-ing Vs The Infinitive

Hello Hello,

My first question has been asked and I'm a little bit nervous, because it's a little bit complicated:

@EnglishAnswers Why in some sentences after to is wrotte a verb in ING form? Example: is basic to understanding how the component works

This is what I like to call '-ing Vs the infinitive'.  It's a confusing area of English, so let's see if we can make it a bit clearer.


Let's start with this strange sentence:

I like eating monkeys.

This sentence has two possible meanings:

1.  You are a person who likes to watch monkeys when they eat.  (lovely eating monkeys)



2.  You are a person who likes to eat monkeys!!!! (poor little monkeys!)


Why?

In English the '-ing' form of a verb can be two things: a present participle or a gerund.  The present participle is used as an adjective.  The gerund is used as a noun.

So in the first definition of the sentence 'I like eating monkeys', 'eating' is a present participle.  It is an adjective that is describing the monkeys:  eating monkeys = monkeys who eat.


In the second definition of the sentence 'I like eating monkeys', 'eating' is a gerund and forms what I call a 'gerund block' (a single unit) with monkeys:  eating monkeys =  to eat monkeys.  In language terms, saying 'I like eating monkeys' is the same as saying 'I like Coca Cola'.


So what does that mean in practical terms?

It means that for clarity, you should not say 'I like eating monkeys' (because it has two possible definitions).  You should say one of these two sentences:

1.  I like monkeys who eat (lovely eating monkeys).

2.  I like to eat monkeys (poor little monkeys!). 


Ah!  The Infinitive has arrived:  'eating' Vs 'to eat'.

What do you think the difference is between 'I like eating pizza' and 'I like to eat pizza'?  The answer is not much.  In this context they communicate the same thing. 

Why? 

Because typically, Pizzas do not eat other things.  Linguistically, the sentence 'I like eating pizza' does have two definitions:

1.  I like pizzas who eat (Ah!  Attack of the Killer Eating Pizzas!  Run for your lives!).


2.  I like to eat pizzas (Mmmm.... lovely Pizza!).

But in practical terms it's not really possible for Pizzas to eat people, so we don't worry about the difference.  You can say both 'I like eating Pizza' and 'I like to eat Pizza'.

*Linguistic purists will tell you to use the infinitive form 'to eat' only, and that to use the '-ing' form is wrong.  But in reality, most native English speakers would say 'I like eating pizza'. 

When does '-ing Vs The Infinitive' make a difference?

Let's look at these two sentences:

1.  I remember locking the door.


2.  Remember to lock the door.

Can you see the difference? 

The first sentence is referring to something that happened in the past:  I remember locking the door =  I locked the door.  

The second sentence is an instruction for the future:  Remember to lock the door = You will have to lock the door.

Why?

In English we use the '-ing' form to talk about things in the past or things that are presently happening.  We use the infinitive form to talk about the future.

Let's return to the original question:

@EnglishAnswers Why in some sentences after to is wrotte a verb in ING form? Example: is basic to understanding how the component works

This sentence can be written in two ways, each with a slightly different definition:

1.  (This) is basic to understanding how the component works.

2.  (This) is basic to understand how the component works.


Remember the rules:  '-ing' for past and presently happening, the infinitive for the future.

In the first sentence, 'this' and 'understanding' take place at the same time (the understanding is presently happening):  You need this as you understand how the component works.

In the second sentence, 'this' takes place before you understand (to understand is in the future):  You need this first and then you will understand how the component works. 


The good news is the two sentences communicate a very similar idea:  this is important!  You need this!  So don't worry about the difference too much when you're speaking. 

However if you want to develop fluent English, you do need to practice understanding the difference.

There are a few more aspects to '-ing Vs The Infinitive', but I think that will do for now. 


Remember if you have any questions about this answer, feel free to post a comment below. 

If you want to ask a new question, you can email me at answers@ondemandenglishsupport.com or you can Direct Message me or @ me on my twitter feed:  EnglishAnswers.

Toodles!