Gerunds (-ing) vs. Infinitives (to + verb)

Gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that function as nouns in sentences. Choosing the correct form can be tricky because some verbs require gerunds, some require infinitives, and some work with both (but with different meanings!).

1. What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Form	Structure	Example
Gerund	Verb + -ing (functions as a noun)	Swimming is fun.
Infinitive	to + base verb (functions as a noun)	To swim is healthy.

2. When to Use Gerunds (-ing)

A. As the Subject of a Sentence

• "Reading improves your vocabulary."
• "Smoking is bad for health."

B. After Prepositions

• "She is interested in learning French."
• "He left without saying goodbye."

C. After Certain Verbs (Memorize These!)

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Enjoy, Avoid, Consider, Suggest, Recommend, Mind, Finish, Practice, Imagine, Miss

"I enjoy cooking."
"She avoided answering the question."

3. When to Use Infinitives (to + verb)

A. After Certain Verbs

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Want, Decide, Hope, Plan, Promise, Refuse, Need, Learn, Choose, Offer

"He wants to travel."
"They decided to leave early."

B. After Adjectives

• "It’s easy to learn English."
• "She was happy to help."

C. To Express Purpose

• "I study to improve my skills." (Why? → To improve)

4. Verbs That Can Take Both (But Change Meaning!)

Verb	Gerund Meaning	Infinitive Meaning
Remember	Recall a past action (I remember meeting him.)	Don’t forget to do something (Remember to call her!)
Stop	Quit an action (He stopped smoking.)	Pause to do something (She stopped to rest.)
Try	Experiment (Try using a different method.)	Make an effort (Try to finish on time.)

"I remember locking the door." (I recall doing it.)
"Please remember to lock the door." (Don’t forget!)

5. Quick Tips for Learning

✔ Check PROMT.One Conjugator (for all verbal forms).
✔ Memorize key verb lists (gerund vs. infinitive).
✔ Learn exceptions (like, love, hate can take both with no meaning change).