Ingles Gerundios

1._would perfec+ gerundio

Dear teachers,

Would you be so kind to tell me which of the following sentences is right and which is wrong.

1. I would prefer to eat at home rather than go to a restaurant.

2. I would prefer eating at home to going to a restaurant.

3. I prefer driving to walking.

4. I prefer to drive rather than walking.

5. I prefer to drive rather than walk.

I think there is impossible to find a reason for the use of a given form: gerund or infinitive.

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

All are correct. "Prefer" is one of those verbs that take both a gerund and an infinitive.

GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

The two groups of verbs below can be followed either by the gerund or by the infinitive. Usually this has no effect on the meaning, but with some verbs there is a clear difference in meaning. Verbs marked * can also be followed by a that-clause.

Example: to prefer

I prefer to live in an apartment.

I prefer living in an apartment.

A. Verbs where there is little or no difference in meaning:

allow

attempt

begin

bother

cease

continue deserve

fear*

hate*

intend*

like

love neglect

omit

permit

prefer*

recommend*

start

Notes:

1. Allow is used in these two patterns:

a. Allow + object + to-infinitive:

• Her parents allowed her to go to the party.

b. Allow + gerund:

• Her parents don't allow smoking in the house.

2. Deserve + gerund is not very common, but is mainly used with passive constructions or where there is a passive meaning:

• Your proposals deserve being considered in detail.

• These ideas deserve discussing. (= to be discussed).

3. The verbs hate, love, like, prefer are usually followed by a gerund when the meaning isgeneral, and by a to-infinitive when they refer to a particular time or situation. You must always use the to-infinitive with the expressions 'would love to', 'would hate to', etc.

Compare:

• I hate to tell you, but Uncle Jim is coming this weekend.

• I hate looking after elderly relatives!

• I love dancing.

• I would love to dance with you.

2._would Like+ Gerund

My parents also like to go to the cinema.

He likes to play tennis.

...

I would like to know what the difference between using an infinitive and a gerund (in the case with "like") is. I hear that if you are talking about a habit, you should use the infinitive - is that the truth?

Would the sentences mean the same if I wrote the ones below?

My parents also like going to the cinema.

He likes playing tennis.

Correct my English, please...

Hmm. Good question. I've never had a student ask me that, and I don't have the answer off the top of my head (another body-part idiom). There is a difference, I think.

While I reflect on this, I'll throw in another example:

He likes playing tennis.

but

He likes to leave things to the last minute.

3._like+ Infinitive

Sobre este tema te puedo decir 3 cosas:

1.- No todos los verbos pueden ser seguidos por un infinitivo, gerundio o nombre.

2.- Puedes usar un infinitivo o gerundio despues de un verbo, SIEMPRE Y CUANDO NO CAMBIE SU SIGNIFICADO.

3.- Generalmente el infinitivo contesta a la pregunta "why" (porque?)

EJEMPLO DE FRASE CON DIFERENTE SIGNIFICADO:

Juan stopped to smoke (infinitivo)= Juan paro para fumar (dejo de hacer algo para ir a fumar)

Juan stopped smoking (gerundio) = Juan dejo de fumar (para siempre)

...