The Infinitive Mood may be used in the capacity of a noun either as Subject or Object of the sentence. It is then generally (but not necessarily) accompanied by the def. article, as—
El leer es útil: To read is useful.
Me es necesario el leer: It is necessary for me to read.
The form of the Pres. Part. used in this capacity in English is inadmissible in Spanish, e.g., we could never say "leyendo" for "el leer" (or "la lectura").
The Infinitive Mood preceded by á may have a passive meaning, as—
Una consignación á hacer or also á hacerse (á ser hecha): A shipment to be made.
The Infinitive Mood preceded by á may be used instead of the Finite
Mood introduced by "if," as—
Á saber yo que V. era accionista de aquella compañía, le habría comunicado luego aquella relación: If I had known (or had I known) that you were a shareholder in that society, I would have sent you at once that report. The =Present Participle= after "to be" is used in both languages to form the continuous or progressive tenses; in Spanish this happens much less frequently than in English, and only with verbs whose action implies =duration of time= and besides when it is spoken of as =actually in progress=. This form is never possible with the verb "to go," and is very rarely found with "to come," as—
Miro aquellas Mantas y Terlices que me gustan: I am looking at those
Blankets and Tickings which I like.
Grita: He is shouting.
Nos escribe continuamente: He is continually writing us.