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One of the most challenging areas of English grammar is knowing when to use a gerund (verb + -ing) and when to use an infinitive (to + verb) after another verb. Should you say "I enjoy swimming" or "I enjoy to swim"? Should it be "I want going" or "I want to go"? The answer depends on the main verb of the sentence, and unfortunately, there is no single rule that covers all cases. This guide provides comprehensive lists of verbs followed by gerunds, infinitives, or both, along with clear explanations of the meaning changes.
Table of Contents
What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. It looks identical to the present participle but functions differently. A gerund names an activity or action.
An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by to. Like gerunds, infinitives can function as nouns, but they can also serve as adjectives and adverbs.
Gerund: Swimming is great exercise. / I enjoy reading.
Infinitive: To swim is great exercise. / I want to read.
Verbs Followed by Gerunds (-ing)
These verbs must be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive:
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| enjoy | I enjoy cooking. |
| avoid | She avoids eating junk food. |
| finish | He finished writing the report. |
| mind | Do you mind waiting? |
| suggest | I suggest taking a break. |
| practice | She practices playing piano daily. |
| consider | We are considering moving. |
| keep | Keep trying! |
| deny | He denied stealing the money. |
| imagine | Imagine living on Mars! |
| miss | I miss seeing my friends. |
| postpone | They postponed making a decision. |
| risk | Don't risk losing your job. |
| give up | She gave up smoking. |
| can't help | I can't help laughing. |
| admit | He admitted cheating on the test. |
Verbs Followed by Infinitives (to + verb)
These verbs must be followed by an infinitive, not a gerund:
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| want | I want to learn Spanish. |
| need | She needs to study more. |
| decide | He decided to quit. |
| hope | I hope to see you soon. |
| plan | We plan to travel next year. |
| expect | She expects to finish by Friday. |
| agree | They agreed to help. |
| refuse | He refused to answer. |
| promise | She promised to call. |
| offer | He offered to drive us. |
| learn | She is learning to cook. |
| pretend | He pretended to sleep. |
| seem | She seems to be happy. |
| afford | We can't afford to buy it. |
| manage | I managed to finish on time. |
| choose | She chose to stay home. |
Verbs That Take Both (No Change in Meaning)
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with little or no change in meaning:
like: I like swimming. / I like to swim.
love: She loves dancing. / She loves to dance.
hate: He hates waiting. / He hates to wait.
prefer: I prefer walking. / I prefer to walk.
start: It started raining. / It started to rain.
begin: She began singing. / She began to sing.
continue: He continued working. / He continued to work.
Verbs That Take Both (Different Meaning)
For certain verbs, the choice between gerund and infinitive changes the meaning significantly:
Remember
I remember locking the door. (I have a memory of doing it — past action)
Remember to lock the door. (Don't forget to do it — future action)
Forget
I'll never forget meeting her. (I remember that experience — past)
Don't forget to meet her at 5. (Remember to do it — future)
Stop
She stopped smoking. (She quit smoking — the activity ended)
She stopped to smoke. (She paused her activity in order to smoke)
Try
Try eating less sugar. (experiment with this approach)
I tried to open the door. (I attempted but maybe didn't succeed)
Regret
I regret telling her the truth. (I'm sorry I told her — past action)
I regret to inform you that... (I'm sorry to say this — formal)
Gerunds After Prepositions
Whenever a verb follows a preposition, it must be in the gerund form. This is a universal rule with no exceptions.
She is good at painting.
I'm interested in learning Japanese.
He apologized for being late.
They talked about moving to a new city.
I'm tired of waiting.
Gerunds and Infinitives as Subjects
Both gerunds and infinitives can function as the subject of a sentence. Gerunds are more common and natural in everyday English; infinitives are more formal.
Swimming is good exercise. (more natural)
To swim is good exercise. (more formal)
Learning a language takes time.
To learn a language takes time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Gerund After "Want"
❌ I want going home. → ✅ I want to go home.
Mistake 2: Infinitive After "Enjoy"
❌ I enjoy to cook. → ✅ I enjoy cooking.
Mistake 3: Infinitive After a Preposition
❌ She is good at to paint. → ✅ She is good at painting.
Mistake 4: Confusing "Stop + Gerund" and "Stop + Infinitive"
"He stopped talking" ≠ "He stopped to talk"
The first means he was quiet. The second means he paused to have a conversation.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct form (gerund or infinitive).
1. She enjoys _______ (read / reading).
Answer: reading
2. I want _______ (go / to go) to the beach.
Answer: to go
3. He avoided _______ (answer / answering) the question.
Answer: answering
4. We decided _______ (stay / to stay) home.
Answer: to stay
5. She is interested in _______ (learn / learning) French.
Answer: learning
6. I can't afford _______ (buy / to buy) a new car.
Answer: to buy
7. He finished _______ (write / writing) the email.
Answer: writing
8. Remember _______ (turn / to turn) off the lights.
Answer: to turn
Gerunds and infinitives are one of the most nuanced areas of English grammar. While there are some patterns, much of the learning comes from memorizing which verbs take which form. By studying the verb lists in this guide, paying attention to meaning changes with verbs like remember, stop, and try, and practicing regularly, you will master this challenging but essential grammar point.
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