Gerund or Infinitive? Master –ing and to + Verb Rules
One of the most confusing topics in English grammar is knowing when to use a verb + -ing (gerund) and when to use to + verb (infinitive).
Both forms are common, but they’re used in different situations — and using the wrong one can change the meaning of a sentence!
Let’s break it down with simple rules, examples, and tips so you’ll never be confused again.
🔹 What Is a Gerund?
A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that works as a noun in a sentence.
Examples:
- Swimming is good for health.
- I enjoy reading novels.
- She is interested in learning English.
💡 Tip: If the verb is the subject or object of a sentence, it usually takes -ing.
🔹 What Is an Infinitive?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb with to in front of it.
Examples:
- I want to learn English.
- He decided to study abroad.
- They hope to pass the exam.
💡 Tip: The infinitive is often used to express purpose, intention, or desire.
⚖️ Gerund vs Infinitive: The Difference
| Function | Gerund (-ing) | Infinitive (to + verb) |
|---|---|---|
| Used as subject | Smoking is bad for you. | ❌ |
| After certain verbs | I enjoy reading. | I want to read. |
| To show purpose | ❌ | I went to buy milk. |
| After prepositions | She’s good at dancing. | ❌ |
| After adjectives | ❌ | It’s hard to learn English. |
🔸 Verbs Followed by Gerunds (-ing)
Some verbs are always followed by a gerund.
Examples:
- enjoy → I enjoy swimming.
- avoid → He avoids eating junk food.
- mind → Would you mind closing the window?
- suggest → She suggested going out.
- finish → They finished working.
Common list:
enjoy, avoid, finish, admit, mind, suggest, miss, imagine, consider, deny, practice
🔸 Verbs Followed by Infinitives (to + Verb)
Other verbs are always followed by an infinitive.
Examples:
- want → I want to learn English.
- decide → He decided to leave early.
- plan → We plan to visit London.
- hope → I hope to see you soon.
- agree → She agreed to help me.
Common list:
want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree, promise, refuse, learn, expect
⚠️ Verbs That Change Meaning
Some verbs can take both forms, but the meaning changes!
| Verb | Gerund (-ing) | Infinitive (to + verb) |
|---|---|---|
| stop | He stopped smoking. (quit) | He stopped to smoke. (paused to do it) |
| remember | I remember meeting her. (memory of the past) | Remember to meet her. (don’t forget) |
| try | Try restarting the app. (experiment) | Try to restart the app. (make an effort) |
| forget | I’ll never forget meeting you. | Don’t forget to meet me. |
💡 Note: The meaning difference is often subtle but important for natural fluency.
📝 Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:
- I enjoy _______ (cook).
- She decided _______ (join) the course.
- He stopped _______ (talk) when the teacher entered.
- Don’t forget _______ (call) me.
- They suggested _______ (watch) a movie.
Answers:
- cooking
- to join
- talking
- to call
- watching
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