Gerunds vs. Infinitives

What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Both gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that function like nouns in sentences.

Gerund: verb + -ing (swimming, reading, working)

• I enjoy swimming.

Infinitive: to + base verb (to swim, to read, to work)

• I want to swim.

The challenge: Some verbs are followed by gerunds, some by infinitives, and some by either! You need to learn which verbs take which form.

Gerunds (verb + -ing)

Gerunds look like the present continuous but function as nouns.

How to Form Gerunds

Most verbs: add -ing

• swim → swimming
• read → reading
• work → working

Verbs ending in -e: drop -e, add -ing

• make → making
• write → writing
• come → coming

Short verbs: double the final consonant

• run → running
• stop → stopping
• swim → swimming

When to Use Gerunds

As the subject of a sentence:

• Swimming is good exercise.
• Reading books is relaxing.
• Learning English takes time.

After certain verbs (see list below):

• I enjoy swimming.
• She finished reading the book.
• They avoid eating fast food.

After prepositions:

• I'm interested in learning Spanish.
• She's good at cooking.
• Thank you for helping me.
• We're thinking about moving to Berlin.

In fixed expressions:

• It's no use crying over spilled milk.
• It's worth visiting that museum.
• I can't help laughing.
• I don't mind waiting.

Infinitives (to + verb)

The infinitive is the base form of the verb with "to."

When to Use Infinitives

After certain verbs (see list below):

• I want to go home.
• She decided to study medicine.
• They hope to travel next year.

To express purpose (why you do something):

• I went to the store to buy milk. (why? to buy milk)
• She's studying to pass the exam. (why? to pass)
• We're saving money to buy a house. (why? to buy)

After adjectives:

• I'm happy to help you.
• It's difficult to understand.
• She's ready to leave.
• We're excited to see you.

After "too" and "enough":

• I'm too tired to work. (too + adjective + to)
• She's old enough to drive. (adjective + enough + to)
• It's too expensive to buy.

After question words (how, what, where, when, who):

• I don't know what to do.
• She told me how to cook pasta.
• We decided where to go.
• He explained when to arrive.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

These verbs are ALWAYS followed by a gerund, not an infinitive:

Common gerund verbs:

• enjoy: I enjoy reading.
• finish: She finished working at 6 PM.
• avoid: He avoids eating sugar.
• miss: I miss living in Paris.
• mind: Do you mind waiting?
• suggest: I suggest taking a taxi.
• recommend: I recommend trying the pasta.
• keep: Keep walking straight.
• practice: She practices playing piano every day.
• consider: We're considering moving to Berlin.
• imagine: Can you imagine living there?
• deny: He denied stealing the money.
• admit: She admitted making a mistake.

List of common gerund verbs: enjoy, finish, avoid, miss, mind, suggest, recommend, keep (continue), practice, consider, imagine, deny, admit, risk, postpone, delay

Examples:

• I enjoy listening to music.
• She finished doing her homework.
• They avoid drinking coffee at night.
• We miss seeing you.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

These verbs are ALWAYS followed by an infinitive (to + verb):

Common infinitive verbs:

• want: I want to go home.
• need: She needs to study.
• decide: We decided to leave.
• hope: They hope to win.
• plan: I plan to visit Paris.
• expect: I expect to arrive at 6 PM.
• would like: I'd like to have coffee.
• refuse: He refused to help.
• promise: I promise to call you.
• offer: She offered to help me.
• agree: They agreed to come.
• manage: I managed to finish on time.
• afford: We can't afford to buy a house.
• seem: She seems to be happy.
• appear: He appears to know the answer.
• pretend: He pretended to be sick.

List of common infinitive verbs: want, need, decide, hope, plan, expect, would like, refuse, promise, offer, agree, manage, afford, seem, appear, pretend, learn, fail, choose, prepare

Examples:

• I want to learn Spanish.
• She decided to quit her job.
• We hope to see you soon.
• They refused to help.

Verbs Followed by Either (Same Meaning)

Some verbs can be followed by EITHER a gerund OR an infinitive with NO change in meaning:

Same meaning:

• like: I like swimming = I like to swim
• love: She loves reading = She loves to read
• hate: He hates waiting = He hates to wait
• prefer: I prefer walking = I prefer to walk
• start: It started raining = It started to rain
• begin: She began crying = She began to cry
• continue: They continued working = They continued to work

List: like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue

Examples:

• I like watching TV. = I like to watch TV. ✅
• She started learning English. = She started to learn English. ✅

Verbs Followed by Either (Different Meaning!)

IMPORTANT: Some verbs can take both, but the MEANING CHANGES:

STOP

stop + gerund = quit doing something (you were doing it, now you don't)

• I stopped smoking. (I don't smoke anymore)
• She stopped working at 5 PM. (she finished work)

stop + infinitive = stop in order to do something (you stop one thing to do another)

• I stopped to smoke. (I paused what I was doing to have a cigarette)
• She stopped to buy coffee. (she paused her journey to buy coffee)

Compare:

• I stopped smoking. (I quit - I don't smoke anymore)
• I stopped to smoke. (I paused to have a cigarette)

REMEMBER

remember + gerund = recall something that happened (memory of past)

• I remember meeting him. (I have a memory of when I met him)
• Do you remember going there? (do you recall the trip?)

remember + infinitive = don't forget to do something (future obligation)

• Remember to call your mother! (don't forget - you need to call)
• I remembered to lock the door. (I didn't forget)

Compare:

• I remember locking the door. (I have a memory of doing it)
• I remembered to lock the door. (I didn't forget to do it)

FORGET

forget + gerund = not remember something that happened (memory of past)

• I'll never forget meeting you. (I'll always remember when I met you)
• I forgot meeting him. (I don't remember meeting him)

forget + infinitive = not remember to do something (future obligation)

• I forgot to call her! (I didn't remember - I didn't do it)
• Don't forget to lock the door. (don't fail to lock it)

Compare:

• I forgot locking the door. (I don't remember doing it - did I lock it?)
• I forgot to lock the door. (I didn't lock it - I forgot)

TRY

try + gerund = experiment, test something as a possible solution

• I tried taking aspirin for my headache. (I tested it to see if it would help)
• Try adding some salt. (experiment - see if it improves the taste)

try + infinitive = make an effort, attempt to do something difficult

• I tried to open the window, but it was stuck. (I made an effort)
• She's trying to learn German. (she's making an effort)

Compare:

• Try drinking water. (test if it helps - suggestion)
• Try to drink more water. (make an effort)

GO ON

go on + gerund = continue the same activity

• He went on talking for hours. (he continued talking)
• After a pause, she went on reading. (continued the same activity)

go on + infinitive = move to the next stage/activity

• After finishing school, he went on to study at university. (next stage)
• She went on to become a famous writer. (next stage in life)

REGRET

regret + gerund = feel sorry about something you did (past)

• I regret telling him. (I'm sorry I told him - I did it)
• She regrets buying that car. (she's sorry she bought it)

regret + infinitive = formal announcement of bad news (formal)

• We regret to inform you that... (formal - announcing bad news)
• I regret to say that the position is filled. (formal)

Preposition + Gerund

After ALL prepositions, we use the gerund (never infinitive).

Common patterns:

be + adjective + preposition + gerund:

• interested in doing
• good at playing
• tired of waiting
• excited about going
• afraid of failing
• responsible for organizing

Examples:

• I'm interested in learning Spanish.
• She's good at cooking.
• We're tired of waiting.
• He's excited about traveling.

Verb + preposition + gerund:

• think about doing
• talk about doing
• dream of doing
• insist on doing
• apologize for doing
• thank someone for doing

Examples:

• I'm thinking about moving to Berlin.
• She apologized for being late.
• Thank you for helping me.

Other expressions:

• instead of doing
• without doing
• before doing
• after doing
• by doing (method)

Examples:

• I stayed home instead of going out.
• She left without saying goodbye.
• Wash your hands before eating.
• After finishing work, I went home.
• You learn by practicing.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using infinitive after "enjoy"

• ❌ I enjoy to swim.
• ✅ I enjoy swimming.

Mistake 2: Using gerund after "want"

• ❌ I want going home.
• ✅ I want to go home.

Mistake 3: Using infinitive after prepositions

• ❌ I'm interested in to learn Spanish.
• ✅ I'm interested in learning Spanish.

Mistake 4: Confusing "stop doing" and "stop to do"

• ❌ I stopped to smoke. (if you mean you quit)
• ✅ I stopped smoking. (quit)

Mistake 5: Using gerund for purpose

• ❌ I went to the store for buying milk.
• ✅ I went to the store to buy milk. (purpose - use infinitive)

Practice Examples

Choose gerund or infinitive (answers at bottom):

1. I enjoy _______ (read) books.
2. She wants _______ (travel) to Japan.
3. We finished _______ (do) our homework.
4. They decided _______ (buy) a new car.
5. I'm good at _______ (cook).

Choose the correct form (different meanings):

6. I stopped _______ (smoke). [I quit]
7. I stopped _______ (smoke). [I paused to have a cigarette]
8. Remember _______ (call) your mother! [don't forget]
9. I remember _______ (meet) him. [I recall]

Complete with gerund or infinitive:

10. I'm interested in _______ (learn) Spanish.
11. She offered _______ (help) me.
12. We avoid _______ (eat) fast food.
13. He seems _______ (be) happy.
14. I can't afford _______ (buy) that.

Correct the mistakes:

15. I enjoy to swim.
16. She wants going home.
17. We're interested in to learn English.
18. I went to the store for buying milk.
19. He suggested to take a taxi.

Choose gerund or infinitive (same or different meaning?):

20. I like _______ (swim). [gerund or infinitive - same]
21. I tried _______ (call) her, but she didn't answer. [made an effort]
22. Try _______ (add) some salt. [experiment]

Complete the sentences:

23. I'm thinking about _______ (move) to Berlin.
24. We hope _______ (see) you soon.
25. She's tired of _______ (wait).

Answers: 1. reading, 2. to travel, 3. doing, 4. to buy, 5. cooking, 6. smoking (quit), 7. to smoke (paused), 8. to call (don't forget), 9. meeting (recall), 10. learning, 11. to help, 12. eating, 13. to be, 14. to buy, 15. I enjoy swimming., 16. She wants to go home., 17. We're interested in learning English., 18. I went to the store to buy milk., 19. He suggested taking a taxi., 20. swimming or to swim (both correct - same meaning), 21. to call, 22. adding, 23. moving, 24. to see, 25. waiting

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Quick Reference Lists

Verbs + Gerund ONLY

enjoy, finish, avoid, miss, mind, suggest, recommend, keep, practice, consider, imagine, deny, admit, risk, postpone, delay

Example: I enjoy reading.

Verbs + Infinitive ONLY

want, need, decide, hope, plan, expect, would like, refuse, promise, offer, agree, manage, afford, seem, appear, pretend, learn, fail, choose, prepare

Example: I want to go.

Verbs + Either (Same Meaning)

like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue

Example: I like swimming = I like to swim

Verbs + Either (Different Meaning!)

Verb	+ Gerund	+ Infinitive
stop	quit (stopped smoking = quit)	pause to do (stopped to smoke = paused)
remember	recall past (remember doing)	don't forget future (remember to do)
forget	don't recall past (forget doing)	didn't do (forget to do)
try	experiment (try doing)	make effort (try to do)
go on	continue same (go on doing)	next stage (go on to do)
regret	sorry about past (regret doing)	formal announcement (regret to inform)

After Prepositions → Always Gerund

• interested in doing
• good at doing
• tired of doing
• think about doing
• instead of doing
• without doing
• before/after doing
• by doing

Purpose → Always Infinitive

• I went to the store to buy milk.
• She's studying to pass the exam.

After Adjectives → Infinitive

• happy to help
• difficult to understand
• ready to leave

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Part of the LearnFast.life Grammar Series

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