Gerunds and Infinitives

Use:       

1) A gerund is a verb in its –ing form, used as a noun. 

     For example:     eating, going, seeing

Gerunds are used:

a) As the subject of a sentence.
      Smoking  is bad for you.
                
b) After some verbs, such as: like, hate, enjoy, quit, suggest, dislike, deny
   I like  cooking. I enjoy  fishing.
A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by a gerund or not.   
                
c) After prepositions.
      I’m interested in  buying  a computer. I’m scared of  walking  alone in the dark.

2) The infinitive form of the verb is the original verb. It can be with or without ‘to’.
     For example: (to) eat, (to) go, (to) see.

The infinitive form is used:               

a) After some verbs, such as; agree, arrange, ask, promise, decide, afford
     I agreed  to do  the work. I arranged  to see  the doctor, They decided  to get married.
A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by an infinitive or not.
                
b) To show the reason why you did something.
Tony went to the post office  to pay  a bill.                         

c) After adjectives.
I was surprised  to see  Erica. I’m pleased  to meet  you.

3 a) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive with NO CHANGE in meaning:

       For example: start, begin, hate, like, prefer, continue
        She started to cry = She started crying.
       I hate watching horror films = I hate to watch horror films.

 b) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or a infinitive, but there is a change in meaning.
      For example: try, remember, stop
      I tried to get into the house. (Getting into the house is your goal or objective).
      I tried climbing through the window.  (Climbing through the window is one thing
you tried in order to obtain your final objective.)               

                              I stopped cleaning the windows. (I was cleaning the windows and then I
stopped).
                              I stopped to clean the windows. (I was driving, and I stopped driving in
order to clean the windows).
                              I remembered to lock the door. (I remembered, and after that I locked
the door).
                              I remember locking the door.  (I remember (now) that I locked the door
(in the past)).