[4] Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Similar Meaning)


 

can't bear He can't bear being alone. He can't bear to be alone.  
can't stand Nancy can't stand working the late shift. Nancy can't stand to work the late shift.
cease The government ceased providing free health care. The government ceased to provide free health care.
continue She continued talking.  She continued to talk. 
hate He hates cleaning dishes.
He hates to clean dishes.
like Samantha likes reading.   Samantha likes to read.
love We love scuba diving. We love to scuba dive.
neglect He neglected doing his daily chores. He neglected to do his daily chores.
prefer  He prefers eating at 7 PM. He prefers to eat at 7 PM.  
propose  Drew proposed paying for the trip. Drew proposed to pay for the trip.



REMEMBER

1. The verbs like, love, prefer, when combined with would, take the INFINITIVE WITH TO.

 

Examples:

 

·  He would love to be there.

·  I would like to meet him.


2. Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and gerunds and
infinitives can often be used interchangeably, there is still a meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference in meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably, such as in the examples below.


Examples:

  • The British reporter likes living in New York. He lives in New York and he likes what he experiences there.
  • The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the United States.  He likes the option or possibility of living in New York when he works in the United States.
  • I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language.  I like the experience of speaking French, and the way it makes me feel when I speak the language.
  • I like to speak in French when I am in France.  I prefer the option of speaking French when I am in France.