In English, infinitives (to + base form of the verb) and gerunds (verb + -ing) serve different purposes. Infinitives are often used after verbs, adjectives, or nouns, while gerunds are used as nouns or after prepositions.
We use the gerund in the following cases:
A) When it is a noun and works as the subject of a sentence.
• Smoking is bad for your health.
B) After a preposition.
• I’m interested in learning a new language.
C) After some expressions such as:
be worth · can’t stand · can’t help · feel like · be used to · get used to · it’s no good · it’s not use · look forward to · there’s no point (in)
• I feel like going out tonight.
• I can’t stand listening to heavy metal music.
D) After some verbs such as:
admit · avoid · begin* · continue · consider · deny · dislike · enjoy · finish · hate* · imagine · keep · like* · love* · mind · miss · postpone · prefer* · quit · recommend** · risk · start* · suggest
• He denied stealing the money.
• It started raining at 8 pm.
• I love watching sitcoms on TV.
We use the full infinitive in the following cases:
A) After adjectives (also with “too + adjective” and “adjective + enough”)
• It is nice to eat outside in the summer.
• It’s too cold to go outside.
• He’s not tall enough to reach the shelf.
B) When we express purpose or intention of a thing or an action.
• Michael is learning English to visit London.
C) With the structure “verb + object + full infinitive”.
• Paul asked his mother to make him a sandwich.
D) After some verbs such as:
afford · agree · appear · arrange · ask · beg · begin* · choose · decide · expect · fail · hate* · help · hope · learn · like* · love* · manage · offer · plan · pretend · prefer* · promise · recommend** · refuse · seem · start* · threaten · want · would like · would love
• I’d like to work as a journalist when I graduate.
• Sarah wants to go to the cinema tonight
For further information, dowload the worksheet below.
A) When it is a noun and works as the subject of a sentence.
• Smoking is bad for your health.
B) After a preposition.
• I’m interested in learning a new language.
C) After some expressions such as:
be worth · can’t stand · can’t help · feel like · be used to · get used to · it’s no good · it’s not use · look forward to · there’s no point (in)
• I feel like going out tonight.
• I can’t stand listening to heavy metal music.
D) After some verbs such as:
admit · avoid · begin* · continue · consider · deny · dislike · enjoy · finish · hate* · imagine · keep · like* · love* · mind · miss · postpone · prefer* · quit · recommend** · risk · start* · suggest
• He denied stealing the money.
• It started raining at 8 pm.
• I love watching sitcoms on TV.
We use the full infinitive in the following cases:
A) After adjectives (also with “too + adjective” and “adjective + enough”)
• It is nice to eat outside in the summer.
• It’s too cold to go outside.
• He’s not tall enough to reach the shelf.
B) When we express purpose or intention of a thing or an action.
• Michael is learning English to visit London.
C) With the structure “verb + object + full infinitive”.
• Paul asked his mother to make him a sandwich.
D) After some verbs such as:
afford · agree · appear · arrange · ask · beg · begin* · choose · decide · expect · fail · hate* · help · hope · learn · like* · love* · manage · offer · plan · pretend · prefer* · promise · recommend** · refuse · seem · start* · threaten · want · would like · would love
• I’d like to work as a journalist when I graduate.
• Sarah wants to go to the cinema tonight
For further information, dowload the worksheet below.
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Download the worksheet with exercises to practise the use of gerunds and infinitives in English
Download a second worksheet with exercises to practise the use of gerunds and infinitives in English
Download a third and final worksheet with exercises to practise the use of gerunds and infinitives in English
Download the keys to the exercises here.
worksheet 1 - worksheet 2 - worksheet 3