It was really nice seeing you again after almost two years

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

(a) It was really nice seeing you again after almost two years.
(b) It was really nice to see you again after almost two years.

I have two questions:

  1. Can we consider (a) more informal and (b) more formal?
  2. Is there any significant difference in meaning?
Many thanks..
2

neither one is more formal than the other.

The difference is not significant and relates to the emphasis on the action of seeing/to see.

3

I think (a) is more formal and right

4

Either the infinitive or the gerund can be used in certain situations without any difference in meaning.

The best exercise is swimming.
The best exercise is to swim.
(It is nice meeting/to meet you)

Some situations can take only the infinitive.

I want to tell you a story.
I am glad to meet you.

Some situations can take only the gerund.

She enjoys travelling.
He minds drinking in public.

5

Neither one is more formal - or more correct - than the other.

6

Hi T_H_Lawrence!

Above all, thank you for a full explanation,but what is at issue is
after the adjectives can we use the “to-infinitive” or the “-ing” form,
or rather, “gerund”.

Many grammar books say that after adjectives the infinitive is most often used (in contrast to the gerund).  For example, in "English Grammar in Use (third edition)"  (R. Murphy) even one lesson is dedicated to this issue (see Unit 65, Adjective + to ..., p. 130)
In the first edition of  "Advanced Grammar in Use"  (M.Hewings) the author says
that after majority of adjectives the infinitive is used except for few adjectives, for example, busy and worth...(Unit 87, adjectives + that clause or [u]to-infinitive[/u], p.134) 
In the second edition, he adds that "-ing" form is used in [b]informal English[/b].
Michael Swan also asserts this in his famous "Practical English Usage".
7

I don’t think there is any difference between “seeing” and “to see”, en meaning, or in level of formality.

8

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello,

Here is some information that may interest you. It comes from a book that many people respect.

  1. It is difficult finding your way around in a strange city.

  2. It is difficult to find your way around in a strange city.

The scholar who wrote that book says:

“There is not much difference in meaning …; -ing may refer to an action in progress, whereas the to-infinitive may imply in general.”

James

NOTES:

  1. Source: L.G. Alexander, Longman English Grammar (1988), page 317.

  2. It was my idea to underline some words and to put some words in boldface (black ). He did not do it.

9

James M, thanks for accurate answer and peculiar style of writing :slight_smile:

10

You are very welcome.

11

Hi. I think the following is the same but I want to know others opinions too:

  • I came here to meeting my sister.
  • I came here to meet my sister.

A learned book tells me that (the first one is the correct and the formal one) how do any of you consider this.

Thanks.

12

The first one is incorrect. You cannot use ‘meeting’ in that statement.

13

Hi Ebenezer!

The first sentence does not exist in English. As far as I know, to show the purpose of an action the following structures are possible:

(a) I came here [size=150]to meet[/size] my sister.
(b) I came here [size=150]in order to meet[/size] my sister.
© I came here [size=150]so as to meet[/size] my sister (formal).

If you notice in all the three structures the [b]to-infinitive[/b] is used.
The [b]to + -ing[/b] (e.g. to working, to studying etc.) structure is used in certain cases where [size=150]to[/size] is considered the preposition and is followed by the gerund.

   e.g.
 They object [u]to[/u] [b]changing[/b] their plans at this late date.
 Sobir confessed [u]to[/u] [b]stealing[/b] the money.

  I hope this helps you. :-)

      Sincerely,
                SardorBEK
14

Beeesneees,
Can I say : “I came here for meeting my sister.”?

15 
 Hi Allifathima!

Even though the question has not been addressed to me,
I am 99 % sure that your sentence is not correct.
It is common error in English for those who learn English as a foreign language
(including me). The above-mentioned [size=150]three[/size] structures are usually
used when showing the purpose of an action.

However, perhaps (I am not sure about this) it is used in colloquial speech.
I also wish to “listen to” experts opinion concerning this problem.

16

Hi Allifathima,

This sentence -

doesn’t work. The preposition ‘for’ is usually followed by an object but not by a gerund/present participle when ‘for’ is used to express a purpose/intention.

You can say: I came here in order to meet my sister/I came here for a meeting with my sister.

You could say: He was arrested for stealing a car/They blamed him for breaking the chair. In those sentences ‘for’ is used to show the reason but not the intention.

Alan

17

Alan,
Are all these sentence stated below fine or not?

  1. I’m bringing some pots and pans for cooking.
  2. I’m for going now before it’s too late.
  3. He apologized for being late.
  4. I apologize for not replying to your letter sooner.
  5. She argued the case for bringing back the death penalty.
  6. He was arrested for jaywalking.
    Do you say that in the above sentences, ‘for’ is used to show the reason only
    but only in the sentence - “I came here for meeting my sister.”,
    ‘for’ is used to show the intention & that is not valid.
    Is that correct?
    Please confirm.
18
  1. possible, but not likely.
  2. Incorrect ‘For’ needs to be removed.
  3. correct
  4. correct
  5. (b) correct
  6. correct
19

Alan,
Are all these sentence stated below fine or not?

  1. I’m bringing some pots and pans for cooking.
  2. I’m for going now before it’s too late.
  3. He apologized for being late.
  4. I apologize for not replying to your letter sooner.
  5. She argued the case for bringing back the death penalty.
  6. He was arrested for jaywalking.
    Do you say that in the above sentences, ‘for’ is used to show the reason only
    but only in the sentence - “I came here for meeting my sister.”,
    ‘for’ is used to show the intention & that is not valid.
    Is that correct?
    Please confirm.
20

Hi Allifathima,

Yes, that’s what I think. The sentences seem acceptable. I think you could say: I’m for going now before it’s too late. This suggests that you are in favour of going and would also be written as I’m all for going now before it’s too late. With (1) I would say: … to do the cooking.

Alan