How to Use Gerund and Infinitive Correctly

Hey everyone! If you’re a native English speaker or learning English as a second language, you might have had trouble using gerund and infinitive. These grammar components can add a lot of detail and structure to your sentences, but they can be tricky to get right. We’re here to help you out with our post all about using gerund and infinitive correctly. Here you’ll find a comprehensive guide to these grammar elements, plus some tips and examples to help you become a pro! Let’s get started!

1. What is a Gerund Infinitive?

1.1 What is a gerund

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 or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

• Reading helps you learn English. ( subject of  the sentence)
• I enjoy reading. (object of the sentence)

1.2 What is an infinitive

The infinitive is the “to” form of the verb. There are two forms of the infinitive: Bare (without to ) and full infinitive ( with to ). The infinitive form of “learn” is “to learn.” You can also use an infinitive as the subject or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

To learn is important. (subject of a sentence)

He wants to learn. (object of a sentence)

2. Expressions and verbs used with the gerund

2.1 Verbs used with the gerund

acknowledge – admit – anticipate – appreciate – avoid – carry on – can’t help/resist/stand – look forward to – celebrate – complete – confess – consider – delay – deny – detest – discuss – dislike – endure – enjoy – fancy – feel like – finish – forget – give up – go – go on – imagine – include – involve – it’s worth – keep (= continue) – love – mention – (don’t)mind – miss – postpone – practice – quit – recall – recollect – regret – resent – resist – risk – spend – suggest – tolerate – understand – waste time – spend time

Examples:

• the doctor advised him to avoid eating junk food
• you need to carry on working if you want to get good grades
• tome gave up smoking 15 years ago
• she hates watching horror films

2.2 Expressions used with the gerund

It’s no use … / It’s no good … / There’s no point in …/ What’s the use of …? / To be busy … /Don’t mind … / It’s (not) worth …/ Have difficulty in … / To be accustomed to …

Examples:

• It’s no use crying over spilled milk.
• Tom is busy looking for a job these days

3. Expressions and verbs used with the infinitive

3.1 Verbs used with the infinitive

afford – agree – appear – arrange – beg – care – choose – claim – consent – decide – demand – deserve – fail – happen – hesitate – hope – learn – manage – mean – need – offer – plan – prepare – pretend – promise – propose – refuse – resist – seem – struggle – swear – threaten – try – volunteer – wait – want – wish – would hate/like/love/prefer – be allowed to

Examples:

• She agreed to help me with my project.
• He managed to solve the math problem on his own.

3.2 Adjectives

nice – glad – sorry – happy – willing – pleased – angry – afraid – ashamed – annoyed

Examples:

• She was happy to see her old friends.
• It’s important to be punctual.
• The children were excited to visit the zoo.

3.3 Wh-words

The Full infinitive is also used after the WH-words and after ( the first, the second, the third…)

Examples:

• “I don’t know which choice to make,”  said the girl to her mother.
• Where to find the best coffee in town?
• “The first to get a good mark is going to have a gift,”  said the teacher to his students

3.4 Verb + object + full infinitive

advise – allow – ask – beg – cause – challenge – command – convince – dare – enable – encourage – expect-forbid – force – help – hire – instruct – invite – need – order – permit – persuade – recommend – remind – require – teach-tell – urge – want – warn – wish – would like – would love – would hate – would prefer

Examples:

• I want you to come with me.
• The teacher advised us to revise well.

3.5 Expressions and verbs used with the bare infinitive (verb)

can/could – shall/should – will/would – may/might – have to – must – had better – help – hear – let – let’s – make – would rather/sooner, rather than/ – used to – watch

Examples:

• They can speak English
• Let’s revise our lessons
• You had better play some sports before you get fat .

4. Expressions and verbs used with the full infinitive (to+verb) or the gerund

attempt – begin – cease – forget – hate – intend – like – love – neglect – prefer – recommend – remember – start – stop – watch

Examples:

• Tom stopped to smoke/smoking 15 years ago
• She hates watching/to watch horror films

 5. Gerund and infinitive exercises