Use - Gerund or Infinitive

Use- Gerund or Infinitive

e.g. (Use – Infinitive)

1) She began laughing,

Ans- She began to laugh.

2) He preferred talking.

Ans- He preferred to talk.             

3) Resting is rusting.

Ans- To rest is to rust.

4) A produce invests money in building up a reputation.

Ans- A producer invests money to build up a reputation.

5) Courage is sticking to your post in danger.

Ans- Courage is to stick to your post in danger.

6) I hate waiting at the crowded railway station.

Ans- I hate to wait at the crowded railway station.

7) Food is the most essential factor in building and maintaining health.

Ans- Food is the most essential factor to build and maintain health.

8) He dislikes deceiving people.

Ans- He dislikes to deceive people.

9) No one has yet invented a suitable way of using its rays.

Ans- No one has yet invented a suitable way to use its rays.

e.g.(Use – gerund)

1) To die is better than to beg.

Ans- Dying is better than begging.

2) But he refused to do so.

Ans- But he refused doing so.

3)They carry the idea to show unity. 

Ans- They carry the idea showing unity.

4) She comes here to ask a question.

Ans- She comes here for asking a question.

5) They had painted the house to make history.

Ans- They had painted the house for making history. 

6) To smoke is a bad habit

Ans- Smoking is a bad habit.

7) It is better to starve than to beg.

Ans- Starving is better than begging.

8) They are here to dance.

Ans- They are here for dancing.

9) To speak is easier than to write.

Ans- Speaking is easier than writing.

10) He likes to read novels.

Ans- He likes reading novels.

Points to be noted 1) When ‘ –ing’ is added to the verb and it is used as noun in the sentence, it is called gerund. 2) When ‘to’ is placed before the base form of verb, it is called infinitive. If there is change in the subject, there is no change in infinitive.       3) If there is preposition before the gerund in the sentence, remove it and then use infinitive in the sentence.