INFINITIVE OR GERUND – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Whether to use a verb with the infinitive or gerund forms can cause problems even for advanced and business students.

Let’s look at this is more detail to explain when to use an infinitive or gerund (ing) forms of the verbs and to understand the rules.

INFINITIVE OR ING VERB?

There are certain situations that require an infinitive verb and others that require an -ing form; such as, to express purpose (to-infinitive) or when the verb is the subject of a sentence (gerund -ing form).

When we use a verb followed by another verb, we will use either the –ing form or infinitive depending on the first verb. Sometimes the first verb can use either form.

Let’s look at what each form means before moving on to how to use an infinitive or gerund form.

THE INFINITIVE VERB FORM

An infinitive verb is the basic form of a verb. It is typically preceded with to, for example, to play, to touch or to walk. In some situations we use a bare infinitive without the to. For example, let me explain.

THE GERUND VERB FORM

A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing. The gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. For example, walking is healthy or I enjoy running. Walking and running are gerunds.

WHEN TO USE TO-INFINITIVES

We use to-infinitives for the following:

1. To express purpose: I went to Birmingham to see the canals or I studied hard as I wanted to get a good grade.
2. After many adjectives: My son finds it hard to get up in the morning or it was great to talk to you yesterday.
3. After too and enough: My brother’s clothes are big enough to fit me or I’m too full to eat any more.
4. After specific verbs such as agree, appear, ask, enable, help, plan, refuse, say, teach etc. etc: I agree to meet you at 5pm, or they planned to work all weekend and she will refuse to see you or he taught her to speak Spanish.

WHEN TO USE BARE INFINITIVES

We use bare infinitives, without to, for the following:

1. After the verbs let and make: let me tell you the reason or her mum made her do her homework before bed.
2. After modal verbs: We could go to the cinema tonight, I can try again tomorrow, We might go on holiday next week.
3. After verbs of perception, feel, hear, notice, see, sense, watch:
   • I saw him look at the money,
   • I felt her touch me,
   • I noticed them run away. We can also use the gerund, running, if the action is in progress at that moment.
4. After expressions with why:
   • Why not go tomorrow?
   • Why stay at home? 
5. After the verb help, you can use either a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive:
   • they helped me (to) finish the project on time,
   • the book helped me (to) understand English better.

WHEN TO USE THE GERUND

We use the gerund, verb+ing, for the following:

1. After prepositions:
   • How about giving me the opportunity to try?
   • I train by lifting weights,
   • I’m good at reading Spanish, but not so good at speaking.
2. As the subject of a sentence:
   • Eating fruit is good for you,
   • Reading British newspapers will help you to learn English,
   • walking is good exercise.
3. After certain verbs, admit, advise, allow, consider, delay, enjoy, involve, keep, permit, report etc etc:
   • Don’t keep me waiting,
   • The children enjoyed playing together,
   • The company advises holding on to their shares,
   • Success involves working hard.

VERBS THAT USE EITHER INFINITIVE OR GERUND

Some verbs are followed by either the infinitive or gerund and there is little difference in meaning, so the choice is optional. However, there are another group of verbs that can be followed by the infinitive or gerund and the meaning will change.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN MEANING

There is a set of verbs for which the following verbs may be in the infinitive or gerund with little change in meaning. Despite some saying there is no change in meaning, there is always a difference, albeit small.

The following verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or gerund, with only a small change in meaning.

• Can’t bear – He can’t bear being ignored, he can’t bear to be ignored.
• Can’t stand – They can’t stand watching sport, they can stand to watch sport.
• Cease – He ceased working on the project, he ceased to work on the project.
• Continue – It continued raining for days, it continued to rain for days.
• Hate – She hates ironing, she hates to iron.
• Like – The child likes playing piano, the child likes to play piano.
• Love – John loves playing football, John loves to play football.
• Neglect – He neglected studying, he neglects to study.
• Prefer – Jane prefers reading, Jane prefers to read.
• Propose – I propose delaying the project, I propose to delay the project.

Although the differences are small, the infinitive and gerund can’t be used interchangeably, despite what some grammar books and websites may say.

The infinitive suggests a future or potential activity whereas the gerund suggests actual activity. The difference is subtle, but real for native speakers. Therefore, for advanced speakers, gerunds and infinitives are never interchangeable.

John likes playing piano suggests that John likes the activity of playing piano. John likes to play the piano suggests that John likes the potential or possible activity of the piano.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITH A CHANGE IN MEANING

These verbs are followed by either an infinitive or a gerund but with a major change in meaning. For example, I forgot to watch the match on TV means I missed the match because I forgot it was on TV.

I forgot watching the match on TV means I have no memory of watching the match although I did watch it.

These verbs include the following:

• Forget, quit, regret, remember, stop and try.

I remember visiting my mother means I have a memory of my visit to my mother. I remember to visit my mother means I never forget that I have to visit my mother.

INFINITIVE OR ING VERBS

Using gerunds and infinitives in the correct way is important for speaking good advanced-level English. The rules and verb lists may take time to remember but needs to be done.

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