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-ING vs INFINITIVE

-ING. We use-ing:

when we use the verb as the subject of the sentence.

Smoking is harmful.

when we use -ing when we have GO + SPORT.

She went swimming.

when we use a verb of state (Love, hate, like...).

I love writing novels.

after prepositions.

The baby was tired of playing.

when we use any of these verbs.


TO + INFINITIVE. We use TO + INFINITIVE:

after adjectives.

It's easy to love her.

to point a purpose.

She plays to win.

with "too" and "enough".

He is old enough to know some things.

After some verbs.

INFINITIVE (WITHOUT TO). We use the Infinitive without To:

. after a Modal Verb.


I can't go.

after "Make" or "Let" with an object.

They let me go.

after "Would rather" .

I would rather go.

INFINITIVE + GERUND: there are some times in which after the main verb we
can use the next verb either in infinite and gerund form. However, the meaning of
the sentence will be different.

STOP
He stopped to smoke (he was doing something and decided to smoke).
He stopped smoking (he gave up smoking forever).

REMEMBER
I remembered to phone you (and I did it)
I remember phoning you (I remember that I had phoned you, in the past).

These are some other examples.

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