Grammar › Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerund or infinitive: which one to use
450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten
The first verb decides the shape of the second: a gerund (the -ing form) or an infinitive (with to). Learn the lists, then the exceptions.
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The two shapes
A gerund is the -ing form used as a noun: swimming, going, asking. An infinitive is to plus the plain verb: to swim, to go, to ask. Most English verbs accept one or the other, a few accept both, and which is which has to be learned rather than worked out.
How to decide, in order
- Is there a preposition in front? Then -ing, always. interested in going
- Is the first verb a modal? Then the plain verb. can go
- Is it make or let? Then the plain verb. made me go
- Otherwise, check the list. Which one the verb belongs to has to be learned.
The gerund list: verbs followed by -ing
enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, practice, imagine, consider, admit, deny, miss, postpone, delay, keep, give up, put off, dislike, can’t stand, risk, involve
A rough pattern: these describe an activity that is already real — under way, remembered, refused, or reacted to.
The infinitive list: verbs followed by to
decide, hope, want, plan, agree, promise, refuse, manage, offer, learn, choose, expect, arrange, intend, prepare, afford, pretend, seem, fail, deserve, tend
A rough pattern: these look ahead to something not yet done.
Verb plus object plus to
A large group needs a person in the middle:
She asked me to wait. They told him to leave. I want you to listen. The doctor advised her to rest.
Suggest does not join this group. He suggested me to go is wrong; it is He suggested that I go or He suggested going.
The gerund as a subject
A gerund can begin a sentence, where it behaves like a noun:
Swimming is good exercise. Getting up early is hard.
The infinitive can do this too, but usually with it standing in front:
It is hard to get up early.
The pairs that change meaning
Worth memorising, because both versions are correct English and mean different things:
| remember to lock it | do not forget |
| remember locking it | you have the memory |
| stop to rest | pause in order to rest |
| stop resting | give it up |
| try to call | make the attempt |
| try calling | see whether it works |
All forms
| Pattern | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb + gerund (-ing) | enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, practice, admit, deny, keep, miss | I avoid driving at night. |
| verb + infinitive (to) | decide, hope, want, plan, agree, promise, refuse, manage, offer, learn | We agreed to wait. |
| preposition + gerund | good at, interested in, before, without, instead of | without asking |
| verb + object + infinitive | ask, tell, want, allow, advise, remind | She asked me to wait. |
| make, let + plain verb | make, let | He let me go. |
Examples
Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.
- Our teacher agreed to finish the course this year.
- The twins would like to tidy the garage before the winter.
- He arranged to paint the kitchen a darker color.
- The twins managed to wait in line for two hours.
- Julia offered to feed the birds through the winter.
- The manager cannot stand photographing the old bridge.
- My brother decided to walk the dog before sunrise.
- My neighbor offered to book the tickets online.
- The manager arranged to camp by the lake in August.
- My parents decided to plant fruit trees along the fence.
- My sister admitted watering the tomato plants.
- My brother denied lying about the accident.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: He suggested to go to the cinema. correct: He suggested going to the cinema.
Suggest takes the gerund, not the infinitive.
Wrong: I look forward to hear from you. correct: I look forward to hearing from you.
Here to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so the verb takes the gerund.
Wrong: She let me to borrow it. correct: She let me borrow it.
Let takes the plain verb with no to.