Gerunds and Infinitives: When to Use Each

Some verbs take an -ing form, others take a to-infinitive, and some allow both with a change in meaning. Learn the pattern with the verb.

Should you say 'I enjoy swimming' or 'I enjoy to swim'? This guide will end your confusion about gerunds and infinitives! 🏊

What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Gerund = verb + -ing (used as a noun). Infinitive = to + base verb.

Swimming is fun.

💡 Gerund as subject

I love reading.

💡 Gerund as object

I want to swim.

💡 Infinitive as object

My goal is to learn English.

💡 Infinitive after "be"

Gerund as Subject

When a verb-action is the subject of a sentence, use the gerund form:

Reading is my favorite hobby.

💡 Reading = subject

Swimming is good exercise.

💡 Swimming = subject

Learning English takes time.

💡 Learning = subject

Cooking requires patience.

💡 Cooking = subject

Smoking is bad for health.

💡 Smoking = subject

Verbs Followed by Gerunds Only (-ing)

These verbs MUST be followed by gerunds. Memorize them!

Verb	Example	Meaning
enjoy	I enjoy reading books.	Take pleasure in
avoid	She avoids eating junk food.	Stay away from
finish	He finished writing the report.	Complete
practice	They practice speaking English.	Do repeatedly
consider	We considered moving to Canada.	Think about
keep	Keep trying!	Continue
mind	Do you mind waiting?	Object to
suggest	I suggest leaving early.	Recommend
miss	I miss seeing my friends.	Feel sad about not doing
quit	He quit smoking.	Stop
admit	She admitted making a mistake.	Confess
deny	He denied stealing the money.	Say it is not true

❌ I enjoy to read. → ✅ I enjoy reading.

💡 Enjoy + gerund

❌ She avoids to eat sugar. → ✅ She avoids eating sugar.

💡 Avoid + gerund

❌ He finished to write. → ✅ He finished writing.

💡 Finish + gerund

❌ I miss to see you. → ✅ I miss seeing you.

💡 Miss + gerund

Verbs Followed by Infinitives Only (to + verb)

These verbs MUST be followed by infinitives!

Verb	Example	Meaning
want	I want to learn guitar.	Desire
need	She needs to study more.	Require
decide	They decided to stay home.	Choose
hope	We hope to see you soon.	Wish for
plan	He plans to travel next year.	Intend
agree	She agreed to help me.	Say yes
refuse	He refused to answer.	Say no
learn	I am learning to cook.	Gain skill
promise	She promised to call.	Give word
expect	They expect to win.	Anticipate
offer	He offered to help.	Volunteer
seem	She seems to be happy.	Appear

❌ I want learning. → ✅ I want to learn.

💡 Want + infinitive

❌ She decided staying. → ✅ She decided to stay.

💡 Decide + infinitive

❌ He refused answering. → ✅ He refused to answer.

💡 Refuse + infinitive

❌ They plan traveling. → ✅ They plan to travel.

💡 Plan + infinitive

Verbs That Take Both (with Different Meanings!)

Some verbs can take both, but the meaning changes! This is very important:

STOP:

I stopped smoking.

💡 = I quit the habit of smoking. (No more smoking!)

I stopped to smoke.

💡 = I paused what I was doing in order to have a cigarette.

REMEMBER:

I remember locking the door.

💡 = I have a memory of doing it. (Past action I recall)

I remember to lock the door.

💡 = I don't forget to do it. (Future action I won't forget)

FORGET:

I'll never forget meeting you.

💡 = The memory of meeting you will stay with me.

Don't forget to call me.

💡 = Remember to call me (future action).

TRY:

I tried opening the window.

💡 = I experimented with opening it (to see what happens).

I tried to open the window.

💡 = I attempted but maybe failed (it was difficult).

REGRET:

I regret telling him the truth.

💡 = I'm sorry that I told him. (Past action I regret)

I regret to tell you that you failed.

💡 = I'm sorry to inform you. (Formal announcement)

After Prepositions: ALWAYS Use Gerunds!

This is a golden rule: After any preposition (in, at, for, about, of, without, before, after...), ALWAYS use the gerund!

I am interested in learning Spanish.

💡 After preposition "in"

She is good at cooking.

💡 After preposition "at"

Thank you for helping me.

💡 After preposition "for"

I am tired of waiting.

💡 After preposition "of"

He left without saying goodbye.

💡 After preposition "without"

Before leaving, check the windows.

💡 After preposition "before"

After finishing dinner, we watched TV.

💡 After preposition "after"

I am thinking about changing jobs.

💡 After preposition "about"

Common Expressions with Gerunds

It's no use crying over spilt milk.

💡 Fixed expression

It's worth watching this movie.

💡 Worth + gerund

I can't help laughing.

💡 Can't help + gerund = can't stop

I look forward to meeting you.

💡 Look forward to + gerund

There's no point in arguing.

💡 No point in + gerund

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ I look forward to meet you. → ✅ I look forward to meeting you.

💡 "To" here is preposition, not infinitive!

❌ I am used to wake up early. → ✅ I am used to waking up early.

💡 "To" is preposition

❌ She suggested to go. → ✅ She suggested going.

💡 Suggest + gerund

❌ I avoid to eat sugar. → ✅ I avoid eating sugar.

💡 Avoid + gerund

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In, On and At: English Prepositions · Action and State Verbs: Rules and Examples