Grammar p. 19: Gerunds and Infinitives
The GERUND is a form of to be that functions as a noun or an adjective or an object.
For example, Running is fun.
After a number of verbs, an infinitive is followed.
For example, I stopped to greet my niece.
Sometimes when two verbs are used together, the first verb determines the form of the second. So, for example, the verb want is followed by an infinitive, e.g. to eat. I want to eat/ He wanted to study English/They've been wanting to see the sea.
What is the differnece?
I stopped to smoke a cigarette. I stopped smoking cigarettes.