When do you use the infinitive with "to" and the infinitive with the termination"ing"?
When my first notebook entry (I love English and meet people) was corrected, I understood that I must write: "I love English and to meet people" or "I love English and meeting people". So, I thought that we have two ways to write the infinitive: with to before the verb and with ing ending the verb. My doubt is: are there rules to use one or other way?

Question

When do you use the infinitive with "to" and the infinitive with the termination"ing"?
When my first notebook entry (I love English and meet people) was corrected, I understood that I must write: "I love English and to meet people" or "I love English and meeting people". So, I thought that we have two ways to write the infinitive: with to before the verb and with ing ending the verb. My doubt is: are there rules to use one or other way?

Answer

hi,

here's a good site to learn them:

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/gerundinftext.htm

:)

Answer

That is a hard one and impossible for beginners to understand. As you progress you will just "get it". No need to make a rule.

Answer

Hi. 

'to' is part of the infinitive. Without 'to' it is not an infinitive. If 'ing' is added it is no longer an infinitive. 

Perhaps the question should be: 

When do you use the verb with 'to' and verb with the termination (ending) 'ing'? 

Let me know if this is the case and I will explain. 

You can use the infinitive: "to meet" or the gerund "meeting" in your sentence.

But in other sentences you may have to use one or the other.

For example:

I like to drink.  ok
I like drinking.   ok

I enjoy walking.  ok
I enjoy to walk. -  incorrect.

I need to walk each day to keep fit.   ok
I need walking. - incorrect

Answers · 3

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