What is the difference between the usage of "-ing" gerunds and "to" + gerunds?

Question

For example, you can say "I like making pottery" or "I like to make pottery." These two sentences are equivalent, right?

But you can't say "I'm learning about to make pottery" can you? This is just a trivial example. What I'm looking for are defined rules about the meanings and usages of these two types of gerunds.

Answer 1

What you are referring to are participles and infinitives, not gerunds.  An infinitive is the root form of a verb, and is always preceded by "to". Participles end in "ing".  You can say, "I like making pottery", since your participle follows your verb.  "You can also say, "I like to make pottery", because your infinitive follows the verb."  But in your third sentence, "I'm learning about to make pottery", you have a participle form of the verb (learning) preceding a preposition used in an adverbial sense, and an infinitive. So to paraphrase the infamous spellcheck, "it looks like you have too much verbiage!"  I hope you're not even more confused than before you asked this question.  

Answer 2

Usage is the act of using such as activity and language, or an accepted habitual practice. But  using is putting into service; making work or employing for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose.

For example, " his Spanish usage is whacked off"

Using this tool is so hard for me....

Use  (noun) is common.. " Bush warned against the use of force in Georgia."  'He put his knowledge to good use "

Using (gerund)  is a  noun formed from a verb such as the '-ing' form of an English verb when used as a noun.

Answer 3

Try reading this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerund

Will give a much more idea that any kind of answer I type :)