What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

When you use one verb after another, the second verb often changes its form. It can become a gerund or an infinitive.

• A gerund is the verb + -ing form. It acts like a noun in a sentence. For example, in I enjoy swimming, swimming is the object of the verb enjoy.
• An infinitive is the to + base form of the verb. It can act like a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. For example, in I want to learn, to learn is the object of the verb want.

When Do We Use the -ing Form (Gerund)?

Many verbs are followed by the -ing form. These often include verbs expressing likes and dislikes, or verbs related to stopping, starting, or avoiding actions.

• Verbs of liking/disliking: dislike, enjoy, loathe, (don't) mind, (can't) stand. For example: She can't stand getting stuck in a traffic jam.
• Other common verbs: admit, appreciate, avoid, can't help, consider, delay, deny, finish, imagine, involve, keep, miss, postpone, prevent, recommend, report, resist, risk, suggest. For example: The prime minister has just finished speaking.

When Do We Use the to-Infinitive?

The to-infinitive is used after a different set of verbs. These often relate to decisions, hopes, promises, or attempts.

• Common verbs: afford, agree, arrange, appear, attempt, choose, decide, expect, hope, intend, learn, manage, offer, pretend, promise, refuse, seem. For example: We can't afford to go on holiday this year.
• Verbs + object + to-infinitive: Some verbs require an object before the to-infinitive. These include advise, allow, ask, convince, enable, encourage, forbid, force, get, instruct, invite, order, persuade, remind, require, teach, tell, train, want, warn, wish. For example: You can't force people to believe something.
• Modal-like verbs: Verbs such as have to, ought to, need to are followed by the to-infinitive. For example: I have to go to work tomorrow.
• Special case with help: After the verb help, the to can be omitted before the infinitive. For example: She helped me (to) revise for my exam.

What About Verbs That Can Take Both Forms?

A small number of verbs can be followed by either the to-infinitive or the -ing form with no significant difference in meaning. This means you can often choose which form to use.

• Verbs with no difference in meaning: begin, can't bear, cease, commence, continue, hate, intend, like, love, propose, start.
• Special note for hate/like/love/prefer: These verbs are usually followed by the -ing form. However, if you use would before them (e.g., would hate, would like), they are always followed by the to-infinitive. For example: I'd hate to get up early every morning.

Examples

• We must hurry or we'll be late.
• I have to go to work tomorrow.
• You ought to get more sleep.
• You need to think again.
• You don't need to worry.
• You needn't worry.
• We can't afford to go on holiday this year.
• You can't force people to believe something.
• My father taught me to swim.
• She helped me (to) revise for my exam.
• She can't stand getting stuck in a traffic jam.
• I'd hate to get up early every morning.
• The prime minister has just finished speaking.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers often make mistakes with gerunds and infinitives due to direct translation or different grammatical structures in Spanish.

• Using to-infinitive instead of gerund: A common error is using to + verb where English requires the -ing form, especially after verbs like suggest or avoid. For example, saying I suggest to go (incorrect) instead of I suggest going (correct).
• Confusion with verbs taking both: While some verbs take both forms with no meaning change, others (not covered here, but important to note) have a different meaning. For example, I stopped to smoke (meaning: I paused my activity to smoke) is different from I stopped smoking (meaning: I quit the habit). Always check the specific verb.
• Forgetting the object with certain verbs: Remember that verbs like advise or force require an object before the to-infinitive. For example, She advised to study (incorrect) should be She advised me to study (correct).

Frequently asked questions

What is a gerund?

A gerund is the verb + -ing form that functions as a noun in a sentence. For example, in Learning is fun, learning is the subject.

What is an infinitive?

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by to (e.g., to run, to eat). It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

How do I know whether to use a gerund or an infinitive?

The choice depends on the preceding verb. You need to learn which verbs are followed by a gerund (e.g., enjoy + -ing) and which are followed by a to-infinitive (e.g., decide + to-infinitive). Some verbs can take both.

Are there verbs that can take both gerunds and infinitives?

Yes, a few verbs like begin, continue, hate, like, love, start can be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive with little or no change in meaning. For example, I love swimming and I love to swim are both correct.

How is this grammar point relevant for the C1 Advanced (CAE) exam?

Understanding gerunds and infinitives is vital for the C1 Advanced exam, especially in the Use of English parts. You might encounter questions in Part 2 (Open Cloze) or Part 3 (Word Formation) where you need to correctly identify the form of a verb following another, or in Part 4 (Key Word Transformation) where you need to rephrase sentences using these structures accurately.

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