What is gerunds & infinitives in English grammar?

Gerunds & Infinitives is an important concept in English grammar. This lesson explains the rules, formation, and usage with clear examples to help you master it.

How do I use gerunds & infinitives correctly?

To use gerunds & infinitives correctly, follow the rules explained in this lesson. Pay attention to the examples and practice with the quiz at the end of the page.

What are common mistakes with gerunds & infinitives?

Common mistakes include incorrect formation and usage in context. Review the examples in this lesson to avoid these errors in your writing and speaking.

Verbs

Gerunds & Infinitives

Quick Summary

Gerunds (-ing form as noun) and infinitives (to + verb) are verb forms that function as nouns. Some verbs take gerunds only (enjoy reading), some take infinitives only (decide to go), and some take both (love reading/to read).

Gerunds and infinitives are two verb forms that can function as nouns in sentences. One of the trickiest aspects of English grammar is knowing which form to use after certain verbs, as there's no universal rule-you often have to memorize which verbs take which form. However, understanding patterns and practicing common combinations will help you master this challenging area.

What Are Gerunds?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. Despite looking like a present participle (verb + ing), it functions grammatically as a noun.

Swimming is great exercise. (subject)
I enjoy reading novels. (object of verb)
She's interested in learning Japanese. (object of preposition)
His favorite activity is cooking. (subject complement)

Gerund Uses

1. As the Subject of a Sentence:

Smoking is bad for your health.
Learning a new language takes time.
Running every day keeps me fit.
Cooking at home saves money.

2. As the Object of Certain Verbs:

Verbs Followed by Gerunds
enjoy	avoid	finish	mind
suggest	consider	practice	deny
admit	discuss	keep	quit
risk	miss	postpone	imagine
understand	appreciate	delay	resist

I enjoy dancing at parties.
She avoids eating junk food.
They finished cleaning the house.
Would you mind closing the window?
He denied stealing the money.

3. After Prepositions:

Gerunds ALWAYS follow prepositions-never infinitives.

I'm interested in learning more. (NOT: in to learn)
She's good at playing tennis.
Thank you for helping me.
He apologized for being late.
They're thinking about moving abroad.
We talked about starting a business.

4. After Certain Expressions:

It's no use crying over spilled milk.
It's worth visiting that museum.
I can't help laughing at his jokes.
Have difficulty/trouble understanding
Spend time reading
Be busy working

What Are Infinitives?

An infinitive is to + base verb. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

To err is human. (subject, formal)
She wants to leave early. (object of verb)
He has a lot of work to do. (adjective, modifying 'work')
I went to the store to buy milk. (adverb, showing purpose)

Infinitive Uses

1. After Certain Verbs:

Verbs Followed by Infinitives
want	decide	hope	plan
need	expect	promise	agree
refuse	learn	afford	choose
offer	pretend	seem	appear
manage	threaten	tend	fail

She wants to travel the world.
We decided to stay home.
He hopes to become a doctor.
They agreed to help us.
I can't afford to buy a new car.

2. After Adjectives:

It is important to be on time.
I'm happy to help you.
She was sad to hear the news.
He's ready to go.
The book is easy to read.

3. To Express Purpose (Why?):

I went to the store to buy groceries.
She called to ask about the meeting.
He's saving money to buy a house.
We stopped to take a break.

4. After Question Words:

I don't know what to do.
Can you tell me how to get there?
She asked where to park.
We haven't decided when to leave.

Verbs That Take Both (with Same Meaning)

Some verbs can use either gerund or infinitive with little or no difference in meaning:

I love swimming. / I love to swim.
She likes reading. / She likes to read.
He hates waiting. / He hates to wait.
They prefer walking. / They prefer to walk.
We started learning. / We started to learn.

Verbs That Take Both (with Different Meanings)

⚠️ Critical Differences

STOP:

• "I stopped smoking" = I quit the habit

• "I stopped to smoke" = I paused in order to smoke

REMEMBER:

• "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:

• "I'll never forget meeting you" = memory of past event

• "I forgot to meet him" = I didn't do it

TRY:

• "Try eating less sugar" = experiment with this method

• "Try to eat less sugar" = make an effort

REGRET:

• "I regret telling him" = I wish I hadn't told him

• "I regret to tell you..." = I'm sorry to inform you (formal)

Bare Infinitives (Without "To")

Some verbs take infinitives without "to" (bare infinitives):

Modal verbs: can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must
"I can swim" (NOT: can to swim)
Make and let: "She made me laugh" / "Let me help you"
Help: "Help me carry this" OR "Help me to carry this" (both acceptable)
Perception verbs: see, hear, watch, feel
"I saw him leave" / "I heard her sing"

Common Mistakes to Avoid

"I enjoy to swim" → CORRECT: "I enjoy swimming" (enjoy + gerund only)
"She wants learning" → CORRECT: "She wants to learn" (want + infinitive only)
"I'm interested in to learn" → CORRECT: "I'm interested in learning" (preposition + gerund)
"I decided going" → CORRECT: "I decided to go" (decide + infinitive)
"She suggested to go" → CORRECT: "She suggested going" (suggest + gerund)

Memory Tips

Helpful Patterns:

• GEMS verbs = Gerund: Give up, Enjoy, Miss, Suggest

• After prepositions = Always gerund

• Future/intention verbs (want, hope, decide, plan, promise) = Usually infinitive

• Mental process verbs (enjoy, consider, imagine) = Usually gerund

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple rule for gerund vs. infinitive?

Unfortunately, no universal rule exists. Some patterns help: prepositions always take gerunds; many future-oriented verbs (want, hope, plan) take infinitives. But ultimately, you need to learn common verb + gerund/infinitive combinations through practice.

What's the difference between "I like swimming" and "I like to swim"?

With "like," "love," "hate," and "prefer," the difference is minimal. Some say the gerund emphasizes enjoyment of the activity itself, while the infinitive emphasizes the choice or habit. In practice, they're often interchangeable.

Why can't I say "I want going"?

"Want" refers to a desire for future action. Verbs expressing future intentions, desires, or decisions typically take infinitives. There's no deep grammatical reason-it's just how English evolved.

Is "help to do" or "help do" correct?

Both are correct! "Help" can take either an infinitive or bare infinitive. "Can you help me to carry this?" and "Can you help me carry this?" are equally valid.

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