Gerund or Infinitive?
1. Gerund or infinitive?
When we want to use two verbs one after the other, or a verb after an adjective, we can connect them in different ways:
with a to infinitive
with a gerund (-ing)
with a bare infinitive (infinitive without ‘to’)
with a that clause
with a preposition + gerund
with an object + to infinitive
adjective + to infinitive
A good dictionary will always tell you which category a verb belongs to.
2. Verb + to infinitive
The following verbs are followed by a to infinitive:
afford / aim / appear / ask / attempt / choose / deserve / fail / happen / help / learn / manage / neglect / offer / plan / prepare / refuse / seem / tend / wait / want / wish
Peter can’t afford to buy a house.
We decided to buy an ice-cream.
Jack wanted to go for a walk.
He tends to smoke a lot.
3. Verb + to infinitive / that
Some verbs can be followed by a to infinitive or a that clause:
agree arrange decide demand desire expect
hope intend learn plan pretend promise
seem threaten wish
They agreed to travel by car.
They agreed that travelling by car was a good idea.
They hoped to arrive early.
They hoped that the plane wouldn’t be late.
4. Adjectives + to infinitive
Adjectives are usually followed by a to infinitive verb. (For exceptions, look at part 2.)
1. It + is/was + adjectives (+ noun) + to + verb
It is difficult to answer this question.
It is a difficult question to answer.
It is nice to see you.
2. Subject + is/was + adjective + to + verb
She is easy to talk to.
Frank was surprised to see us.
This question is difficult to answer.
3. It + is/was + adjective + for you + to + verb
It is nice of you to help me.
It was kind of him to organize the party.
5. Verb + ing / noun
Some verbs can be followed by either a noun or a gerund (verb+ing):
avoid delay dislike enjoy fancy
feel like finish help give up involve
keep mind miss postpone practise
risk can’t stand
I enjoy reading books. I enjoy this party.
He practiced dancing. He practiced his dance moves.
I can’t stand smoking. I can’t stand cigarettes.
6. Verb + ing / noun / that
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund, a noun, or a that – clause:
admit appreciate consider confess deny
imagine mention recollect report suggest
He admitted stealing the jewellery.
He admitted that he stole the jewellery.
Jack mentioned meeting Fred in the street.
Jack mentioned that he met Fred in the street.
7. Verb + preposition + ing
All verbs which have a preposition are always followed by a gerund:
afraid of / apologise for / concentrate on / congratulate on / decide on / dream of / get rid of / forgive for / insist on / keen on / look forward to / prevent from / sorry for / succeed in / suspect of / stop from / thank for / warn against
Jack apologised for breaking the vase.
Phil succeeded in swimming across the channel.
8. Verb + ing = Verb + to infinitive
A few verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without any change in the meaning. These are:
attempt / begin / continue / can’t bear / dread / hate / intend / like / love / prefer / start
I began to read the newspaper.
I began reading the newspaper.
9. Verb + ing ≠ Verb + to infinitive
In these cases, the meaning changes depending on the infinitive or gerund:
Verb + ing / inf | meaning |
I remember visiting my grandma when I was a child. Please, remember to post the letter. |
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I won’t forget meeting him the first time. Please, don’t forget to lock the doors. |
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I regret telling him my secret. I regret to inform you that the plane has been canelled. |
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Last winter, I tried skiing but I didn’t like it. I have tried to call him five times. |
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He stopped reading and stood up. He stopped to have a cigarette. |
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Changing your country means learning a new language. I meant to call you but I didn’t have time. |
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Fred went on talking about his job for hours. After university, Jill went on to become a lawyer. |
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10. Verb + bare infinitive
A small number of verbs are followed by an infinitive without to:
a) Modal verbs → this topic is discussed in a separate unit.
I should go. You must eat your food.
b) Help, let, make
She helped me (to) bake the cake.
Please, let me show you the new catalogue.
She made the children clean up.
But: The children were made to clean up. (passive!)
Note: ‘Help’ can be followed by to infinitive or the bare infinite (without ‘to’).
11. See / hear / feel, etc.
The following verbs can be followed by an infinitive without to or a gerund with a small change in meaning.
a. see/hear/feel/etc. + object + verb = we focus on the completed action
b. see/hear/feel/etc + object + verb+ing = we focus on the continuing action
feel / hear / see / listen to / notice / watch
He saw the boy run across the road. (from beginning to end)
He saw the boy running across the road. (part of the action)
I heard him shout. (a short shout probably)
I heard him shouting. (the shouting continued)
12. Verb + object + to or Verb + ing
Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or by an object plus to infinitive.
a. Verb + gerund
b. Verb + object + to infinitive
advise allow encourage forbid permit recommend
He recommended travelling to Asia.
He recommended us to travel to Asia.
She forbade leaving the room.
She forbade the child to leave the room.
13. Expressions
There are some expressions which always use the gerund.
have difficulty doing something
it is a waste of time/money doing something (to is also possible)
spend time doing something
waste time doing something
It’s no use/good doing something
I spent time talking to my neighbour.
It’s no use learning Hungarian. Nobody speaks it.
It’s a waste of time speaking to him. He never listens.
14. Verb + (object) + to
Some verbs can be followed by a to infinitive or by an object + to infinitive.
ask beg help expect *enable
*force *invite *get *order *persuade
*remind *teach *tell *warn want
would like would love would prefer would hate
I want to go home. I want you to go home.
I would like to leave. I would like you to leave.
The verbs with a star (*) always follow the verb + object + infinitive pattern.
