English Grammar - Gerund or Infinitive? ('I like swimming' or 'I like to swim'?)

www.engvid.com I love to learn! I love learning! Which sentence is correct? Watch this English grammar lesson on gerunds and infinitives to find out. You'll learn when and how to use gerunds and infinitives properly -- especially useful for talking about your hobbies or interests. Then take the quiz at www.engvid.com/gerund-or-infin... .

[@kenupton8623]

You are the perfect combination of awkward and fun. I like you.

[@theverge8210]

Ken Upton 😂😂😂 right! lol

[@nabasalehnaba6563]

Ken ووزنه ط زززززو ن

[@thecharlieramirez]

As soon as she literally popped up, I said the same thing.

[@cestgabi.youtube]

so true

[@mrw5258]

Literally

[@Mandrax1138]

REMEMBER! There is still a meaning difference between gerunds and infinitives. 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 French when I'm in France. I prefer the option of speaking French when I am in France.

[@thelearners2355]

Still didnt get

[@thelearners2355]

What's the difference between gerund and progressive form of verb

[@besilu7259]

@@thelearners2355 actually you are referring to the progressive form like "I am reading this book" twhen I said that the gerund is used like a Verb not a noun. When we use gerunds without the "is, are or am" we refer to a noun ;) hope it helps you

[@thelearners2355]

@@besilu7259 thanks for ur rply

[@besilu7259]

@@thelearners2355 ok :')

[@alexmat65]

You should explain us when to use the ing form when the infinitive.

[@jen_de_luna]

+alessandro matarazzo (alexmat) Both can be used, usually with the same meaning. When to use them? After an adjective and certain verbs, we use the infinitive form: I was DISAPPOINTED to see you flirting. (adj) I FORGOT to lock the door. (after certain verbs) and gerunds when used as a subject or prepositions: DANCING is fun. (subject) I did it without ASKING for permission. (after a preposition) She disliked ASKING questons. (after certain verbs)

[@ruslanquliyev8931]

Jen De Luna

[@neverbackdown8205]

Jen De Luna thanks sis...

[@weetzybat]

Jen De Luna *questions

[@fz3152]

alessandro matarazzo The infinitive follows the adjective or noun. Gerunds as a noun

[@myyoutubechannel2858]

From one teacher (me) to another (you): I love your fun teaching style.

[@taniad81]

Practically they mean the same, but there is a slight difference: "I like swimming" means that you enjoy the activity, whereas "I like to swim" means that you think that swimming is good for you (i.e. it is healthy), but does not necessarily mean that you enjoy the activity. For example: I like to do my homework after school (it does not mean that you love doing your homework though). Hope it helps.

[@engvidRonnie]

Yes, the list is right! You should try to memorize it!!!

[@stephaniemandy252]

I'm teaching a pre-intermediate class tomorrow using verb patterns to talk about their future plans and your video has helped me SO much. Your boardwork is excellent!! Thank you :)

[@Bronpon]

Normally, i don't suppose to understand this lesson from a one single video. But i did it. I did it because of you. Thank you, you are the best teacher ever.

[@engvidRonnie]

"I'm going to" is not a gerund it is present continuous! The point of the lesson is to correct student who use to + base+ing, side by side. Students make this mistake all the time!!!! EX..I'm going to shopping.

[@schang8964]

Help! I'm looking forward to meeting you. What is this?!

[@lykacampos143]

Pick out the infinitive "There were too many leaves for her to count" Ans: ??

[@norishikh6403]

Your number

[@Mandrax1138]

@@schang8964 You feel happy, enthusiastic or excited about an activity that will happen soon or in the future. Example: I'm really looking forward to the Christmas holidays. It can also be used for negative emotions. Example: I'm not looking forward to the meeting with my boss tomorrow.

[@user-lq4zj7gb7d]

@@schang8964 "I am looking forward" is Present Cont.,but "to seeing" is a gerund.We use "TO" like a preposition we must use with "to look forward" l'm looking forward to meeting you."TO" is not a part of Infinitive,it's just a preposition like "to accuse OF,to object TO"

[@kyuubithekitty]

I just wanted to thank you for all these grammar videos I've stumbled upon :) I'm a native British English speaker taking my A-level English Language exams in less than a week and grammar has never been one of my strongest points but your videos have been such a delightful way to fine tune my knowledge. So again thank you very much and I hope you carry on creating your wonderful videos :D

[@maiphuongnguyen6690]

The BEST teacher ever!

[@maiphuongnguyen6690]

what's up?

[@hibaalsamaa4669]

2003 Mai what are the locative,temporal and eventive ??

[@maiphuongnguyen6690]

+‫شادية العگيدي‬‎ what do you mean

[@maiphuongnguyen6690]

شادية العگيدي ‬‎ i cant get it

[@hibaalsamaa4669]

U know there's some kinds subject , r u know it ?

[@manila122]

I admire you how clear the explanation is, it makes me more confident to create my own sentences without fear to commit mistake. I am striving to know more.

[@Caitlin312]

I'm 30 seconds into your video and I just think you're awesome. I thank you already for your humor and light-hearted approach :D :D

[@MrBecia0206]

I like you, but where is the explanation WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE between them? Everyone can find how it forms .. I need to know when I should use Gerund or Infinitive cause that's the problem...

[@catalinagarciaespinosadelo3919]

There're another egnvideos by Alex named "10 common verbs followed by gerunds" and "6 ways to use gerund" that are more useful than this one to learn the use of infinitive and gerund.

[@mohammedsayeed552]

u can use one of them.....both r having same meaning,if u r using gerund then u will have to follow gerund rule and if u want to use infinitive then u have to use infinitive rule....this teacher tought very easily way without taking much time...

[@KushagraGuptaMusic]

yeah right I too told her about that

[@bilalahmed-fr8rg]

I like you

[@behappy2702]

Level isvery loww

[@handypick7743]

frankly speaking im from Georgia and here i have 3 kind of Grammar books that teaches every grammar rules and tasks in my language including Gerund and infinitive, but no one was such helpfull like your lesson thanks and greeting from Georgia

[@kaliana04]

Great video! As an English teacher teaching below benchmark students, this video will definitely help them grasp the concept. Thank you!!

[@benildoalvespires4247]

I liked that lesson so much teacher! Thank you!

[@sanjayprasad6210]

You facial expressions are very CUTE. Keep going.

[@eaglejunior7963]

I'm from Brazil and I loved your class, my test is tomorrow and I think I'll be doing well because of your class.

[@hannahbaumann222]

Thank you so much. You really helped me. I`m from Germany and i never understood this theme. But now I got it.

[@maxdms_]

Bin auch aus Deutschland und schreibe morgen eine Arbeit c:

[@engvidRonnie]

Yes, when you use to be verb + ing it is present continuous!

[@anhhoangvo2420]

It's very great . Thank you .

[@anhhoangvo2420]

It's very great . Thank you .

[@anhhoangvo2420]

It's very great . Thank you .

[@anhhoangvo2420]

It's very great . Thank you .

[@anhhoangvo2420]

It's very great . Thank you .

[@RIanCold]

This is great but it's worth remembering that sometimes "I like skiing" can mean that I like watching it, "I like to ski" usually means that I like putting on my skis and participating in the sport.

[@edwardqueen5791]

"Snowboard" is no longer a noun when used in that kind of sentence. It becomes a verb (i.e. "to snowboard"), and that verb gets the "-ing" in gerund. You could say you like a snowboard (noun), but then you'd mean you like the object you put under your shoes to ride on, as opposed to the activity of riding on it. It seems to be a recurring thing in the English language (which doesn't exist in say French, Spanish, Portuguese etc.) to take a noun and transform it into a verb like that. "I like snowboarding" = "I like to snowboard" = "The act of snowboarding pleases me" and so on. You could say "I'm going to snowboard tomorrow" or "I've never snowboarded before" (notice the past tense in particular) just to prove this point. Plus, as with any language, nouns can never take the gerund form. It's a verb-only thing, as is the infinitive. I'm not from a natively English-speaking country, so I found this a very peculiar and interesting feature of the English language when I first noticed it. (Teachers won't mention this, so it's not like anyone gets to learn it in class.)

[@alejandroceballos7803]

Thank You teacher I really appreciate everything You do and the way you prepare your lessons.👍😊

[@tialestarisidabutar6722]

Thank you. It helps me so much. God bless you.... teacher

[@rypttrsn]

Interesting lesson. Perhaps it's just me, but I would not claim that gerunds are noun+ing as this can confuse many ESL learners. All of those nouns used in the examples are actually just base form verbs that can be used as nouns depending on context, including "snowboard." (Ex: He shops for bread on Sundays, and she snowboards every weekend.)

[@tvper8417]

Yep dear, You are right .Thanks for your comment.

[@criadoresdepersonagens8160]

Thanks so much Ronnie! This video really help me, and clean up my confusion about this matter.

[@j.d8019]

Great . I liked it , loved it , and also learned from it . My mon and dad is really happy to see such a good and real learning video . I liked your teaching style . Make more videos like this so that I can learn . Thank you

[@jjmadethelesson2564]

do you use a microphone or does your camera pick up the audio that well?

[@theastroidmech]

"Hello There!" General Kenobi! You are a bold one!

[@Kuwaiifu]

Thank you so much! This is really helpful and i finally understood infinitives and gerunds!

[@shivamkhandelwal9327]

A perfect teacher with great humor ...i like to learn english topics from this lady .

[@matematicascheveres]

Please, can you make a video about PASSIVE VOICE using "ing" or "to"? Thank you so much♥

[@elecollavo8344]

so when you say: I like walking is the same iff i say i like to walk?

[@matthewkaiser2977]

Yes

[@vubaotran6620]

my teacher said that gerund were your habit ( for example: I like drinking " show your habit " and to infinitive were your current decision in the present ( ex: your friend said," do you want to drink beer? " nope I don't want to drink beer." i'm from VIETNAMESSE and you? where are you from?

[@alejandrabernal6481]

Vubao Tran thanks you friend, I see you tip

[@justeencham8809]

Its a yes cause, "To walk" and "Walking" is more like a present tense, so it's same.

[@bayartsolmonbaatar5999]

i understand that I like walking means person who likes to walk or walking sport. And if you say i like to walk means that person is just like to walk. In my humble opinion i think so hahh

[@niviyakumar957]

I was tired of trying to understand the concept of gerunds. I have watched so many videos about gerunds for a long time. But today, I learned exactly what a gerund is within 2 minutes.😅😅you are just awesome😎

[@citylight66]

Thank you for this helpful lesson. You are a great teacher. If you were my teacher, when I was a teenager at school, I could take my language skill fluent.

[@arielgarita781]

Thank you! It's clear right now :)

[@engvidRonnie]

Glad to hear it!!

[@lykacampos143]

Thankyou I understood so much better

[@gorgom6089]

Mom how about this : KZbinrs Trevor admits to crashing plane for views ( why not "to crash") ?? Thanks mom I'll be waiting for the answer

[@hilal9283]

Such a perfect teacher. Thank you so much, I can learn easily with your lessons.

[@maryemazelea9683]

Hey, got a question concerning this sentence " whether it's love, work, or chasing dreams, we'll always find a reason not to. Find a reason to" is *chasing* in here gerund or verb? Thank you.

[@maxbarber3719]

'learning to swim'... is learning therefore a participle rather than a gerund (because it relates to the following verb) ?

[@samannaveed7683]

You're so funny, I was laughing rather than learning most of the time.

[@frannyj6861]

Thanks Ronnie. As a fellow ESL/EFL teacher, I enjoyed watching this session for ideas. You've got a very cute style - thanks for sharing! :)

[@SubethS]

I love the way she teaches. She makes the lesson fun :)

[@Misendei]

Omg I've seen so many videos and didn't understand, but I totally get it now!! You're a great teacher, you explained it to easily and in such a simple way. You're just awesome and an inspiration to me I hope to teach like that one day. :D

[@obbanhegde6291]

Very enthusiastic teacher😀😀😀😍😍

[@rishikeshnerkar1367]

I'm from India and I'm enjoying your video alot mam 😊 . Love it .. thanks alot I wonder everywhere to know about infinitives but couldn't understand properly.. here I got understood what it means 🤗

[@hiiishrhl6553]

When i was just starting learning English i thought Ronnie is a bad teacher. But now I'm so happy if there's a her video about what i want to know.

[@Leon-tt8sy]

Gerund and infinitve can be in the same sentence. Example: "We can avoid risking such disease by choosing to eat healthy food"

[@julianarcubillos]

You're amazing!

[@1marciakikey]

Thanks I just got my class at college ( 5 level ESL ) this morning and it was about gerund and infinitives ......and I didn’t understand 100 % but now with your explanation , I got it 😉

[@designerge]

i've been study for one week in ALC but i wasn't able to understand as you do in few minutes, thanks you very helpful

[@rodrigueslidia]

The best teacher ♡♡♡♡

[@behappy2702]

😃

[@samis2563]

brasileira, neh rs

[@behappy2702]

I cant understand your language@samantha costa. So plz coment in american wnglish

[@tostadorafuriosa69]

Thanks to you now i don't need to summon the devil inside me with the blood of my enemies to do well on english exams. Thank you!

[@cravingmemories]

thank you for the vid! i love how you explained it with fun and a little bit cheesy awkward

[@Syarifahltmi]

So far i feel so connect with ur lesson and how you teach us. THANK U SO MUCH!!!❤

[@littleweeb8873]

I wrote "i like to dance" on my homework. However, my english teacher said it was incorrect to use "i like to dance" in a sentence and that "i like dancing" is the only obtion to say it. (I'm in the 8th grade btw) When i showed this video to her, she first apologized to me then the whole class.

[@ydlax]

how about. "I'm looking forward to seeing my father" =in this sentence infinitive and gerund"see(ing)" are in one sentence... just got confused. BTW you're cool teacher. Thanks :)

[@diegoguillen4378]

That is a phrase where TO is used as a preposition, and after prepositions you have to use a gerund.

[@enriqueperez3123]

Thank you so much for the video, I was looking for help on that themes and you did it.

[@siusiutoe6470]

Thanks for your examples, Chris.

[@Azamyuldashev]

I learnt all a year ago; however, I constantly forget abt it.

[@aaronhernandezdelacruz8467]

0:04 General Kenobi!! haha xb , Great video, thanks :))

[@bhaksalaa_5995]

Hey Ronnie I am from India . When I first watched your videos it was odd for me . Your videos are very helpful . Thanks for helping so many people .keep doing this great work

[@maryuniverse79]

Thank you teacher Ronnie, I love seeing your videos!

[@rajbrar9358]

Hi there. Which sentence is correct out of these three ? I like listening music. I like to listening to music. I like listening to music.

[@Blue_3rd]

I like to listen to music or I like listening to music.

[@brendaromanchavez8594]

why "I like to listening to music" ?

[@gilsantos2995]

Geetar is right.

[@nasrinrajaee3067]

I like listening to...

[@pingu4238]

Or: In order to like shopping, you must be crazy.

[@JCMcGee]

"I'm running to stand still"....."The running I have to do, just to stand still"...I was looking for exceptions here, but I'm just confusing myself!

[@_mr_deedz]

+Jimmy McGee Maybe something more like: "I hate all the lying I have to do just to make you happy." You were on the right track; you just picked two opposites so it didn't work. You knew what you were trying to say :)

[@rakhinainani3114]

Best teacher.. in a very short period of time I have learnt so many things from you..

[@RezyBlack]

youtube should be glad to have you, cause you are a very good teacher.

[@faatystyles7827]

ahhahaha tell me if Im the only one whos falling inlive with thiss women ahahh ! she's soooo fucking funny

[@chaimaepikachu1396]

Faaty styles Hahahahaha You're not the only one 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Yh you're right she's sooo funny and cute 😍😍❤️❤️

[@fantome3365]

Mn nytk ?

[@luiscavalcanti3431]

I’ve burst out laughing hysterically when you said you hated shopping ha ha ha coz I hated too.. I’m sorry but I needed to make this comments thx Joking apart, that means , by your board, that I may use both ways of saying !? “ I like swimming, I like to swim” both ways are correct?

[@shefat9892]

I like watching your tutorials. This lesson was really really helpful. Thanks for making this lesson.

[@immersiveparadox]

Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver! I'll remember you!

[@cheveuxdorage5917]

"I look forward to hearing you soon "seems to be an exception......

[@jjmo1860]

but can't u say: I am allowed to go swimming. (they are in the same sentence) I'm confused :\

[@najnaj4273]

Jasmine El-masri she means we can't say: i like to swimming ! you have to choose one: i like to swim or i like swimming No ( to + ing ) in the same sentence !

[@jjmo1860]

Oh ok

[@andrewdowner822]

Jazz Masri she mainly talking about them being objective and subjective as well

[@bennasrallahwajdi572]

@Naj Naj thank you so much, also i didn't understand that one because we can say ( i want to go snowboarding) (y) (y)

[@yopito37]

I can´t thank you enough for your classes I like your teaching it is so easy to follow and to understand your accent. Than you so much

[@kathrynpetrick2588]

thanks for explaining the gerund vs. infinitive. Your co-worker Adam who also makes Engvid videos also mentioned the word participles this video:The 4 English Sentence Types - simple, compound, complex, compound-complex. can you make complex geruand sentences as well as infinitive. It would be great to see all three compared/ vs. in complex sentences. I just can't see how geraund and infinitive don't cross each other in big sentences. I really appreciate that you used the same sentence idea for both geraund and infinitive. It really helps me see and connect and understand Geraund and infinitive. 1 more thing, I don't understand whats the differences between a participle and infinitive. I mean don't (both of them) use prepositions acting as verbs?

[@ligerangry3676]

thank you teacher....toady i learned not to mix both gerund and infinitive....they don't like each other😤

[@oathbreaker5279]

It’s just not good that I come here to learn & you just keep distracting me with how cute & funny you are.

[@sergyom]

Thank you, Ronnie. Very useful explanation.

[@abhishekanalysis490]

Its 2020 still i love to learn from you ma'am. Love and respect from india 🙏👍

[@larissastar3908]

This teacher is very funny!

[@anonimuzzxr9340]

Larissa Star is ridiculous

[@lifelearner45lloyd97]

Larissa Star, I see nothing funny about this grammar or Ronnie.

[@alexandraramirezalarcon6283]

hahahaha so funny! your sentence would die 😂

[@antoniofigueiredo7616]

Very good class. thank you so much Ronnie!!!

[@suzannakhan2666]

She is so lovely! Does she have any more videos?? Best example of how education should be :)

[@TheGuwanieshez]

whoa !!! where did she come from? Startled me! .

[@Drew-qv1rc]

This is so MLG

[@bloumup5423]

Thanks, you’re funnier than most teachers I know. I’m pretty sure I’m the most recent comment at this moment

[@rafaelmartinez4110]

i'm living in Spain, and this video helps me for the test of tomorrow!! Thanks :-)

[@latifatanjaouiya4030]

لا يوجد أحد عربي مثلي ههههه💔 🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦

[@user-do6mb6xq5s]

Latifa Tanjaouiya ههههه

[@magdalenac.170]

Did she smoke...?

[@magdalenac.170]

Good luck.

[@richiegalindo8570]

You are so amazing teacher ever. Thank you so much Ronnie 😁💖

[@faadumohassan1045]

Many thanks for explaning Gerund clearly

[@sametcansaglam1689]

anlamıyorum İngilizce dersinde İngilizce konusulurmu be bide kadın tahtanın altından kalkıyor ha ha ha ha

[@natefisher0]

SAMET CAN SAĞLAM best greek commenter.

[@atakancuce8907]

Anlamıyom amk konusunu

[@oguzhancavusoglu9595]

Samet tek tek çeviremmi 1yıl sonradan sana mesaj

[@beppis4907]

lol you are the big momma gay

[@Milan-by7lo]

149_Savage My name cheff

[@iPNDera]

Not even a minute in and I already think you're fantastic.

[@ingridlangovski8439]

You're such a great teacher! Johnny is pretty much right about you, I'm a friend of him 👏👏😍

[@kimi1724]

Woww, you are really good at explaining. I know, i found this out late (cause i just learned that).. Now I'm even more clear about it. Thanks to you

[@valentinavila5300]

I love you Ronnie you're the best teacher ever and so funny I've learned a lot with you thank you!!!

[@rtr78978]

Thanks, thanks, thanks. Just now from long time i understand what gerund and infinitive. Ronni u r supper teacher.

[@BrendonMarkering]

Perfect explanation! You are an amazing teacher!