.
See also - Special verbs followed by gerund in passive sense
Used To
We use ' be used to + Gerund to say that something is normal, not unusual.
Example:
- He is used to traveling a lot.
We use 'used to + Infinitive' to talk about something that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.
Example:
- She used to smoke.
See also used to
English Grammar Gerund
Difference between Gerund and Infinitive
Special Verbs followed by Gerund in passive sense
Infinitive and Gerund
Infinitive and Gerund - with same meaning
Infinitive Grammar
