Gerunds and infinitives are both verb forms that can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. However, there are some key differences between the two.

Gerunds are formed by adding the suffix "-ing" to a verb. For example, the gerund of the verb "to walk" is "walking". Gerunds can be used as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition. For example:

• Subject: Walking is good exercise.
• Object of a verb: I enjoy walking.
• Object of a preposition: I am tired of walking.

Infinitives are formed by adding the word "to" to a verb. For example, the infinitive of the verb "to walk" is "to walk". Infinitives can be used as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or the complement of a verb. For example:

• Subject: To walk is good exercise.
• Object of a verb: I want to walk.
• Object of a preposition: I am going to walk to the store.
• Complement of a verb: I am happy to walk.

When to use gerunds vs. infinitives

There are a few general rules for when to use gerunds vs. infinitives.

• Gerunds are typically used after verbs that express actions or states of being. For example, we say "I enjoy walking" because the verb "enjoy" expresses a state of being.
• Infinitives are typically used after verbs that express goals or intentions. For example, we say "I want to walk" because the verb "want" expresses an intention.
• Gerunds are typically used after prepositions. For example, we say "I am tired of walking" because the preposition "of" takes a gerund as its object.
• Infinitives are typically used after modal verbs. Modal verbs are verbs that express possibility, necessity, or permission. For example, we say "I can walk" because the modal verb "can" takes an infinitive as its complement.

There are also some exceptions to these rules. For example, the verb "to like" can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. We can say "I like walking" or "I like to walk". The meaning is slightly different in each case. When we say "I like walking", we are simply stating that we enjoy the activity of walking. When we say "I like to walk", we are expressing a desire to walk.

Ultimately, the best way to learn when to use gerunds vs. infinitives is to practice using them in different sentences. The more you use them, the more natural they will become.

Here are some additional tips for using gerunds and infinitives:

• Use a thesaurus to help you find the right verb form. The thesaurus will give you a list of synonyms for the verb, and you can choose the form that is most appropriate for your sentence.