A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun (swimming, reading). An infinitive is to + the base form of a verb (to swim, to read). Some verbs are followed only by one or the other, and some take both with a change in meaning.
Verbs Followed by a Gerund
| Verb | Example | | ------------ | ----------------------------------------- | | enjoy | I enjoy swimming in the ocean. | | avoid | She avoided looking at him. | | suggest | He suggested taking a break. | | finish | Have you finished writing the report? | | mind | Do you mind waiting a moment? | | practice | You should practice speaking daily. | | consider | I am considering changing jobs. | | admit | He admitted making a mistake. |
Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
| Verb | Example | | ----------- | ------------------------------ | | want | I want to learn Spanish. | | need | You need to rest. | | hope | She hopes to travel soon. | | plan | We plan to move next year. | | decide | They decided to wait. | | promise | He promised to help. | | offer | She offered to drive. | | agree | They agreed to meet us. |
Verbs That Take Both — With a Meaning Change
Some verbs change meaning depending on whether a gerund or infinitive follows.
| Verb | + Gerund | + Infinitive | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | stop | quit an activity: I stopped smoking. | pause in order to: I stopped to smoke. | | remember | recall a past action: I remember locking the door. | not forget to do: Please remember to lock the door. | | forget | not recall a past action: I forget meeting him. | not remember to do: Don't forget to buy milk. | | try | experiment: Try pressing that button. | make an effort: Try to arrive on time. | | regret | feel sorry about the past: I regret saying that. | announce bad news: We regret to inform you. |
I stopped smoking = I quit the habit. I stopped to smoke = I paused what I was doing in order to smoke.
Common Patterns
- Preposition + gerund: *interested in learning*, good at cooking.
- Adjective + infinitive: *happy to help*, easy to use.
Common Mistakes
- Using a gerund after want: ~~I want going home.~~ → I want to go home.
- Using an infinitive after enjoy: ~~I enjoy to swim.~~ → I enjoy swimming.
- Forgetting the meaning change with verbs like stop, remember, and try.