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The basic difference in their meaning is that the gerund is more general, whereas the infinitive is more
specific and more bound to some particular occasion. When they combine with the same verb the difference in
their meaning and use should be fully realized.
1. With the verbs to like, to hate, to prefer the gerund expresses a more general or a habitual action, the
infinitive a specific single action:
I like swimming (I am fond of swimming).
I hate interrupting people.
They prefer staying indoors when the weather is cold.
I shouldn’t like to swim in this lake.
I hate to interrupt you, but I have to.
I’d prefer to stay at home in this cold weather.
2. With the verbs to begin and to start either form may generally be used, but again the gerund is preferable
when the action is more general.
She began singing when a child.
She went over to the piano and began to sing.
No gerund is used:
a) when the finite verb is in the continuous form.
He is beginning to study French.
It’s beginning to rain.
b) with the verbs to understand and to see (meaning to understand).
He began to understand how it was done.
c) when the subject denotes a thing, not a living being.
The doors began to creak.
The clock began to strike.
3. The verb to remember is followed by a gerund when it means a prior action (to recall, to keep in one’s
memory some past event), and by an infinitive when it means a simultaneous action (the working of one’s
memory).
I remembered posting the letters.
(Я помнил, что опустил письмо).
I remembered to post the letters. =
I remembered and posted.
(Я не забыл опустить письмо).
The same refers to the verb to forget.
I shall never forget hearing him sing
(Я никогда не забуду как он пел).
Don’t forget to post the letters!
(Не забудь опустить письма).
I didn’t forget to post the letters.
(Я не забыл опустить письма).
4. The verb to regret is followed by the gerund to suggest priority, whereas the infinitive suggests a
simultaneous action.
I regret not having worked harder at the language as a boy.
(Я сожалею, что не учил как следует языка в детстве).
I regret following his advice.
(Я сожалею, что последовал его совету).
I regret to inform you.
(С сожалением сообщаю вам это).
I regret to have to inform you.
(Сожалею, что вынужден сообщить вам это).