Infinitives or Gerunds? 1 - Func. Grammar

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Here is a table sorting out some essentials about using the gerund or the infinitive...

Tip for learning all this: jot down in your notebook all the verbs you find most often in your textbook, sorting them out in a table!

Use of...	Gerunds	Infinitives
as nouns... Both possible but gerund more common!	Dancing keeps me fit. No tredding on the grass	To be or not to be...
after prepositions	I' m looking forward to seeing you. He was accused of speeding. I' m used to waiting. They're thinking of moving. Are you interested in learning other languages? Sorry for keeping you waiting. There's no point in arguing. After swimming you feel cold. Before doing that, think it over!
in tenses	with continuous tenses... present continuous: am/is/are studying past continuous: was/were studying present perfect cont.: has/have been studying past perfect cont.: had been studying future continuous: will be studying future perfect continuous: will've been studying conditional continuous: would be studying conditional perfect cont.: would've been studying	in simple tenses, after the aux... present simple: I don't know past simple: Did you see...? future simple: Will you come?
after modal verbs		Bare Inf (except full Inf with have to, ought to) You must read this book! It's great! Can I have a copy, please?
verbal phrases	Purpose (less common than purpose infinitive): for + gerund	Purpose infinitive: I need those keys to get into my house!
verbal phrases		With objects She wants us to listen to audios every day She told me to go They told us to stay Mary advised us to leave He invited her to go to his place They convinced our friends to stay They encouraged him to visit Loch Ness They forced usto leave our cameras We hired/rented a car to visit the area With or without objects: ask, expect, 'd like, want I want to leave now I want you to leave now! I'd like to visit the Prado I'd like us to visit the Prado today The teacher expects to pass The teacher expects us to pass I asked to speak to Mary I asked her to give me a copy

There is more on this subject. Check out the Table of contents of Functional Grammar