Gerund vs. infinitive

• The problem
• Verbs followed by a gerund
• Verbs followed by an infinitive
• Verbs that take both
  • Stop
  • Remember
  • Try
  • Forget
• Preposition + gerund

The problem

In many languages, when one verb follows another, the second verb is almost always in the infinitive.

In English, this is different. Some verbs are followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), and others by an infinitive (to + verb). You have to learn which form each verb takes, because there is no general rule that covers all cases.

Compare:

I avoid driving at night. => gerund (-ing)

I want to drive. => infinitive (to + verb)

In many languages, both sentences would use the same infinitive form. In English, you have to choose between -ing and to depending on the first verb.

Verbs followed by a gerund

These verbs are followed by verb + -ing:

enjoy [ɪn'dʒɔɪ] => I enjoy reading.

finish ['fɪnɪʃ] => She finished eating.

avoid [ə'vɔɪd] => He avoids driving at night.

mind [maɪnd] => Do you mind waiting?

suggest [sə'dʒɛst] => I suggest going early.

keep [ki:p] => Keep working!

practice ['præktɪs] => I practice speaking English.

consider [kən'sɪdər] => She is considering moving.

imagine [ɪ'mædʒɪn] => Imagine living in Paris!

miss [mɪs] => I miss living in Spain.

deny [dɪ'naɪ] => He denied stealing the money.

quit [kwɪt] => She quit smoking.

Verbs followed by an infinitive

These verbs are followed by to + verb:

want [wɑnt] => I want to go.

need [ni:d] => She needs to study.

decide [dɪ'saɪd] => We decided to stay.

plan [plæn] => I plan to travel next year.

hope [hoʊp] => He hopes to find a job.

promise ['prɑmɪs] => She promised to call.

agree [ə'gri:] => They agreed to help.

refuse [rɪ'fju:z] => He refused to answer.

learn [lɜrn] => I'm learning to cook.

seem [si:m] => She seems to be happy.

afford [ə'fɔrd] => I can't afford to buy a car.

manage ['mænɪdʒ] => He managed to finish on time.

pretend [prɪ'tɛnd] => She pretended to sleep.

offer ['ɔfər] => He offered to help.

Verbs that take both

Some verbs can take either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning changes:

Stop

She stopped smoking. => She doesn't smoke anymore.

She stopped to smoke. => She paused in order to smoke.

Remember

I remember locking the door. => I locked it, and I remember it.

I remembered to lock the door. => I didn't forget to do it.

Try

Try eating less sugar. => experiment, see if it works

I tried to open the door. => I made an effort

Forget

I'll never forget visiting Rome. => a memory

I forgot to visit the museum. => I didn't do it

Preposition + gerund

After a preposition, we always use the gerund, never the infinitive:

interested in [ɪn] => I'm interested in learning French.

good at [æt] => She's good at cooking.

tired of [əv] => I'm tired of waiting.

afraid of [əv] => He's afraid of flying.

instead of [ɪn'stɛd əv] => Instead of driving, I walk.

before / after => Before leaving, I checked my phone.

without [wɪð'aʊt] => She left without saying goodbye.