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Infinitives or Gerunds? 2 - Func. Grammar

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Here is a table with verbs which can be followed both by infinitives or gerunds...

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!

Verbs followed both by infinitive and gerund with or without a change of meaning
With no change of meaning
Begin/start (cf. stop, finish, keep)
Continue (but use "keep" + gerund, better)
And we started to laugh
And we started laughing
With a change of meaning
Verbs of likes and dislikes
like, don't like, enjoy, love, hate...
Special cases: prefer, fancy...
General likes (with present tenses): gerund
A like in a specific moment (with would): infinitive


I prefer going
I love going to the movies
I'd love to go to the movies this evening!
Time involved
When the action following the verb happens/ed before the verb: gerund
When the action following the verb happens/ed after the verb: infinitive
Remember: Hey, remember to post this! I remember climbing trees when I was a child.
Forget: I forgot to bring my keys. Don't forget to get some drinks.
Regret: I regret to inform you that there is a delay. I regret buying these boots -- they really hurt!
Stop
Pause, cease momentarily: infinitive
Stop for good, quit: gerund

On our way, we stopped to have sth to eat
Stop shouting!
Try
Make an attempt (intentar): infinitive
Experiment (probar a): gerund


I tried to fix it, but had to call a mechanic
Try taking a couple of aspirins (giving advice)

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