Learn Gerunds and Infinitives in English
Choose between -ing forms and to + verb after verbs and prepositions.
Grammar Focus
Gerunds and infinitives are two verb forms that function as nouns in a sentence. Knowing which to use after a verb or preposition is one of the most important skills for intermediate English learners. The good news is that the rules are learnable — and with practice, the right form will start to feel natural.
- A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun: *Swimming is great exercise.* / *I enjoy reading.*
- An infinitive is to + base verb: *She wants to travel.* / *He decided to stay.*
- Some verbs are always followed by a gerund: enjoy, finish, avoid, consider, keep, mind, suggest, practise
- Some verbs are always followed by an infinitive: want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree, refuse, manage, offer
- Some verbs can be followed by either form with little change in meaning: like, love, hate, begin, start, continue, prefer
- After prepositions (in, on, about, at, for, without, after, before), always use a gerund: *She left without saying goodbye.*
Form & Structure
Verbs Followed by Gerund
Verbs Followed by Infinitive
Verbs with Both
Common Mistakes
Using an infinitive after a preposition
Tip: After any preposition (without, after, before, about, in, on, for), always use a gerund, not an infinitive.
Using a gerund after verbs that require an infinitive
Tip: Verbs like decide, want, need, hope, plan, agree, and refuse must be followed by an infinitive (to + base verb).
Using an infinitive after verbs that require a gerund
Tip: Verbs like enjoy, finish, avoid, consider, keep, suggest, and mind must be followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).
Why This Grammar Matters
Talking about hobbies and interests
Making plans and decisions
Giving advice or making suggestions
Talking about things you need or want to do
Continue Learning
Like / Want + Noun or Infinitive
More verbs lessons
Have / Has for Possession
More verbs lessons
Modals of Advice (should, ought to, have to, had better)
intermediate companion topic
Adverbs of Frequency
intermediate companion topic
Superlatives
intermediate companion topic
Adverbs of Manner
intermediate companion topic
This lesson content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.
Quick Summary
| Use | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verbs Followed by Gerund | enjoy, finish, avoid, consider, keep + **verb-ing** | I enjoy **swimming** in the morning. |
| Verbs Followed by Infinitive | want, need, decide, plan, hope + **to** + base verb | She wants **to travel** to Japan next year. |
| Verbs with Both | like, love, hate, begin, start + **gerund or infinitive** (similar meaning) | I love **reading** / I love **to read** — both are correct. |
One of the most challenging areas of English grammar for intermediate learners is knowing when to use a gerund and when to use an infinitive. Both forms are used frequently in everyday English, and the difference between them is not always obvious — especially when the verb you are using can take either form, or when the choice depends on a following preposition rather than the verb itself. A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun: swimming, reading, eating, thinking. An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by 'to': to swim, to read, to eat, to think. The challenge for learners is that the rules for which form to use are not always logical — they often depend simply on which verb came before, and the best approach is to learn common verb patterns and practise them in real sentences. Mastering gerunds and infinitives is not just an academic exercise. These structures appear constantly in real-life English — when talking about what you like or hate doing, what you want or plan to do, what you avoid or suggest, and how you describe activities in general. Native English speakers use gerunds and infinitives automatically, choosing the correct form without thinking. For learners, reaching that same level of automaticity requires systematic study and meaningful practice. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about gerunds and infinitives at the intermediate level. You will discover the key verbs that take each form, the rules for using gerunds after prepositions, the special case of verbs that take both forms, and the most common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you will have a solid framework for making the right choice every time.
What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?
Gerunds and infinitives are two verb forms that function as nouns in a sentence. Understanding what each form is and how it behaves is the essential starting point for using them correctly. A gerund is formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb: swim becomes swimming, read becomes reading, travel becomes travelling. When used as a noun, a gerund can function as the subject of a sentence ('Swimming is great exercise'), as the object of a verb ('She enjoys reading'), or as the object of a preposition ('He is good at cooking'). The key point is that despite looking like a present participle, a gerund is functioning as a noun, not as a verb. An infinitive is formed by placing 'to' before the base form of the verb: to swim, to read, to travel. Like gerunds, infinitives can function as nouns within a sentence — as the subject ('To learn is to grow'), as the object of a verb ('She wants to travel'), or in other noun-like positions. Infinitives can also function as adjectives and adverbs, which adds to their versatility but also to the complexity of learning them. The reason gerunds and infinitives are so important is that they allow you to talk about actions and activities in a flexible way — not just as things happening right now, but as concepts, goals, preferences, and general truths. Both forms are essential building blocks of fluent, intermediate-level English.
Read the full grammar guide
Verbs That Take Gerunds in English
A significant group of English verbs must always be followed by a gerund when you add a second verb to the sentence. There is no logical rule that predicts which verbs belong in this group — the most effective strategy is to learn and practise them as patterns until they feel automatic. The most common verbs followed by gerunds include: enjoy, finish, avoid, consider, keep, mind, suggest, practise, admit, deny, imagine, miss, risk, spend time, feel like, can't help, and can't stand. Here are those verbs used naturally in sentences: 'I enjoy cycling to work every morning.' 'She finished editing the document before the deadline.' 'He avoids eating red meat for health reasons.' 'Have you considered applying for a promotion?' 'Keep practising and you will improve.' 'I don't mind waiting — take your time.' 'She suggested meeting at the coffee shop.' 'He admitted making a mistake in the report.' 'I can't imagine living without the internet.' 'She misses spending time with her family.' 'I can't stand being stuck in traffic.' Notice that in every case, the gerund directly follows the verb. The gerund is the object of the main verb and answers the question 'What does he enjoy?' or 'What does she suggest?' A useful memory trick is that many of these verbs describe mental states, attitudes, or habitual actions — things that have already happened, are happening, or are imagined in a general way, rather than specific future intentions. Being familiar with this verb group and practising them in full sentences is the fastest way to make gerunds feel natural after these verbs.
Verbs That Take Infinitives in English
A second major group of English verbs must be followed by an infinitive when a second verb follows. Again, learning these verbs as a set of patterns — rather than trying to derive them from a rule — is the most practical approach. The most common verbs followed by infinitives include: want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree, refuse, manage, offer, promise, expect, forget, learn, seem, appear, tend, choose, ask, and afford. Here are those verbs used in natural sentences: 'She wants to visit her grandmother this weekend.' 'He needs to finish the report by Monday.' 'They decided to take a different approach.' 'I plan to start saving money from next month.' 'She hopes to get a promotion by the end of the year.' 'He agreed to help us move the furniture.' 'She refused to sign the contract without reading it.' 'He managed to finish the marathon despite his injury.' 'I offered to drive them to the airport.' 'She promised to call as soon as she arrived.' 'I expect to hear from them next week.' 'He forgot to lock the front door.' 'She learned to play the piano as a child.' 'He tends to arrive early for meetings.' A useful observation is that many verbs in this group express future intentions, decisions, or outcomes — things that have not yet happened but are planned, expected, or desired. This future orientation helps explain why the infinitive, which often carries a forward-looking sense, is preferred after these verbs. Learning these verbs alongside example sentences — not just as a list — will help you recognise and produce the correct pattern reliably in both speaking and writing.
Common Mistakes with Gerunds and Infinitives
Even intermediate learners make predictable and recurring errors with gerunds and infinitives. Knowing what these mistakes are — and why they happen — is one of the most effective ways to avoid making them yourself. The most frequent mistake is using an infinitive after a preposition. In English, any verb that follows a preposition must be in the gerund form, not the infinitive. Prepositions include: without, after, before, about, at, for, in, on, by, instead of, and despite. Compare incorrect and correct: 'She left without to say goodbye' (wrong) → 'She left without saying goodbye' (correct). 'He is interested in to learn more' (wrong) → 'He is interested in learning more' (correct). 'I am good at to cook' (wrong) → 'I am good at cooking' (correct). This mistake is extremely common because in many other languages, prepositions are followed by infinitives. In English, the rule is absolute: preposition + gerund. The second major mistake is using a gerund after a verb that requires an infinitive. For example, 'I want seeing you soon' should be 'I want to see you soon.' And 'She decided staying home' should be 'She decided to stay home.' Practising these verb patterns repeatedly is the cure for this error. The third mistake is the reverse: using an infinitive after a verb that requires a gerund. 'I enjoy to swim' should be 'I enjoy swimming.' 'He avoids to eat sugar' should be 'He avoids eating sugar.' Again, focused practice with the correct patterns is the remedy. A fourth mistake involves the verb 'stop,' which behaves differently depending on the form that follows it. 'He stopped to smoke' means he stopped doing something else in order to smoke — it was his purpose. 'He stopped smoking' means he no longer smokes at all. The distinction between stop + infinitive (purpose) and stop + gerund (ending a habit) is important and worth memorising separately.
Gerunds vs Infinitives: Does the Meaning Change?
For a specific group of verbs in English, both a gerund and an infinitive can follow the verb — but the choice of form can sometimes change the meaning significantly, while in other cases the two forms are essentially interchangeable. Verbs where gerund and infinitive have the same meaning include: like, love, hate, begin, start, continue, and prefer. For example, 'I love cooking' and 'I love to cook' mean the same thing. 'She began reading' and 'She began to read' are equivalent. 'He continued working' and 'He continued to work' both describe the same situation. With these verbs, native speakers use both forms freely and the choice is largely a matter of personal style or sentence rhythm. However, there are three key verbs where the form does change the meaning: remember, forget, and stop. With 'remember': 'I remember meeting her at the conference' (= I have a memory of meeting her in the past). 'I remembered to buy milk' (= I didn't forget — I did the thing I needed to do). With 'forget': 'I'll never forget visiting Paris for the first time' (= the memory of the visit stays with me). 'Don't forget to lock the door' (= make sure you do it). With 'stop': 'He stopped smoking' (= he no longer smokes). 'He stopped to smoke' (= he paused what he was doing in order to smoke). These meaning-changing pairs are tested frequently in exams and appear often in natural conversation. Paying attention to the context and learning these pairs with clear example sentences will help you use them accurately.
Practice In This Page
1. I enjoy _____ in the morning.
Show answer
swimming
2. She wants _____ to Japan next year.
Show answer
to travel
3. She left without to say goodbye.
Show answer
She left without saying goodbye.
4. He decided moving to a new city.
Show answer
He decided to move to a new city.
5. I enjoy to read before bed.
Show answer
I enjoy reading before bed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?
- A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun (swimming, reading), while an infinitive is 'to' + the base form of the verb (to swim, to read). Both can follow certain verbs in a sentence. The choice depends on which verb comes before them — some verbs take gerunds, some take infinitives, and some can take both.
- Which verbs are followed by a gerund?
- Common verbs followed by a gerund include: enjoy, finish, avoid, consider, keep, mind, suggest, practise, admit, deny, imagine, miss, risk, and can't stand. For example: 'She enjoys cooking,' 'He avoids eating junk food,' and 'I can't stand waiting.' It is best to memorise these verbs in context with real example sentences.
- Which verbs are followed by an infinitive?
- Common verbs followed by an infinitive include: want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree, refuse, manage, offer, promise, expect, learn, and forget. For example: 'She wants to travel,' 'He decided to stay,' and 'They agreed to help.' Many of these verbs express future intentions, decisions, or outcomes.
- Do you use a gerund or an infinitive after a preposition?
- You must always use a gerund (not an infinitive) after a preposition. This is an absolute rule in English. Prepositions include: without, after, before, about, at, for, in, on, by, and instead of. For example: 'She left without saying goodbye,' 'He is good at cooking,' and 'I am interested in learning more.' Saying 'without to say' or 'good at to cook' is incorrect.
- Can verbs like 'like' and 'love' be followed by either form?
- Yes — verbs like like, love, hate, begin, start, continue, and prefer can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with little or no change in meaning. 'I love reading' and 'I love to read' are both correct and mean the same thing. With these verbs, the choice is a matter of preference or style.
- Does the meaning change with 'remember,' 'forget,' and 'stop'?
- Yes — these three verbs change meaning depending on the form that follows. 'I remember meeting her' (past memory) vs 'I remembered to call her' (I didn't forget to do it). 'He stopped smoking' (he no longer smokes) vs 'He stopped to smoke' (he paused in order to smoke). These differences are important and worth learning carefully with example sentences.