Sept. 16, 2025
Gerund or Infinitve
I recently watched a video on YouTube. It was an english grammar test. I never really think what is right when I speak english. I've been learning english for a very long time now so I am fluent which does not mean that my grammar is always correct. In the video I was confused when I had to choose between the gerund and the infinitive. There are cases when only one of them is working. But why? Couldn't I say: "... only one of them works"? What's the difference between: "My plants are growing" and "My plants grow"? Maybe it's just a formal thing which native speakers themselves don't do correct as well or forget?
It was an eEnglish grammar test.
I never really think about what is right when I speak english.
I've been learning eEnglish for a very long time now so I am fluent which, but that does not mean that my grammar is always correct.
"But that does not mean"=Contrasting to previous clause (Personal example: I have built my own computers, but that does not mean that I know everything about them.)
"Which means"=Agreeing with previous clause (Personal example: I have been cooking more, which means that I've also been trying to cook different kinds of dishes.
In the video I was confused when I had to choose between the gerund and the infinitive.
But why?
Couldn't I say: "... only one of them works"?
I would use this.
What's the difference between: "My plants are growing" and "My plants grow"?
To me there is a slight difference in how I interpret both sentences.
"My plants are growing."=You have probably recently planted the plants and they are in the process of becoming taller. These plants can either be in their beginning or middle stages of growing, but they have not yet reached their full height.
"My plants grow."=Neutral, factual statement. You have plants that grow over a period of time. This can also be used to contrast with someone's experience growing the same kinds of plants, but they have less success.
Example dialogue (You and someone buy the same kind of tomato seeds and try planting them) :
Other Person: I don't know what I'm doing wrong. All my [tomato] plants wither and die.
You: I don't have any problems. My plants grow.
Maybe it's just a formal thing which native speakers themselves don't do correct as well or forget?
Feedback
Good job!
Infinitives and gerunds aren't a formality thing, there are sentences where you can only use an infinitve and there are those where you can only use gerunds. Although there are cases where you can use either without changing the meaning, there are many cases where the form you use will change the meaning of sentences. Us native speakers don't really think about them. We might not use them 100 percent correctly in our daily lives, but I'm guessing we'd use them correclty 85-90 percent of the time. For most of us, they just become something we can naturally feel out.
Here's a link explaining how both of them work. Hopefully it helps out a bit!
https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/gerunds-and-infinitives
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Gerund or Infinitve |
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I recently watched a video on YouTube. |
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It was an english grammar test. It was an |
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I never really think what is right when I speak english. I never really think about what is right when I speak english. |
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I've been learning english for a very long time now so I am fluent which does not mean that my grammar is always correct. I've been learning "But that does not mean"=Contrasting to previous clause (Personal example: I have built my own computers, but that does not mean that I know everything about them.) "Which means"=Agreeing with previous clause (Personal example: I have been cooking more, which means that I've also been trying to cook different kinds of dishes. |
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In the video I was confused when I had to choose between the gerund and the infinitive. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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There are cases when only one of them is working. |
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But why? But why? |
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Couldn't I say: "... only one of them works"? Couldn't I say: "... only one of them works"? I would use this. |
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What's the difference between: "My plants are growing" and "My plants grow"? What's the difference between: "My plants are growing" and "My plants grow"? To me there is a slight difference in how I interpret both sentences. "My plants are growing."=You have probably recently planted the plants and they are in the process of becoming taller. These plants can either be in their beginning or middle stages of growing, but they have not yet reached their full height. "My plants grow."=Neutral, factual statement. You have plants that grow over a period of time. This can also be used to contrast with someone's experience growing the same kinds of plants, but they have less success. Example dialogue (You and someone buy the same kind of tomato seeds and try planting them) : Other Person: I don't know what I'm doing wrong. All my [tomato] plants wither and die. You: I don't have any problems. My plants grow. |
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Maybe it's just a formal thing which native speakers themselves don't do correct as well or forget? This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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