October 17, 2010
. Gerund and infinitive as subject can be both expressed the same meaning. For example:
Toseeistobelieve.
Seeingisbelieving.
However, the use of fixed term, usually implies the speaker has done something, had a kinds of experience, the use of the infinitive, it may be only that the speaker view. Compare:
Goingtocollegewasdifficultforme.
College is difficult for me. (The speaker has obtained his university, inherent to this experience)
Togotocollegeisdifficult.
College is difficult. (Speaker only put forward their views)
2. Gerund and infinitive phrases can phrase it as a form of subject, but the real subject, that gerund phrases and infinitive phrases on the back, generally interchangeable. For example:
Ittakeshalfanhourformetogofromheretomyhome.
Ittakeshalfanhourmygoingfromheretomyhome.
In general, using the infinitive in such sentences as the real subject of more, and the real subject of the gerund for your situation, common in the nogood, nouse (or useless), worthwhile, awaste.dangerous …. the words for predicative sentences. For example:
Itisnogoodyourwaitinghere.
Itisnouseaskinghimaboutit.
Itisworthwhilelearninganotherlanguage.
It awasteoftimearguingaboutit.

It dangerousplayingwithfire.
3. gerund in Thereisno …. negative structure for the subject. For example:
Thereisnojokingaboutsuchaseriousmatter.
Thereisnoknowingwhetherhewillagreetoourplan.
In the above sentence, the gerund can not take the logical subject, and the infinitive can not be replaced, If you can not say:
withhim.
4. in the interrogative, the sentence with a gerund total instead of the infinitive. For example:
Doesoursayingthatmeananythingtohim?
Ishissayingtrue?
Second, as predicative.
1. gerund and infinitive can be predicative, just as they are as subject, it is difficult to say the strict semantic differences between them can be interchangeable. In general, more abstract in that general behavior, the use of a gerund, a specific action in that particular future action, the use of the infinitive. For example:
Ourdutyisservingthepeopleheartandsoul.
Thisisfoehimtodecide.
Hiswishistobeadoctor.
2. Predicative word also can be used for this hours is equivalent to an adjective the word, so word can not be replaced by gerunds or infinitives. For example:
Thenewswasexciting.
Thetimeispressing.
Gerunds and infinitives do predicative, the terms of the role play. Therefore, the subject can be transposed, and the word as a predicative, the adjective from the role, and the subject can not be transposed. For example: we can “Ourdutyisservingthepeopleheartandsoul.” Changed to “Servingthepeopleheartandsoulisourduty.” But we can not “Thetimeispressing.” Replaced “Pressingisthetime.”
3. If the subject is a noun, the predicative also used gerund, infinitive if it is subject, predicative infinitive is also used, can not cross. (Only while using the gerund or infinitive as subject and predicative case). For example:
Seeingisbeliving. Or Toseeistobelive
can not say Seeingistobelive. Or Toseeisbeliving.
4. Segmentation, including the present participle and past word, can as a predicative, but the present participle as predicative said that they possess the characteristics of the subject (A), in the past that word more than the subject in which the state (B). For example:
(A) Thenewsisverysurprising.
Thesituationisencouraging.
Thefoodsmellsinviting.
(B) Mybrotherisquitinterestedinmaths.

Shelookeddisappointed.
5. verb “be past word” this structure may sometimes be predicative, it may sometimes be the passive voice structure. The main difference between these two is: with the predicative structure of that subject characteristics or in which the state, the passive voice structure that only one action. For example:
Thelibraryisniwclosed.
Thelibraryisusuallyclosedatsix.
Thehouseissurroundedwithtrees.
Theenemywassoonsurrandedbyus.
6 verb “be present participle,” this structure may sometimes be predicative, it may sometimes be the predicate verb structure. The main difference between these two structures are: the structure of that subject with a predicative characteristics or supplement the content of the subject (A), verb structure only as subject to the ongoing movement (B). For example:
(A) Hishobbyiscollectingstamps.
Theearthisspinningroundallthetime.
(B) Heiscollectingstamps.
Iwasdoingmorningexercisesat7: 00thismorning.
7. It is noteworthy that predicative infinitive is usually done with the structure to, but the subject with an action verb do some, the infinitive can be omitted to. This form of the verb do can be limited, or non-finite verb forms, and no matter what the form when the body can be. For example:
AllIdidwasemptythebottle.
Allyoudoistalkaboutcars.
Allsheseemstodoisgossipwiththeneighbours.
TheonlythingIcandonowisgoonbyhimself.
WhatIreallywantedtodowasdriveallnight.
(but what guidance the subject clause, if do is a form of the body, the predicative must gerunds, such as:
Whathe dongisspoilingthewholething.)
Third, as object.
gerund and infinitive verb can be made in some object, but there are two cases:
(a) only after certain verbs take the infinitive, such as: wish, decide, hope, refuse, want, agree, care, choose, etc., or just take a gerund as object, such as: finish, enjoy, mind, suggest, practise, keep, avoid, etc., and some verb phrases, such as: keepon, goon, cannothelp and so on.
(b) In some verbs, such as: begin, start, continue, attempt, intend, plan, need, want,
require, desire, cannothelp, leaveoff, hate , try, like, l ove, prefer, propose, mean,
remember, forget, stop, goon, etc. can be used only after the infinitive as object (some exceptions), you can also use the gerund, as specific circumstances are as follows:
1. In general begin, start, continue with the gerund or infinitive followed no different. But know,
understand, see, realize, recognize that such words as object perception, only with the infinitives. For example:
Hebegantounderstandtheimportanceofcombiningtheoryw ithpractice.
Hebegantorealizehismistakes.
2.love, like, hate, prefer more than that followed by gerunds and regular habits action, with the infinitive, said a more specific action.
For example:
Ilikeswimming.
Hepreferstowalkratherthanrideinabus.
3. to use the infinitive in the following cases.
(A) in wouldlike (love, hate, prefer) said after a specific new action, or Wouldyoulike …? when the sentence. For example:
I hatetoworkwithhim.
Wouldyouliketogowithme?
(B) When the verb has been used for the body when. For example:
It beginningtorain.
I startingtoworkonmyessay.
Weareproposingtostartateight.
4. In remember, forget , regre followed by gerunds and infinitives is different in meaning. With the gerund, the gerund describes the action before the predicate of the action, with the infinitive, the infinitive refers to the action after the action verb. For example:
Irememberpostingtheletter.
Don forgettoremindhimofthisafternoon meeting.
I lremembertobringitback.
Iregrettosaythathecan cometohelpyou.
Iregrettedsayingthis.
5. in need, want, the active gerund form with passive meaning that, or infinitive is dynamic, meaning no difference, but more common with the gerund. For example:
Theradioneedsrepairing. Or Theradioneedstoberepaired.
Theshoeswantmending. Or Theshoeswanttobemended.
Heneedstolookafter. (= Heneedstobelookedafter.)

* rewuire, deserve can be so used, but less than need, want common. For example:
Hisletterrequiresansweringtobeansweredimmediately.
Thelittleboydeservesrewardingtoberewarded.
6. In the attempt, intend, plan, etc. After the use of the infinitive verb than noun structure structure more common. For example:
Don attempttodo (doing) itbyyourself.