Both gerunds and infinitives can be the subject of a sentence:: Gerund : Writing in English is difficult. Infinitive :To write in English is difficult. Both gerunds and infinitives can be the object of a verb:: Gerund :I like writing in English. Infinitive :I like to write in English. But... Only gerunds can be the object of a preposition:: Gerunds : We are talking about writing in English. It is often difficult to know when to use a gerund and when to use an infinitive. These guidelines may help you: Gerunds :are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed:: I stopped smoking. (The smoking was real and happened until I stopped.) Infinitives :are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future:: I stopped to smoke. (I was doing something else, and I stopped; the smoking had not happened yet.) .................. http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/gerinf.htm

Gerunds: are nouns formed from verbs Example : walking, talking, thinking, listening Gerunds are formed by adding ING to verbs: think + ing thinking ................................. Infinitives are formed with TO Example : to walk, to talk, to think, to listen http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/gerund.htm