Gerunds or Infinitives?

Gerunds and infinitives can be a bit confusing.

 

In other words, what is a gerund? What is an infinitive? And what's the difference?

 

Here is the short version:

Gerund = a noun made from a verb. 

 

To make a gerund, you add "-ing" to the verb.

For example:

In the sentence "I dance often", the word "dance" is a verb.

In the sentence "I like dancing", the word "dance" is a noun.

Therefore, "dancing" is a gerund.

Infinitive = an infinitive is the basic form of the verb + "to".

 

Examples: to go, to eat, to think.

 

Example sentence: "I want to dance."

 

 

Now, the real question is where you should use gerunds and when infinitives.