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What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

In English, a verb can appear in different forms. When we talk about gerunds and infinitives, we are looking at two special forms of verbs.

• A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. For example, in I enjoy swimming, swimming is a gerund.
• An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually with to before it. For example, in I want to swim, to swim is an infinitive.

The challenge is knowing which form to use after another verb.

Verbs Followed by the Infinitive (to + verb)

Some verbs are always followed by the infinitive form (to + verb). You must learn these verbs.

Here are some common verbs that are always followed by an infinitive:

• afford
• agree
• arrange
• attempt
• choose
• decide
• expect
• help
• hope
• intend
• learn
• manage
• offer
• plan
• promise
• refuse
• seem
• want
• would like

Verbs Followed by the Gerund (-ing form)

Other verbs are always followed by the -ing form of the verb (the gerund). You also need to learn these.

Here are some common verbs that are always followed by a gerund:

• admit
• avoid
• can't stand (expresses dislike)
• consider
• dislike (expresses dislike)
• don't mind (expresses dislike)
• enjoy (expresses like)
• fancy (expresses like)
• feel like
• finish
• give up
• imagine
• mind
• miss
• postpone
• practise
• prevent
• put off
• suggest

Verbs Followed by Both (No Big Meaning Change)

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund with little or no difference in meaning. This group is a bit easier!

• Verbs with almost no difference: begin, continue, intend, start. For example, It started raining and It started to rain mean the same.
• Verbs with a small difference (often related to likes/dislikes): hate, like, love, prefer.

For hate, like, love, prefer:

• The -ing form often focuses on the action or experience itself. He likes baking cakes. (He enjoys the activity of baking.)
• The infinitive form often focuses on the result, a habit, or something preferred in a specific situation. He likes to bake cakes for special occasions. (He prefers to do it for events.)

The -ing form is generally more common after hate and love.

Verbs Followed by Both (Clear Meaning Change)

This is the most important group to understand carefully! Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but the meaning changes completely. Pay close attention to these.

Verbs with Different Meanings for Infinitive vs. Gerund

Verb	Infinitive (to + verb)	Gerund (-ing form)
forget	I forgot to say thank you. (= I didn't say thank you.)	I forgot saying that. (= I have no memory of this.)
go on	He went on to talk about his childhood. (= This was the next thing he talked about.)	He went on talking. (= He continued talking.)
remember	I remembered to lock the door. (= I did something I had to do.)	I remember locking the door. (= I have a memory of this.)
stop	Let's stop to buy flowers. (= in order to do something)	Let's stop buying flowers. (= end the activity of buying flowers)

Examples

• I decided to study English online.
• She enjoys learning new languages.
• They managed to finish the project on time.
• He suggested going for a walk.
• It began to snow heavily.
• I love listening to music.
• Don't forget to send the email.
• I remember visiting that museum last year.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make mistakes with gerunds and infinitives because the rules are different from Spanish.

• Using to instead of -ing: A common error is using to after verbs that require a gerund. For example, saying I enjoy to read instead of the correct I enjoy reading. Remember that verbs like enjoy, finish, and suggest are always followed by the -ing form.
• Using -ing instead of to: Another mistake is using the -ing form after verbs that require an infinitive. For instance, saying I decided going instead of the correct I decided to go. Verbs like decide, want, and hope always take the infinitive.
• Confusing meaning changes: Be careful with verbs like remember or stop. Translating directly from Spanish can lead to errors. For example, I forgot to call him (I didn't call) is very different from I forgot calling him (I don't remember doing it).

Frequently asked questions

What is the main rule for choosing between gerunds and infinitives?

There isn't one simple rule! The choice depends on the first verb in the sentence. You need to learn which verbs are followed by an infinitive (to + verb), which are followed by a gerund (-ing), and which can be followed by both (with or without a change in meaning).

How can I remember which verbs take which form?

The best way is through practice and exposure. Read a lot, listen to English, and pay attention to how native speakers use these verbs. Make lists of verbs and their patterns, and try to use them in your own sentences. Repetition helps a lot!

Are gerunds and infinitives tested in the B1 Preliminary (PET) exam?

Yes, understanding gerunds and infinitives is important for the B1 Preliminary exam. You might see them in the Reading and Writing parts, especially in tasks like 'Open Cloze' or 'Word Transformation' where you need to choose the correct verb form to complete a sentence.

Do verbs of 'liking' and 'disliking' always take the -ing form?

Not always. Verbs like enjoy, fancy, dislike, and can't stand are typically followed by the -ing form. However, verbs like like, love, hate, and prefer can take either the -ing form or the infinitive, often with a slight difference in meaning, as explained above.

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