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.
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
