gerunds vs. infinitives

Gerunds vs. infinitives

Gerunds

• Gerunds are the -ing form of a verb

• After certain verbs including enjoy, fancy, discuss, dislike, finish, mind, suggest, recommend, keep, and avoid.

•  After prepositions of place and time (before, after).

• To replace the subject or object of a sentence

Gerunds Examples

• I made dinner before getting home.

• I anticipate having the research completed eventually. 

• Sam likes eating coconut oil.

• I miss going to the beach

Infinitives

• Infinitives are the to + base form

• After certain verbs including agree, ask, decide, help, plan, hope, learn, want, would like, and promise.

• After many adjectives (hard, easy, fun).

• To show purpose.

Infinitives examples

• It is hard to make dinner this late.

• I came to the office to solve the mystery of the missing keys.

• Ross decided to go home instead.

• Do you need to do your laundry this weekend?

Multiple Choice

He demanded _____ to the manager

• to speak

• speaking

Multiple Choice

She waited _____ a drink.

• buying

• to buy

Multiple Choice

Admit, suggest, tolerate, try, understand, keep, like, love, miss, need, require, forget, allow, help.

These verbs must be followed by:

• An infinitive

• A gerund

Multiple Choice

Learn, agree, decide, demand, have, hope, refuse, try, ask, wish.

These verbs must be followed by:

• A gerund

• An infinitive

Multiple Select

I offered

• To help

• Helping