December 2013

There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund. If you are not sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.

Gerunds and Infinitives

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

• Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
• Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
• I enjoy reading. object of sentence

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

• He enjoys not working.
• The best thing for your health is not smoking.

2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

• To learn is important. subject of sentence
• The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
• He wants to learn. object of sentence

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

• I decided not to go.
• The most important thing is not to give up.

3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

• Learning is important. normal subject
• To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
• The most important thing is learning. normal complement
• The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less common

4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples:

• He enjoys swimming. "Enjoy" requires a gerund.
• He wants to swim. "Want" requires an infinitive.

5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects. 

Verbs Followed by a Gerund They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit advise appreciate avoid can't help complete consider	delay deny detest dislike enjoy escape excuse	finish forbid get through have imagine mind miss	permit postpone practice quit recall report resent	resist resume risk spend (time) suggest tolerate waste (time)

Examples:

• She suggested going to a movie.
• Mary keeps talking about her problems.

6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives. 

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive She agreed to speak before the game.
agree aim appear arrange ask attempt be able beg begin care choose condescend	consent continue dare decide deserve detest dislike expect fail forget get happen	have hesitate hope hurry intend leap leave like long love mean neglect	offer ought plan prefer prepare proceed promise propose refuse remember say	shoot start stop strive swear threaten try use wait want wish

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive Everyone expected her to win.
advise allow ask beg bring build buy challenge	choose command dare direct encourage expect forbid force	have hire instruct invite lead leave let like	love motivate order pay permit persuade prepare promise	remind require send teach tell urge want warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above and may be used without an object.

Examples:

• She wants to go to a movie.
• Mary needs to talk about her problems.

7. Gerunds can often be modified with possessive forms such as his, her, its, your, their, our, John's, Mary's, the machine's, and so on. This makes it clearer who or what is performing the action.

Examples:

• I enjoyed their singing. They were singing.
• She understood his saying no to the offer. He said no.
• Sam resented Debbie's coming late to the dinner. Debbie came late to the dinner.
• We discussed the machine's being broken. The machine is broken.

8. Some verbs are followed by a noun plus an infinitive. In some situations, the noun is required. In other situations, the noun is optional. List of Verbs Followed by a Noun + an Infinitive

Examples:

• The police ordered the man to stop. noun is required
• She asked to leave. noun is optional
• She asked him to leave. noun is optional

9. Some verbs are usually followed by a gerund, BUT they can also be followed by a noun plus infinitive. Using a noun plus infinitive will usually change who is performing the action. List of Verbs followed by a Gerund OR a Noun + Infinitive

Examples:

• I advised taking the train. in general
• I advised him to take the train. He will take the train.

10. There are many "go + gerund" expressions used for adventure sports and individual recreational activities. List of Go + Gerund Combinations

Examples:

• I go swimming every weekend.
• Would you ever go skydiving?

11. Gerunds are used after prepositions. Most commonly, these are "verb + preposition" combinations. For reference, see the Verb + Preposition Dictionary and the Phrasal Verb Dictionary. You don't have to memorize these resources, you just need to remember that gerunds are used after prepositions!

Examples:

• They admitted to committing the crime.
• Leslie made up for forgetting my birthday.
• He is thinking about studying abroad.

12. Remember that there are many "adjective + preposition" combinations and "noun + preposition" combinations in English as well. These are also followed by gerunds. List of Adjective + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds and List of Noun + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds. Once again, you don't have to memorize these resources, you just need to remember that gerunds are used after prepositions!

Examples:

• Sandy is scared of flying. adjective + preposition
• Nick is anxious about taking the examination. adjective + preposition
• His interest in becoming a professional snowboarder was well known. noun + preposition
• Thomas' story about seeing a grizzly bear was really exciting. noun + preposition

Exercise on Infinitive and Gerund

Infinitive or Gerund

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

1. We managed arriveto arrivearriving in time.
2. We asked her repeatto repeatrepeating her question.
3. He insisted on payto paypaying the bill.
4. I used getto getgetting up early.
5. I am used to getgetting up early.
6. I would rather stayto staystaying at home.
7. I spent a lot of time writeto writewriting the essay.
8. Why should they doto dodoing this?
9. I am looking forward to hearhearing from you soon.
10. You had better taketo taketaking the bus.

Exercise on Infinitive and Gerund

Infinitive or Gerund

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

1. On 17th February 2003, a congestion charge for driveto drivedrivingin central London was introduced.
2. The aim was reduceto reducereducing the number of vehicles in London's City.
3. People now have the choice between payto paypaying the charge and not driveto drivedriving into the City.
4. The charge has proven very successful in turnto turnturning away traffic from the City.
5. As the traffic has been reduced by about 20 percent, journey times in the City tend decreaseto decreasedecreasing.
6. According to an opinion poll, more than 50 percent of Londoners say that it is okay chargeto chargecharging people for driveto drivedriving into the City.
7. They are relieved findto findfinding the traffic flowto flowflowing more easily.
8. Before introduceto introduceintroducing the charge, average speed in the City was about 10 mph.
9. Now, people who decide payto paypaying the charge can travelto traveltravelling at a higher speed, approximately 20 mph.
10. Many Londoners, however, have chosen goto gogoing by bus as delays to buses are now down by half.
11. London's buses have seen passenger numbers riseto riserising by 14 percent.