Continue + infinitive/ continue + gerund

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

I know we have discussed this issue before but I’d like to hear your opinion on this particular example. What do you think is the difference betweeen

Please continue to practice/practise and
Please continue practicing/practising?

Thanks a lot,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: Downhill skiing[YSaerTTEW443543]

2

Hi Torsten,

You asked for the difference between these two:

Generally speaking the infinitive has greater precison than the gerund. I think I can best amplify this by taking two sentences/situations.

Imagine someone is playing the piano and is in fact practising. You walk into the room and the person stops playing. You say:

Please continue to practise and take no notice of me.

In another situation the music teacher says to the pupil who’s not very good at playing the piano that practice is vital and says:

If you really want to become a proficient player, you must continue practising.

The first situation, I hope illustrates the particular (infinitive) and the second one the general (gerund)

Having said all that, I must say there is a fine line between the two.

Alan

3

Thanks for your explanation Alan, it makes perfect sense.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: A small girl with a basket[YSaerTTEW443543]