Gerunds are verbs used as nouns, and are formed by adding -ing to the infinitive.

E.g. dance - dancing, enjoy - enjoying, etc.

They are used:

1. After prepositions:

Before making decisions I always consult my friends.

I am quick at reaching conclusions.

After watching the film I went to bed.

2. After certain verbs (e.g. verbs of emotion Like, love, enjoy, hate, etc and verbs such as finish and stop):

I love walking in the park.

We enjoy dancing on Saturdays.

I finished working at three o'clock.

3. As the subject of a sentence:

Translating French is a challenge.

Eating pizza is one of my favourite hobbies.

Checking detail is not one of my strong points.

Infinitives are used:

1. After certain verbs:

To try to do something

To persuade somebody to do something, etc

To choose to do something

To decide to do something

To forget to do something

To promise to do something

To need to do something

To help somebody to do something

To hope to do something

To want to do something

To would like to do something

2. After certain adjectives:

Hard to do something

Easy to do something

Lecc. 5ª (ant.)		Lecc. 5ª (cont.)