Gerunds and infinitives can be tricky because they often look like verbs but act like nouns. If you’ve ever wondered why we say ‘I enjoy swimming’ but ‘I want to swim,’ this guide will help you master the rules once and for all.
You can see this in action with a simple daily task: walking your dogs (gerund) is a peaceful activity, but you might also step outside to walk them (infinitive) for exercise. While both sentences involve the same path, the grammar shifts based on whether you are focusing on the activity itself or your purpose for doing it.
Quick guide: Gerunds vs. infinitives (TL;DR)
If you’re in a hurry, here are the three important rules for choosing between a gerund (-ing) and an infinitive (to + verb):
- Rule 1: Use a Gerund after prepositions. If you see words like in, on, at, about, or of, the following verb must end in -ing.
- Example: “He is excited about going to the park.”
- Rule 2: Use an Infinitive to show purpose. If the verb explains why someone is doing something, use to.
- Example: “I went to the store to buy milk.”
- Rule 3: Check the main verb. Some verbs are “bossy” and demand a specific form:
- Gerunds follow: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest.
- Infinitives follow: want, decide, hope, plan, agree.
Pro Tip: If you want a physical reference to keep on your desk, English Grammar in Use is widely considered the best self-study book for mastering these patterns.
What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?
While both forms originate from verbs, they serve different grammatical purposes. A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun. An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word “to.”
Comparison: Gerund vs. infinitive at a glance
| Feature | Gerund | Infinitive |
| Form | Verb + “-ing” (running) | “To” + base verb (to run) |
| Grammatical Role | Always acts as a noun | Can be a noun, adjective, or adverb |
| Common Focus | Real experiences / General actions | Potential / Future goals |
| After Prepositions | Always use a gerund | Rarely used (except in specific phrases) |
When to use gerunds
Gerunds are the preferred choice when you are talking about an action in a general sense or as the subject of a sentence.
- As the subject of a sentence: “Smoking is prohibited.”
- After prepositions: “He is afraid of flying.”
- After certain “activity” verbs: Use gerunds after verbs like enjoy, avoid, admit, consider, suggest, finish, and mind.
- Correct: “I enjoy reading.”
- Incorrect: “I enjoy to read.”
When to use infinitives
Infinitives often point toward a specific goal or a future event. They are common after adjectives and specific “intent” verbs.
- To show purpose: “I exercised to stay healthy.” (This answers the question “why?”)
- After adjectives: “It is difficult to learn a new language.”
- After “intent” or “decision” verbs: Use infinitives after verbs like want, decide, hope, plan, promise, agree, refuse, and learn.
- Correct: “I want to leave.”
- Incorrect: “I want leaving.”
Verbs that change meaning based on the form
Some English verbs are tricky because they can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning of the sentence changes significantly.
1. Stop
- Gerund: “He stopped smoking.” (He quit the habit entirely.)
- Infinitive: “He stopped to smoke.” (He paused what he was doing in order to have a cigarette.)
2. Remember / Forget
- Gerund: “I remember locking the door.” (I have a memory of doing it in the past.)
- Infinitive: “I remembered to lock the door.” (I didn’t forget the task; I performed the duty.)
3. Try
- Gerund: “Try stretching every morning.” (Experiment with it to see if it helps.)
- Infinitive: “Try to stretch every morning.” (Make an effort to do it, even if it’s hard.)
Verbs where the form doesn’t matter
Good news: you don’t always have to choose. For verbs like start, begin, continue, like, and love, you can usually use either form without changing the meaning.
- “I started to cry.”
- “I started crying.”
Both sentences are perfectly natural and communicate the same thing. Don’t overthink these—go with whichever sounds best in the moment.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using infinitives after prepositions: This is a common error for English learners. Always use the -ing form after prepositions like in, on, at, for, and about.
- Wrong: “Thank you for to help me.”
- Right: “Thank you for helping me.”
- The “bare” infinitive: After modal verbs (can, should, must) or “let” and “make,” do not use “to.”
- Right: “She let him go.” (Not “to go”)
The ultimate gerund vs. infinitive meaning change table
When a verb can take both forms, the “Gerund = Past/Ongoing” and “Infinitive = Future/Potential” rule is your best friend.
| Verb | Followed by a Gerund (-ing) | Followed by an Infinitive (to…) |
| Stop | Give up a habit. I stopped smoking. | Pause an action to do another. I stopped to smoke. |
| Remember | Recall a past memory. I remember locking the door. | Perform a necessary task. I remembered to lock the door. |
| Forget | Lose the memory of an event. I’ll never forget seeing the Eiffel Tower. | Fail to do something. I forgot to see the Eiffel Tower. |
| Try | Experiment with a solution. Try resting more to feel better. | Make a difficult effort. I tried to rest, but the noise was too loud. |
| Regret | Feel sorry about a past action. I regret telling him the secret. | Giving bad news (Formal). I regret to tell you that you failed. |
| Go on | Continue the same action. He went on talking for hours. | Do something new next. He sang, then went on to play piano. |
| Mean | Involve or result in. Dieting means giving up sugar. | Intend to do something. I didn’t mean to hurt you. |
Gerunds vs. Infinitives: How to choose?
Practice makes perfect: I find that mapping these out on a double-sided dry-erase whiteboard helps students visualize the “Time/Intent” logic much faster than just reading.
Common questions: Gerund and infinitive rules explained (FAQ)
Gerund vs. infinitive exercises: Test your knowledge with a quiz
Check your understanding of these tricky verb patterns. Can you spot the subtle differences in meaning?
1. Which sentence implies that a habit was completely given up?
- A) I stopped to drink coffee.
- B) I stopped drinking coffee.
2. Choose the correct form for this prepositional phrase:
- “I am really looking forward to _______ you at the conference.”
- A) see
- B) seeing
- C) to see
3. Which sentence describes a completed action that you witnessed from start to finish?
- A) I watched her cross the street.
- B) I watched her crossing the street.
4. Fill in the blank for an effortful attempt:
- “It was freezing, but I tried _______ the window anyway.”
- A) opening
- B) to open
5. Identify the “Bare Infinitive” usage:
- A) He told me to sit.
- B) He made me sit.
- B (I stopped drinking coffee). The gerund indicates the action itself has ceased. Sentence A means you paused another activity in order to drink coffee.
- B (Seeing). “Looking forward to” is a phrasal verb where “to” is a preposition, which must be followed by a gerund (-ing).
- A (I watched her walk). Using the bare infinitive with verbs of perception implies you saw the entire event. The gerund (-ing) implies you saw her while she was in the middle of the act.
- B (To open). “Try + infinitive” is used for making an effort at something difficult. “Try + gerund” is for experimenting with a new method.
- B (He made me sit). The verb “make” is a causative verb that takes a bare infinitive (no “to”).
Visual tools to help you learn
Video guide: Gerunds vs. Infinitives
I recommend this video specifically for the ’emergency trick’ Lucy shares at the 11-minute mark—it’s a lifesaver for exams.
Gerunds vs. infinitives in conversation: A storytelling grammar guide
This engaging dialogue between two friends illustrates gerunds and infinitives in context, showing how these grammar points shift to reflect personal goals, career ambitions, and life balance. Through their conversation, you will see real-world examples of “meaning-change” verbs like stop, remember, and forget used in natural, everyday storytelling.
Conclusion: Mastering your verb patterns
Choosing between a gerund and an infinitive isn’t about guessing; it’s about understanding the “why” behind the action. Whether you are walking your dogs to relax or stopping to walk them during a break, these small shifts in form change how people perceive your intent.
The best way to master these is through practice. Once you start noticing these patterns in your daily reading, picking the right form will become second nature.
I always suggest keeping a dedicated dotted journal to record “bossy verbs” you encounter while reading. Writing them down by hand is a proven way to move them from your short-term memory to natural usage.
Join the conversation
Which verb gives you the most trouble? For many, the difference between “stop to do” and “stop doing” is a total game-changer.
Drop a comment below with a sentence using your favorite verb from the list, or let us know if there is a specific “meaning change” verb we missed! If you found this guide helpful, share it with a friend who is currently navigating the twists and turns of English grammar.
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