GERUNDS vs TO INFINITIVE (5th ad)

GERUNDS vs TO INFINITIVE (5th ad)

By Ana Jacobi

​ It can be a little difficult to know when to use gerunds and infinitives.

​We use gerunds (verb + ing):

After certain verbs - I enjoy singing

After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving

As the subject or object of a sentence - Swimming is good exercise

We use 'to' + infinitive:

• After certain verbs - We decided to leave

• After many adjectives - It's difficult to get up early

• - I came to London to study English

​We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to'):

• After modal verbs - I can meet you at six o'clock

• After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help' - The teacher let us leave early

• After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) - I watched her walk away

• After expressions with 'why' - why go out the night before an exam?

​Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by the gerund.

• enjoy: I enjoyed living in France.

• fancy: I fancy seeing a film tonight.

• discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.

• dislike: I dislike waiting for buses.

• finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.

• mind: I don't mind coming early.

• suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.

• recommend: They recommended meeting earlier.

• keep: He kept working, although he felt ill.

• avoid: She avoided talking to her boss.

​Here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive.

• agree: She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting.

• ask*: I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early.

• decide: We decided to go out for dinner.

• help*: He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the kitchen.

• plan: She plans to buy a new flat next year.

• hope: I hope to pass the exam.

• learn: They are learning to sing.

• want*: I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party.

• would like*: I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her tonight.

• promise: We promised not to be late.