Learning English

Infinitive with to or gerund: same meaning

There are some verbs and verb expressions which can be used with both the infinitive with to and the gerund with little or no change in meaning.

• to begin
  I began to study Latin when I was four.
  I began studying Latin when I was four.
  
  
• to bother
  Don't bother to tidy up, I'll do it tomorrow.
  Don't bother tidying up, I'll do it tomorrow.
  
  
• to continue / to start
  They continued to play even after it started raining.
  They continued playing even after it started to rain.
  
  
• to prefer
  I prefer to have a big breakfast rather than a big lunch.
  I prefer having a big breakfast rather than a big lunch.
  
  
• to love
  I love to have a snooze in the afternoon.
  I love having a snooze in the afternoon.
  
  
• to hate
  I hate to borrow money.
  I hate borrowing money.
  
  
• can't bear
  She can't bear to be late.
  She can't bear being late.
  
  
• can't stand
  I can't stand losing.
  I can't stand to lose.

If the main verb is in the continuous form we would normally use the infintive with to rather than the gerund.

• They are continuing to play. YES
  They are continuing playing. NO

Like

Like can be used with either the infinitive with to or the gerund but with a small change in meaning.

to like doing something v to like to do something

I like washing my car. = I enjoy washing my car.

I like to wash my car regularly. = I think it's a good idea to wash my car regularly.

When talking about what you want to do or when making invitations or suggestions, use would + like + infinitive with to.

• I'd like to see his new film in the cinema. RIGHT
  I'd like seeing his new film in the cinema. WRONG
  
  
• Would you like to come to a party with me tomorrow? RIGHT
  Would you like coming to a party with me tomorrow? WRONG

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Infinitive with to or gerund: different meaning

These verbs can be used with either the infinitive with to or gerund but there is a change in meaning.

to remember/forget doing something v to remember/forget to do something

• I remember closing the door. = I recall the action, it's a memory.
• I remembered to close the door. = This was something I had to do and I did it. I'm not recalling the action, just the fact that I did it.
• Did you remember to turn off the oven before you left?
  I don't remember turning it off, but I'm sure I did. I never leave it on.
• She forgot telling me the class was cancelled. = She did tell me the class was cancelled.
• She forgot to tell me the class was cancelled. = She didn't tell me the class was cancelled.

try doing something v try to do something

• Try going out more often. = This is a suggestion for something to do.
• Try to go out more often. = This is an encouragement to do something that may be difficult to do.

to stop doing something v to stop to do something

• I stopped buying cigarettes. = I don't buy cigarettes any more.
• I stopped to buy some cigarettes. = I interrupted a journey so that I could buy some cigarettes.
  

to go on doing something v to go on to do something

• He went on talking about his holiday. = He had been talking about his holiday and he continued talking about his holiday.
• He went on to talk about his holiday. = He had been talking about something else but after that he talked about his holiday.

To do

Practise choosing the correct forms in the quiz. 

Next

Now you've finished doing the quiz try listening to Finn and Catherine discussing this topic in more detail in 6 Minute Grammar.