Gerund / Infinitive

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Gerund / Infinitive
Message from san99 posted on 19-06-2012 at 03:12:39 (D | E | F)
Hello,

I have taken some exercises to identify gerund and infinive. I have now some questions, which I would like to put here.
Would be happy to have your response.
Thank you for your help.
San

Farah loves reading the novels. why can't I write, Farah loves to read the novel? what's the difference?

He taught me how to swim. Can I write, he taught me swimming? Both sentences convey the same message, don't they?

I like to cook pasta, noodles, and macaroni. I like cooking pasta, noodles, and macaroni.

Would you mind if I take this seat of yours? Would you mind my taking seat of yours??
To see is to believe. Seeing is believing.
To follow the rule is compulsory. Can I write this way; Following the rule is compulsory.
Please help me solve this question. why not: Please helping me in solving this question.
Don't you dare to use my phone. Why it can't be;Don't you dare using my phone..
I would prefer to buy a black jacket to/than a white one. Can it be rewritten like this: I would prefer buying a black jacket to/than a white one.

As soon as we reached there it started to rain.
It started raining as soon as we reached there. Is it correct?

I saw him go upstairs.
i saw him going upstairs.

I learned to read English when I was five.
I learned reading English when I was five.

I wanted to change it, but it's too late.
My wanting to change it was too late. Is it correct>?

Before he went to sleep he turned off the lamp.
He turned off the lamp before going to sleep. Is it correct"?

I regret to say that I will not come today.
I regret saying that your mother had been passed away in 1920.

I stopped to write. I stopped writing. What's the difference between these two sentences?

I have more sentences to write here, but I guess I have already written enough. I'd appreciate if you check these for/against the grammar mistakes./ I'd appreciate your checking the mistakes against/for the grammar mistakes.

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Edited by lucile83 on 19-06-2012 08:06

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from gerondif, posted on 19-06-2012 at 15:19:32 (D | E)
Hello,
you use a gerund when the activity is usual and the infinitive when it is peculiar or unusual or has never been done.

I like swimming but I wouldn't like to swim in this dirty canal.
I like teaching.
I like to teach in good conditions (is more a concept than a habit)

Farah loves reading ~~the~~ novels. why can't I write, Farah loves to read the novel? what's the difference?
Farah loves to read * good novels. would be acceptable, it is a concept.

He taught me how to swim. Can I write, he taught me swimming? Both sentences convey the same message, don't they?

I like to cook pasta, noodles, and macaroni . I like cooking pasta, noodles, and macaroni. both are ok, ing = habit

Would you mind if I take this seat of yours? Would you mind my taking that seat of yours ??
To see is to believe. Seeing is believing. I prefer the ing form
To follow the rule is compulsory. Can I write this way; Following the rule is compulsory. Yes
Please help me solve this question. why not: Please help~~ing~~ me in solving this question.No (the first sentence is better)
Don't you dare to use my phone. Why it can't be;Don't you dare use ~~ing~~ my phone..
I would prefer to buy a black jacket to/rather than a white one. Can it be rewritten like this: I would prefer buying a black jacket to/than a white one. NO

As soon as we reached there it started to rain.
It started raining as soon as we reached there. Is it correct? Yes

I saw him go upstairs.(you saw all the action)
I saw him going upstairs.(you saw him after he started going up)

I learned to read English when I was five.Yes
I learned reading English when I was five. Ok, I prefer the first one

I wanted to change it, but it's too late.
My wanting to change it was too late. Is it correct>?No, it is not your wanting that is late(very heavy!)

Before he went to sleep he turned off the lamp.
He turned off the lamp before going to sleep. Is it correct"? Yes

I regret to say that I will not come today.OK I am sorry to inform you that I won't come OK
I regret saying that your mother passed away in 1920. (different meaning: I said it and I regret it now)

I stopped (eating)to write. I stopped writing to answer the phone. What's the difference between these two sentences? Do you get it ?

He stopped smoking ten years ago.
He stopped working to smoke a cigarette outside // in order to smoke a cigarette.

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from san99, posted on 19-06-2012 at 22:54:51 (D | E)
Yes, Thank you. I got it now.
I remembered closing the door that day. ( It means I remembered that I closed the door that day, right?)
Remember to close the door, Mom Said to Emma. ( The door isn't closed yet, Mother said her daughter to close it. In a sense, it is referring to a future action, right?)

Would you mind to close the door?, Is it right, also? Would you mind closing the door, I guess this one makes more sense.

Thank you very much for clearing the difference between both terms.

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from gerondif, posted on 19-06-2012 at 22:57:57 (D | E)
Hello,

I remembered closing the door that day. ( It means I remembered that I had closed the door that day, right?) Right
Remember(Don't forget) to close the door, Mom Said to Emma. ( The door isn't closed yet, Mother ~~said~~told her daughter to close it. In a sense, it is referring to a future action, right?) Right

Would you mind to close the door?, Is it right, also? NO
Would you mind closing the door, I guess this one makes more sense. Right

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from san99, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:01:37 (D | E)
Thanks Gerondif, you've been a great help to me.

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from gerondif, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:04:42 (D | E)
You're welcome.
On your profile, although you say you are from Pakistan, the map places you off Brisbane , off New Caledonia in fact..........

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from san99, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:09:17 (D | E)
Thanks. Yes, I just checked it, a question mark is appearing in front of "Country." Maybe a technical glitch.

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from gerondif, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:11:45 (D | E)
You've just taught me a word: "glitch"

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from san99, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:25:11 (D | E)
Really. That's great!! I am not perfect at writing though, I am learning and learning. I feel good because I know I can write better than others So you are from France? Are you also a moderator of this forum? I noticed that only two or three members of the forum participate in the discussion and post reply on the threads including you

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from gerondif, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:30:46 (D | E)
No, I am just a teacher. I go on this site for pleasure, I am not a moderator. It sometimes comes as a welcome change to teach people who need advice and are grateful when they get it.

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from san99, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:43:43 (D | E)
You are doing great here. I can tell that you are the best teacher in the world. You are polite, kind, and generous It's easy to write a language but it's very difficult to correct the errors. It takes time and energy; you have both, I guess.

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from gerondif, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:51:18 (D | E)
Hello,
I am not always nice!!
by the way: "I noticed that there were less mistakes " shouldn't it be : "I noticed there were fewer mistakes" as it is a plural !(on your other post)

Re: Gerund / Infinitive from san99, posted on 19-06-2012 at 23:57:21 (D | E)
Yes, you are right. I didn't notice it. Ok teacher, thanks for pointing it out.
xxx
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Edited by lucile83 on 20-06-2012 00:04

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