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Gerunds & Infinitives

Learn when to use -ing forms and to + verb after other verbs

What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Gerund: verb + -ing used as a noun (swimming, reading, cooking)
Infinitive: to + base verb (to swim, to read, to cook)

Both can function as nouns in sentences, but which one you use depends on the main verb, adjective, or context.

Verbs Followed by GERUND (-ing)

Common verbs + gerund:

  • Enjoy - I enjoy reading.
  • Finish - She finished studying.
  • Mind - Do you mind waiting?
  • Avoid - Avoid making mistakes.
  • Keep - Keep practicing!
  • Suggest - I suggest leaving early.
  • Consider - Consider studying abroad.
  • Miss - I miss living in Paris.
  • Practice - Practice speaking English.
  • Can't help - I can't help laughing.

Memory tip: MEGA FINK CPA

  • Mind, Enjoy, Give up, Avoid
  • Finish, Imagine, Need (when = require), Keep
  • Consider, Practice, Admit

Verbs Followed by INFINITIVE (to + verb)

Common verbs + infinitive:

  • Want - I want to learn English.
  • Need - She needs to study.
  • Plan - We plan to travel.
  • Decide - They decided to stay.
  • Hope - I hope to see you soon.
  • Expect - I expect to pass the exam.
  • Agree - He agreed to help.
  • Refuse - She refused to answer.
  • Promise - I promise to call.
  • Manage - I managed to finish.

Verbs That Take BOTH (Different Meanings)

STOP:

  • Stop smoking. (quit the habit)
  • Stop to smoke. (pause in order to smoke)

REMEMBER/FORGET:

  • I remember meeting him. (memory of past action)
  • Remember to call her. (don't forget future action)
  • I forgot locking the door. (forgot that I did it)
  • I forgot to lock the door. (didn't do it)

TRY:

  • Try adding salt. (experiment/test)
  • Try to arrive on time. (make an effort)

REGRET:

  • I regret saying that. (sorry about past action)
  • I regret to inform you... (formal: sorry to say)

Verbs That Take BOTH (Same Meaning)

These have no difference in meaning:

  • Begin/Start - It began raining / to rain.
  • Continue - Continue working / to work.
  • Like/Love/Hate/Prefer - I like swimming / to swim.

After Prepositions: Always GERUND

  • I'm interested in learning Spanish. (NOT to learn)
  • Thank you for helping me.
  • I'm tired of waiting.
  • She's good at playing piano.
  • He left without saying goodbye.
  • Before going to bed, brush your teeth.

As Subject: Gerund More Common

  • Swimming is good exercise. (common)
  • To swim is good exercise. (less common, more formal)
  • Learning English takes time.
  • Smoking is dangerous.

After Adjectives: Infinitive

  • It's nice to see you.
  • It's important to study.
  • It's difficult to learn.
  • I'm happy to help.
  • She's ready to go.

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ I enjoy to read. → ✅ I enjoy reading.
  • ❌ I want learning English. → ✅ I want to learn English.
  • ❌ I'm interested in to learn. → ✅ ...in learning. (after prepositions)
  • ❌ Stop to smoke! → ✅ Stop smoking! (quit the habit)
  • ❌ Remember calling me. → ✅ Remember to call me. (future action)
  • ❌ She suggested to go. → ✅ She suggested going.
  • ❌ I finished to study. → ✅ I finished studying.

Practice Tips

  • 📚 Memorize key verbs: Learn which common verbs take gerund, infinitive, or both. Start with the most frequent ones.
  • 🔑 Preposition rule: ALWAYS use gerund after prepositions. "Good at playing," "interested in learning," "tired of waiting."
  • 💡 Stop/Remember/Forget: These change meaning! Learn the patterns: "Stop smoking" (quit) vs. "Stop to smoke" (pause).
  • 🎯 Subject position: Gerunds are more natural as subjects: "Swimming is fun" sounds better than "To swim is fun."
  • ✍️ Adjective + infinitive: After adjectives (happy, easy, difficult, nice), use infinitive: "It's nice to see you."

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