"to V" and "V_ing"

[Nessie]

Hi,
Could you please tell me what the difference between these twp sentences:

1/ It's lovely reading letters, and a burden writing them

2/ It's lovely to read letters, and a burden to write them

Is it the same as "like + to V" and "like + V_ing"?

Thank you very much
Nessie.
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Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Ralf]

Hi Nessie,

You can say both. Recently we had a similar discussion, and Alan said a few clever things there.

[Nessie]

Thanks a lot Ralf. And again, Alan's clear explanation shed light on the matter :)

As for my two original sentence, Ralf, do you agree that the former is better? (which seems to indicate a matter of fact - general) :)
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Ralf]

Hi Nessie,

The second sentence (to+infinitive) sounds a bit more natural to me. I'd expect the gerund sentence to go 'Reading letters is lovely, but writing them can be a burden'. But I can't explain why, just a feeling...
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[Nessie]

Then I suppose people may have different feelings when they use English :)
I myself think the 1st sentence more natural. Perhaps that's because it's the original sentence I read from the book "the thorn birds" :P

By the way, is my last sentence grammatically correct? I wonder about "think the 1st sentence correct" (without "is")
Thank you very much.
Nessie.
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

In this case, I think it can also be argued that using the gerund seems more active -- more so than using the to-infinitive. Either sentence is possible, but I myself prefer the first one (i.e. with the gerunds).
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Nessie]

Thanks for your idea, Amy :)
However I don't get you very well (about "using the gerund seems more active" - what do you mean by "active" here, Amy?, could you please give me an example and analyse it?)

Thank you so much :P
Nessie.
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

The -ing form of a verb tends to convey a feeling of duration, and thus a gerund often has more of a sense of activity in progress rather than of a complete act. That's what I meant by "active".
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln