ESL CONNECT | Infinitive vs Gerund

Explanation: infinitive vs gerund

Some verbs are followed by the infinitive: to + verb. Other verbs are followed by the gerund: verb + -ing. This is called a verb pattern.

1. Infinitive: to + verb

Use the infinitive after verbs like want, need, decide, hope, plan, promise, learn, would like.

Verb	Pattern	Example
want	want + to + verb	I want to learn English.
need	need + to + verb	She needs to study.
decide	decide + to + verb	We decided to stay.
hope	hope + to + verb	They hope to win.
would like	would like + to + verb	I’d like to order a coffee.

2. Gerund: verb + -ing

Use the gerund after verbs like enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, keep, practise, suggest.

Verb	Pattern	Example
enjoy	enjoy + verb-ing	I enjoy reading.
finish	finish + verb-ing	She finished working.
avoid	avoid + verb-ing	He avoids driving at night.
mind	mind + verb-ing	Do you mind waiting?
practise	practise + verb-ing	We practise speaking.

3. Gerund after prepositions

After a preposition, use the gerund. Common prepositions are about, at, for, in, of, on, without.

Examples:
I’m interested in learning French.
She is good at drawing.
Thank you for helping me.
He left without saying goodbye.

4. Infinitive for purpose

Use to + verb to explain why you do something.

Examples:
I went to the shop to buy milk.
She called me to ask a question.
We study English to improve our communication.

5. Verbs followed by infinitive or gerund with little change

Some verbs can be followed by both forms with a similar meaning: like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue.

Infinitive	Gerund
I like to swim.	I like swimming.
She started to cry.	She started crying.

6. Verbs with different meanings

At B1 level, some verbs change meaning depending on the pattern.

Verb	Gerund	Infinitive
stop	He stopped smoking. = He does not smoke anymore.	He stopped to smoke. = He stopped another activity in order to smoke.
remember	I remember meeting her. = I have a memory of it.	Remember to call her. = Don’t forget to call her.
try	Try taking a break. = Experiment with this solution.	Try to finish. = Make an effort to finish.

Remember:
want / need / decide / hope + to + verb
enjoy / finish / avoid / mind + verb-ing
preposition + verb-ing
purpose = to + verb

Infinitive: to + verb

Choose the correct infinitive form.

1. I want __________ English.

learning to learn learned

2. She needs __________ tonight.

to study studying studyed

3. We decided __________ at home.

staying stay to stay

4. He hopes __________ the exam.

passing to pass pass

5. I’d like __________ a coffee.

ordering order to order

Write the sentence

Complete: I / want / travel / next summer.

Answer: I want to travel next summer.

Gerund: verb + -ing

Choose the correct gerund form.

1. I enjoy __________ books.

to read reading read

2. She finished __________ at 6 p.m.

to work working work

3. He avoids __________ at night.

driving to drive drive

4. Do you mind __________ for five minutes?

to wait wait waiting

5. We practise __________ English every day.

speaking to speak speak

Write the sentence

Complete: She / enjoy / cook.

Answer: She enjoys cooking.

Gerund after prepositions

After a preposition, use the gerund.

1. I’m interested in __________ French.

to learn learning learn

2. She is good at __________.

to draw draw drawing

3. Thank you for __________ me.

helping to help help

4. He left without __________ goodbye.

to say saying say

Infinitive for purpose

Use to + verb to explain why someone does something.

1. I went to the supermarket __________ milk.

buying to buy buy

2. She called me __________ a question.

asking ask to ask

3. We study English __________ our communication.

to improve improving improve

4. I left early __________ the train.

catching to catch catch

Infinitive or gerund?

Choose the best form.

1. We plan __________ Rome next month.

visiting to visit visit

2. They enjoy __________ tennis.

to play playing play

3. He wants __________ a doctor.

becoming become to become

4. I finished __________ the series yesterday.

to watch watching watch

5. She promised __________ me.

helping to help help

6. He suggested __________ to the cinema.

to go go going

B1: verbs that change meaning

Choose the sentence with the correct meaning.

1. Meaning: He does not smoke anymore.

He stopped to smoke. He stopped smoking. He stopped smoke.

2. Meaning: He stopped another activity because he wanted a cigarette.

He stopped smoking. He stopped to smoke. He stopped smoke.

3. Meaning: Don’t forget to call your mum.

Remember calling your mum. Remember to call your mum. Remember call your mum.

4. Meaning: I have a memory of meeting her.

I remember to meet her. I remember meet her. I remember meeting her.

5. Meaning: Experiment with this solution.

Try taking a break. Try to take a break. Try take a break.

Correct the mistake

Correct: I enjoy to listen to music.

Answer: I enjoy listening to music.

Correct: She decided leaving early.

Answer: She decided to leave early.

Mixed practice

Choose the best answer.

1. I would like __________ a new course.

starting start to start

2. She loves __________ in the sea.

to swim swimming swim

3. I went out __________ bread.

buying to buy buy

4. Are you tired of __________?

to wait waiting wait

5. He forgot __________ me the time.

telling to tell tell

6. They stopped __________ meat last year.

to eat eating eat

Final writing practice

1. Write one sentence with want to.

2. Write one sentence with enjoy + -ing.

3. Write one sentence with a preposition + gerund.

4. Write one sentence with infinitive for purpose.