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Manager
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Infinitive vs Gerund [#permalink]
 10 Nov 2007, 19:51
Could anyone throw light on when to use Gerund or Infinitive.
Sometimes I am getting confused with the usage.
I saw a post on this longtime back but not able to recollect it.
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Director
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Re: Infinitive vs Gerund [#permalink]
14 Nov 2007, 07:28
appuvar wrote: Could anyone throw light on when to use Gerund or Infinitive.
Sometimes I am getting confused with the usage.
I saw a post on this longtime back but not able to recollect it.
IMO, there is no concrete rule for this. If you are not a native speaker, help of ear and/or God might work 
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Director
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Dear Appuvar
Here is something on gerund and infinitive
As a rule, use the possessive case before a gerund, that is,a verb used as a noun. Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to a verb stems: going, eating, writing, borrowing. Like nouns, they are used as both subjects and objects. Take these examples similar to yours.
1. I don't like my brother's borrowing so much money.
2. I don't his eating so much ice cream.
3. I don't approve of his driving with such worn-out tires.
4. I recommend his seeing a doctor.
In these sentences, borrowing, eating,driving, and seeing are gerunds, preceded by possessive forms. If the first sentence had said brother rather than brother's , it would seem to say I don't like my brother rather than I don't like his borrowing so much. Similarly, if sentence 2,3, or 4 had used him instead of his, the meaning of the sentences would be changed. If an exam question offers you a choice between a possessive and an objective pronoun before a gerund, look carefully at what the sentence is saying. It is likely that the possessive is the better choice.
Amar
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