Gerund or Infinitive
Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund:
One of the difficulties of the English language is that some verbs are followed by the gerund (ex : doing) and others are
followed by the infinitive (ex : to do). Other verbs, however, can be followed by both.
Generally speaking we can use the following rules:
Examples
Verb + gerund 1. I enjoy playing
2. I denied stealing
Verb +
infinitive
Rules
Often we use the gerund for
an action that
happens before or at the
same time as the action of
the main verb.
1. I decided to visit my uncle Often we use the infinitive
2. I want to go out
for actions thatfollow the
action of the main verb.
Explanations
1. I enjoy myself at the time
of playing.
2. I deny having stolen
anything before.
1. Visiting my uncle was an
action of my decision. It
comes after.
2. What I want (now) is to go
out (after/later)
These rules are helpful but DO NOT always explain all uses of gerunds and infinitives.
Verbs that can be followed by a gerund (ex: doing)
1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :
like
love
enjoy
dislike
hate
don't mind
can't stand
can't bear
Example:" I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."
2- After certain other verbs, such as :
admit
appreciate
allow
avoid
advise
consider
deny
delay
understand
finish
fancy
go (in go swimming)
involve
keep
mention
mind
stop
waste time/money
imagine
involve
keep (on)
mention
miss
postpone
permit
practice
suggest
resist
reject
risk
can't help
can't stand
Example:
" I suggest going to the theater."
3- After prepositions :
interested in ...
instead of ...
good at ...
before ...
after ...
Example:
"I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".
4- After certain expressions :
it's no use ...
it's no good ...
there's no point in ...
I can't help...
I don't mind...
I can't stand/bear...
Example: " It's no use convincing him to revise his lessons. He's so stubborn."
Verbs that can be followed by an infinitive ( ex : to do)
1- After verbs that refer to a future event:
want
hope
aim
intend
arrange
attempt
promise
be determined
plan
consent
decide
demand
deserve
determine
endeavor
expect
offer
proceed
promise
threaten
swear
volunteer
want
would like
would hate
would love
Example:
" I want to finish my work early.
2- After certain other verbs, such as:
afford
agree
help
choose
fail
happen
refuse
manage
need
seem
learn
choose
pretend
Example: "She refused to forgive him."
3- After adjectives :
glad
pleased
disappointed
Example: "I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."
4- After "too" & "enough":
too difficult
easy enough
Example:
"It's too difficult to convince him to be helpful."
" But it's easy enough to fool him to get what you want."
Verbs that can be followed by both an infinitive and a gerund:
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. Here are some examples:
start
begin
stop
remember...
Example: "I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."
Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Similar Meaning)
can't bear
He can't bear being alone.
He can't bear to be alone.
can't
stand
Nancy can't stand working the late shift.
Nancy can't stand to work the late shift.
cease
The government ceased providing free health
The government ceased to provide free health
care.
care.
continue
She continued talking.
She continued to talk.
hate
He hates cleaning dishes.
He hates to clean dishes.
like
Samantha likes reading.
Samantha likes to read.
love
We love scuba diving.
We love to scuba dive.
neglect
He neglected doing his daily chores.
He neglected to do his daily chores.
prefer
He prefers eating at 7 PM.
He prefers to eat at 7 PM.
propose
Drew proposed paying for the trip.
Drew proposed to pay for the trip.
REMEMBER
Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and gerunds and infinitives can often be
used interchangeably, there is still a meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real
activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or
experiences. Because of this small difference in meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used
interchangeably, such as in the examples below.
Examples:
The British reporter likes living in New York. HE LIVES IN NEW YORK AND HE LIKES WHAT HE EXPERIENCES THERE.
The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the United States. HE LIKES THE OPTION
I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF SPEAKING FRENCH, AND
OR POSSIBILITY OF LIVING IN
NEW YORK WHEN HE WORKS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL WHEN
I SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
I like to speak French when I'm in France. I PREFER THE OPTION OF SPEAKING FRENCH WHEN I AM IN FRANCE.
Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different Meaning)
begin
She began singing.
She began to sing.
WHEN "BEGIN" IS USED IN NON-CONTINUOUS
TENSES, YOU CAN EITHER USE A GERUND OR AN
INFINITIVE.
She is beginning to sing.
WHEN "BEGIN" IS USED IN CONTINUOUS TENSES, AN
INFINITIVE IS USED.
dread
She dreaded taking the test.
He dreaded to think of the consequences of his
actions.
USUALLY "DREAD" IS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND.
"DREAD" IS SOMETIMES USED WITH INFINITIVES SUCH AS
"THINK" OR "CONSIDER." IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE,
"DREADED TO THINK" MEANS "DID NOT WANT TO THINK."
She forgot reading the book when she was
a kid.
She forgot to pay the rent this month.
forget
WHEN "FORGET" IS USED WITH A GERUND, IT MEANS
"TO FORGET THAT YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING."
THE SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT SHE READ THE
BOOK WHEN SHE WAS A KID, AND THAT SHE HAS
FORGOTTEN THAT FACT.
WHEN FORGET IS USED WITH AN INFINITIVE, IT MEANS "TO
FORGET THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING." THE
SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT SHE FORGOT THAT SHE
NEEDED TO PAY THE RENT.
keep
She kept talking.
"KEEP" IS NORMALLY USED WITH A GERUND TO
MEAN THAT YOU CONTINUE DOING AN ACTION.
The attackers kept hostages to prevent the police
from entering.
"KEEP" CAN ALSO BE USED WITH AN OBJECT FOLLOWED BY
AN INFINITIVE, BUT THEN THE INFINITIVE TAKES ON THE
MEANING OF "IN ORDER TO... ." IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE,
THE ATTACKERS KEPT HOSTAGES IN ORDER TO PREVENT
THE POLICE FROM ENTERING.
need
The house needs cleaning.
WHEN "NEED" IS USED WITH A GERUND, IT TAKES
ON A PASSIVE MEANING. THE SENTENCE ABOVE
MEANS "THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE CLEANED."
He needs to call his boss.
He needs him to call his boss.
"NEED" IS USUALLY USED WITH AN INFINITIVE OR AN OBJECT
+ AN INFINITIVE.
regret
I regretted being late to the interview.
We regret to inform you that your position at the
company is being eliminated.
"REGRET" IS NORMALLY USED WITH A GERUND.
"REGRET" IS SOMETIMES USED WITH INFINITIVES SUCH AS
"TO INFORM." IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE, "WE REGRET TO
INFORM YOU" MEANS "WE WISH WE DID NOT HAVE TO TELL
YOU (BAD NEWS)."
rememb
er
I remember mentioning the meeting
yesterday.
WHEN "REMEMBER" IS USED WITH A GERUND, IT
MEANS "TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE DONE
SOMETHING." THE SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT I
MENTIONED THE MEETING, AND THAT I REMEMBER
THE FACT THAT I DID THAT.
He remembered to turn off the lights before he left.
WHEN "REMEMBER" IS USED WITH AN INFINITIVE, IT MEANS
"TO REMEMBER THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING." THE
SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT HE REMEMBERED THAT HE
NEEDED TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF.
start
Marge started talking really fast.
Marge started to talk really fast.
WHEN "START" IS USED IN NON-CONTINUOUS
TENSES, YOU CAN EITHER USE A GERUND OR AN
INFINITIVE.
Marge is starting to talk really fast.
WHEN "START" IS USED IN CONTINUOUS TENSES, AN
INFINITIVE IS USED.
I started to learn Russian, but it was so much work
that I finally quit the class.
IN OTHER SITUATIONS, AN INFINITIVE MEANS THAT YOU DID
NOT COMPLETE OR CONTINUE AN ACTION.
stop
He stopped smoking for health reasons.
He stopped to rest for a few minutes.
"STOP" IS NORMALLY USED WITH A GERUND.
WHEN "STOP" IS USED WITH AN INFINITIVE, THE INFINITIVE
TAKES ON THE MEANING OF "IN ORDER TO." IN THE
SENTENCE ABOVE, HE STOPPED IN ORDER TO REST FOR A
FEW MINUTES.
She can't find a job. She tried looking in the
paper, but there was nothing. She tried
asking friends and family, but nobody knew
of anything. She also tried going shop to
shop, but nobody was hiring.
She tried to climb the tree, but she couldn't even
get off the ground.
try
"TRY + GERUND" MEANS TO TRY OR TO EXPERIMENT
WITH DIFFERENT METHODS TO SEE IF SOMETHING
WORKS.
She tried eating the snake soup, but she
didn't like it.
"TRY + GERUND" IS OFTEN USED WHEN YOU
EXPERIMENT WITH SOMETHING, BUT YOU DO NOT
REALLY LIKE IT OR WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.
WHEN YOU "TRY TO DO" SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO DO IT,
BUT YOU DO NOT SUCCEED IN ACTUALLY DOING IT. IN THE
SENTENCE ABOVE, AN INFINITIVE IS USED BECAUSE SHE
CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY CLIMB THE TREE.
Try not to wake the baby when you get up
tomorrow at 5 AM.
AN INFINITIVE IS ALSO USED IF YOU ARE ASKING SOMEONE
TO TRY SOMETHING THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH.
