Gerunds and Infinitives: Rules, Verb Lists and Exercises

What are gerunds and infinitives?

A gerund has the same form as a present participle, but it functions as a noun.

It can be the subject of a sentence:

Learning a language takes time.

It can also be the object of a verb:

I enjoy learning languages.

An infinitive with to can express a plan, intention, purpose or desired action.

We decided to leave early.

I called to ask a question.

The negative forms are:

not + gerund

He admitted not telling the truth.

not + to-infinitive

She decided not to attend the meeting.

English does not have one universal rule for choosing between a gerund and infinitive after another verb. The first verb often determines which form follows, so many common patterns need to be learnt.

Gerunds and infinitives belong to a wider group of verb-based structures. Read our guide to verbal phrases in English to compare gerund, infinitive and participle phrases.

The pattern is:

verb + to-infinitive

She hopes to find a new job.

We managed to complete the work.

Incorrect:

They decided leaving early.

Correct:

They decided to leave early.

Verb + object + infinitive

Some verbs are followed by an object before the infinitive.

verb + object + to-infinitive

Common examples include:

• advise
• allow
• ask
• encourage
• expect
• invite
• remind
• tell
• want
• warn

The teacher encouraged us to speak more.

She reminded me to send the email.

They invited Daniel to join the meeting.

Without an object, some of these verbs use a different pattern:

I advised leaving early.

I advised him to leave early.

This structure is also common when reporting instructions and requests, as in She told me to wait. See our complete guide to reported speech for statements, questions and commands.

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Verbs that take both forms

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with little or no important difference in meaning.

Common examples include:

• begin
• continue
• start
• like
• love
• hate
• prefer

It started raining.

It started to rain.

She continued working.

She continued to work.

With like, love, hate and prefer, the gerund often describes general enjoyment or preference:

I like swimming.

The infinitive may describe a habit, choice or particular situation:

I like to check my emails before breakfast.

The difference is often small, but some structures strongly prefer one form.

Use an infinitive after would like, would love, would hate and would prefer:

I would like to order now.

Not:

I would like ordering now.

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Meaning changes with gerund or infinitive

With certain verbs, the form that follows changes the meaning.

Remember

Remember doing means having a memory of a past action.

I remember meeting her at university.

Remember to do means not forgetting a necessary action.

Remember to lock the door.

Forget

Forget doing means having no memory of a past action.

I’ll never forget visiting Edinburgh for the first time.

Forget to do means failing to perform an action.

He forgot to reply to the email.

Stop

Stop doing means end an activity.

She stopped drinking coffee.

Stop to do means pause one activity in order to do another.

We stopped to buy some coffee.

Try

Try doing means test a possible solution.

If the computer is slow, try restarting it.

Try to do means make an effort, possibly unsuccessfully.

I tried to restart it, but the screen had frozen.

Regret

Regret doing means feel sorry about a past action.

I regret saying that.

Regret to do is used when giving bad or formal news.

We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.

Go on

Go on doing means continue the same activity.

He went on talking for another hour.

Go on to do means finish one activity and begin a different one.

She studied law and went on to become a judge.

Gerunds after prepositions

A verb that follows a preposition normally takes the gerund form.

preposition + gerund

She left without saying goodbye.

I am interested in learning Spanish.

Thank you for helping me.

This rule applies after common prepositions such as:

• after
• before
• by
• for
• in
• of
• on
• without

Before leaving, please turn off the lights.

You can improve by practising regularly.

He apologised for arriving late.

It also applies to verb and adjective combinations ending in prepositions:

She is good at explaining difficult ideas.

I look forward to seeing you.

They succeeded in finding a solution.

In look forward to, the word to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. It must therefore be followed by a noun or gerund.

Correct:

I look forward to meeting you.

Incorrect:

I look forward to meet you.

Other common expressions with to as a preposition include:

• be accustomed to
• be committed to
• be used to
• object to
• admit to

She is used to working late.

Compare this with used to + base verb, which describes a past habit:

She used to work late.

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Common mistakes

Using an infinitive after enjoy

Incorrect:

I enjoy to cook.

Correct:

I enjoy cooking.

Using a gerund after decide

Incorrect:

We decided going home.

Correct:

We decided to go home.

Forgetting the object after tell

Incorrect:

She told to wait.

Correct:

She told me to wait.

Using the base verb after a preposition

Incorrect:

He left without say goodbye.

Correct:

He left without saying goodbye.

Confusing used to and be used to

I used to wake up early.

This describes a past habit.

I am used to waking up early.

This means waking up early is familiar or normal for me.

Using to after a modal verb

Modal verbs such as can, should, must and might take the bare infinitive without to.

Incorrect:

You should to practise more.

Correct:

You should practise more.

Modal verbs use the bare infinitive rather than to + verb. Review the full rules in our guide to modal verbs in English.

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Exercises and answers

Complete each sentence with the gerund or infinitive form of the verb in brackets.

1. I enjoy __________ new languages. (learn)
2. We decided __________ the earlier train. (take)
3. She suggested __________ at home. (stay)
4. He promised __________ me later. (call)
5. Do you mind __________ the window? (open)
6. They managed __________ the problem. (solve)
7. I’m interested in __________ more about the course. (find out)
8. Remember __________ the document before you leave. (save)
9. I remember __________ this building as a child. (visit)
10. She stopped __________ three years ago. (smoke)
11. We stopped __________ some water during the walk. (buy)
12. If the app does not work, try __________ it. (reinstall)
13. I tried __________ the box, but it was too heavy. (lift)
14. The manager reminded us __________ the form. (complete)
15. He left without __________ anything. (say)

Answers and explanations

1. learning
   Enjoy is followed by a gerund.
2. to take
   Decide is followed by a to-infinitive.
3. staying
   Suggest normally takes a gerund.
4. to call
   Promise is followed by a to-infinitive.
5. opening
   Mind is followed by a gerund.
6. to solve
   Manage is followed by a to-infinitive.
7. finding out
   A verb after the preposition in takes the gerund form.
8. to save
   This refers to a necessary future action that must not be forgotten.
9. visiting
   This refers to a memory of an earlier experience.
10. smoking
    She ended the activity or habit.
11. to buy
    The group paused its walk in order to buy water.
12. reinstalling
    This means testing a possible solution.
13. to lift
    This describes making an effort to perform a difficult action.
14. to complete
    Use remind + object + to-infinitive.
15. saying
    A verb after the preposition without takes the gerund form.

Gerunds and infinitives follow patterns that become easier with regular exposure and practice. Learn common verb groups, remember that prepositions are followed by gerunds, and pay particular attention to verbs such as stop, remember and try, where changing the form changes the meaning.

Related grammar lessons

• Modal Verbs in English: Uses and Exercises
• Reported Speech: Rules, Examples and Exercises
• Relative Clauses: Rules, Examples and Exercises