Semantic analysis of the use of gerund and infinitive

Suyarova Gulsanam Sherzod qizi
Student of CSPU Department English language and theory
The group of 22/5
suyarovagulsanam6@gmail.com

Annotation
In this article, the features of using the tense forms of the to-infinitive and the gerund, the verbs after which one of them is used, as well as the verbs that can be followed by both the infinitive and the gerund, and their semantic differences are analyzed.
Key words: verbs, infinitive, gerund, features

Annotatsiya
Ushbu maqolada to-infinitive va gerundning zamon shakllarini qo‘llash xususiyatlari, ayrim fe’llardan keyin ulardan qaysi biri ishlatilishi, shuningdek, o’zidan keyin ham infinitive, ham gerund talab qiladigan fe’llar hamda ularning ma’nodagi farqlari tahlil qilinadi.
Kalit so’zlar: fe’llar, infinitiv, gerundiy, xususiyatlar
Аннотация
В данной статье анализируются особенности употребления временных форм инфинитива с частицей to и герундия, глаголы, после которых используется один из них, а также глаголы, после которых могут употребляться как инфинитив, так и герундий, и различия в их значении.
Ключевые слова: особенности, глаголы, инфинитив, герундий.

In the grammatical system of the English language, verb forms hold a particularly significant position. A verb not only conveys an action or a state but also functions as the central grammatical element of the sentence. Categories such as tense, person, number, and continuity of action are expressed through verbs. Therefore, the accurate use of verbs is vital for learners.
In English, verbs have various non-finite forms such as the infinitive, gerund, and participle. These forms enrich speech by adding semantic nuances such as cause, result, condition, or continuity. In Uzbek, non-finite verb forms correspond to verbal nouns and also possess their own tense distinctions.

The Tense Forms of the Gerund
1.Simple Gerund (V+ing): expresses a present or general action. Example: She advised going to the party yesterday.

2. Perfect Gerund (having + past participle): denotes an action completed before another. Example: Can you remember writing a letter to me for the first time?

The Tense Forms of the Infinitive

1. Simple Infinitive (to + verb): action simultaneous with or following the main verb. Example: It seems to rain.
2. Continuous Infinitive (to be + V-ing): expresses an ongoing action at the same time as the main verb. Example: My brother pretended to be listening to music.
3. Perfect Infinitive (to have + past participle): action occurring before the main verb. Example: He refused to have stolen the money.
4. Perfect Continuous Infinitive (to have been + V-ing): continuous action prior to the main verb. Example: She seems to have been learning English for two years. Verb Usage

• Infinitive is used to express purpose, after adjectives (happy, eager), after nouns/pronouns (something, someone), after too/enough, and in structures like it + be + adjective. Example: I always do my homework to achieve good results.
• Gerund functions as a noun, is used after certain verbs (enjoy, avoid, consider), after expressions (be busy, can’t help, have difficulty), and after prepositions. Example: Reading is useful for us.
• 
  Change of Meaning with Gerund and Infinitive
  Some verbs allow both forms but change meaning depending on which is used:
• Remember: remember to do = not forget / remember doing = recall
• Stop: stop to do = pause for another action / stop doing = quit
• Try: try to do = attempt / try doing = experiment
• Regret: regret to do = be sorry / regret doing = feel sorry about
• Mean: mean to do = intend / mean doing = involve
• Forget: forget to do = not remember / forget doing = not recall
• 
  The correct use of gerund and infinitive is essential for learners of English. These forms influence not only grammatical accuracy but also the semantic content of speech. A clear understanding of their forms, functions, and meaning differences allows learners to express themselves more fluently and precisely.
  The main difference between gerunds and to-infinitives in terms of temporal meaning lies in the fact that the gerund generally expresses the action as a process or a factual event, while the to-infinitive conveys purpose, intention, or result. Perfect forms highlight actions that have already occurred, whereas passive forms indicate actions performed upon the subject or actions that are required to be performed.
  Consequently, the correct use of gerund and to-infinitive forms is a crucial means of accurately expressing temporal meanings in English.

References

1. Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman, 1985.
2. Murphy, R. English Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
3. Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. K. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
4. Eastwood, J. Oxford Guide to English Grammar. Oxford University Press, 1994.
5. Swan, M. Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press, 2005.