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Although a gerund and an infinitive will often have practically the same meaning ("Running in the park after dark can be dangerous" and "To run in the park after dark can be dangerous"), there can be a difference in meaning. Gerunds are used to describe an "actual, vivid, or fulfilled action" whereas infinitives are better used to describe "potential, hypothetical, or future events" (Frodesen & Eyring 297). This is especially true with three kinds of verbs: verbs of emotion, verbs of completion/incompletion, and verbs of remembering.
EMOTION:
Actual Event Potential Event
I hated practicing my violin while the other kids were playing outside. I prefer to work during the day.
COMPLETION/INCOMPLETION
Actual Event
We began working on this project two years ago. We finished working on this project a month ago. (Finish always takes a gerund.)
Potential Event
We will continue to work on this project for the next four months. I wonder when we will start to wrap up this project.
REMEMBERING
(such as remember, forget, regret)
Juanita forgot to do her homework. (meaning that Juanita failed to do her homework because she didn't remember to do it)Juanita forgot doing her homework. (meaning that Juanita did her homework but that she forgot she had done so)
Source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm
Actual Event Potential Event
I hated practicing my violin while the other kids were playing outside. I prefer to work during the day.
COMPLETION/INCOMPLETION
Actual Event
We began working on this project two years ago. We finished working on this project a month ago. (Finish always takes a gerund.)
Potential Event
We will continue to work on this project for the next four months. I wonder when we will start to wrap up this project.
REMEMBERING
(such as remember, forget, regret)
Juanita forgot to do her homework. (meaning that Juanita failed to do her homework because she didn't remember to do it)Juanita forgot doing her homework. (meaning that Juanita did her homework but that she forgot she had done so)
Source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm