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What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

In English, when one verb follows another, the second verb often needs a special form. These forms are the infinitive or the gerund.

• Il infinitive is the base form of the verb, usually with to before it (e.g., to eat, to sleep).
• Il gerund is the verb + -ing form (e.g., eating, sleeping). It acts like a noun.

The first verb in the sentence decides which form the second verb should take.

Verbs Followed by to + Infinitive

Many verbs are followed by to + infinitive. These verbs often express a decision, a plan, a hope, or a promise for the future.

• Common verbs include: agree, arrange, decide, expect, hope, manage, offer, plan, promise, refuse, seem, want, would like.

Esempi:

• They decided to go to the beach.
• I hope to see you soon.
• She managed to finish the project on time.
• He refused to help me.

Verbs Followed by verb + -ing (Gerund)

Other verbs are followed by the verb + -ing form (gerund). These verbs often talk about actions, experiences, or preferences.

• Common verbs include: admit, avoid, consider, deny, dislike, enjoy, finish, imagine, keep, mind, miss, practice, recommend, suggest.

Esempi:

• I enjoy reading books.
• He avoids eating fast food.
• Do you mind opening the window?
• She suggested going for a walk.

Verbs Followed by Both with NO Change in Meaning

Some verbs can be followed by either a to + infinitive or a verb + -ing, and the meaning stays the same or very similar.

• Common verbs include: begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, start.

Esempi:

• I like to swim. O I like swimming. (Both mean the same.)
• It started to rain. O It started raining. (Both mean the same.)

Verbs Followed by Both with a CHANGE in Meaning

Be careful! A few important verbs can take both forms, but the meaning changes completely. This is a common point of confusion for B1 learners.

• Remember:
  • Remember to do something = You remember that you have a duty or a task. (Future action) I must remember to call my mother.
  • Remember doing something = You recall a past event or memory. (Past action) I remember visiting that museum when I was a child.
• Forget:
  • Forget to do something = You fail to do something you intended. (Future action) Don't forget to lock the door!
  • Forget doing something = You cannot recall a past event. (Past action) I'll never forget seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time.
• Stop:
  • Stop to do something = You pause an activity to do something else. (Purpose) We stopped to buy some coffee. (We stopped driving to buy coffee.)
  • Stop doing something = You finish or quit an activity. (End of action) He stopped smoking last year.
• Regret:
  • Regret to do something = You are sorry to give bad news. (Formal, usually with say, inform) We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
  • Regret doing something = You feel sorry about something you did in the past. (Past action) I regret telling her my secret.
• Try:
  • Try to do something = You make an effort to achieve something difficult. (Effort) I tried to lift the heavy box, but I couldn't.
  • Try doing something = You experiment with an action to see if it works or helps. (Experiment) If you can't sleep, try drinking some warm milk.

Summary of Verbs Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives

Category	Common Verbs	Esempio
Verbs + to + Infinitive	agree, arrange, decide, hope, manage, promise, refuse, seem, want	I want to learn English.
Verbs + verb + -ing (Gerund)	avoid, dislike, enjoy, finish, imagine, miss, recommend, suggest	She enjoys dancing.
Verbs + Both (Same Meaning)	begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, start	He loves to cook. / He loves cooking.
Verbs + Both (Different Meaning)	forget, remember, regret, stop, try	Don't forget to buy milk. (future) I'll never forget seeing that movie. (past)

Esempi

• She decided to study abroad next year.
• They finished eating dinner late.
• I would like to visit London someday.
• He suggested going to the cinema.
• Don't forget to send that email!
• I remember meeting him at a conference.
• We stopped to admire the view.
• She stopped talking when the teacher entered.
• I tried to open the jar, but it was too tight.
• If you have a headache, try taking an aspirin.

Esercitazione

Errori comuni per chi parla spagnolo

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

• Utilizzo di to + infinitive instead of gerund after prepositions: In English, a verb after a preposition is always a gerund. Spanish often uses an infinitive.
  ✗ I'm good at to play tennis.
  ✓ I'm good at playing tennis.
• Confusing verbs that change meaning: Especially remember, forget, stop, e regret. Always consider if you are talking about a past action/memory or a future intention/purpose.
• Dimenticare to with the infinitive: Some verbs require to before the infinitive, while others (like modal verbs) do not. For this topic, remember that most verbs followed by an infinitive use to + infinitive.

Domande frequenti

What is the main rule for choosing between a gerund and an infinitive?

The main rule is that the first verb in the sentence determines the form of the second verb. You need to learn which verbs are followed by to + infinitive and which are followed by verb + -ing (gerund).

Are there any verbs that can take both a gerund and an infinitive?

Yes, some verbs like like, love, start, e continue can take both forms with little or no change in meaning. However, verbs like remember, forget, stop, regret, e try change their meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or an infinitive.

How can I remember which verbs take which form?

The best way is through practice and exposure. Try to group verbs by meaning (e.g., verbs about plans/hopes often take infinitives; verbs about experiences/preferences often take gerunds). Reading, listening, and doing exercises will help you internalize these patterns.

Does this topic appear in B1 English exams?

Yes, understanding gerunds and infinitives is a common grammar point tested at the B1 level in exams like Cambridge Preliminary (PET) or IELTS. You might find questions that require you to choose the correct verb form to complete a sentence.

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