Gerund vs Infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by:

• a gerund (-ing form)
• a to-infinitive (to + base verb)

Some verbs take only one of these patterns, while others can take both. With verbs such as stop, remember, forget, and try, the form changes the meaning, so learn the pattern together with the verb.

1. What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used like a noun.

Structure: verb + gerund (-ing)

Examples:

• “Swimming is fun.”
• “I enjoy reading.”

2. What Is an Infinitive?

An infinitive uses the base form of a verb. After most verbs, use to + base verb (to study, to leave). After make and let, use the base verb without to; after help, both forms are possible.

Structure (after some verbs): verb + to-infinitive

Examples:

• “I want to leave.”
• “She decided to study.”

3. Verbs Followed by One Main Pattern

3.1 Verb + gerund

Common verbs followed by a gerund include enjoy, avoid, mind, finish, suggest, practise, imagine, consider, keep, and miss.

• “We enjoy walking by the river.”
• “She avoided answering the question.”
• “Do you mind waiting?”
• “He finished writing the report.”
• “She suggested taking the train.”
• “I miss seeing my friends.”

3.2 Verb + to-infinitive

Common verbs followed by a to-infinitive include want, decide, hope, promise, agree, offer, refuse, manage, learn, and seem.

• “I want to leave.”
• “They decided to stay.”
• “We hope to see you soon.”
• “She promised to call.”
• “He offered to help.”
• “She managed to finish on time.”

4. Gerunds after Prepositions

Use a gerund after a preposition. This includes prepositions in adjective and verb combinations.

• “He left without saying goodbye.”
• “Before starting, read the instructions.”
• “She is interested in learning Japanese.”
• “I’m good at remembering names.”

To as a preposition

In some expressions, to is a preposition, so use a gerund after it:

• “I look forward to seeing you.”
• “She is used to living alone.”
• “They object to paying extra.”

5. Verb + Object + To-infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by a person or thing and then a to-infinitive.

Structure: verb + object + to-infinitive

• “I want you to help me.”
• “She asked him to wait.”
• “The teacher told us to open our books.”

Bare infinitive after make, let, and help

After make and let, use an object + the base verb (no to). After help, both forms are possible:

• "She made me wait."
• "Let me try."
• "He helped me (to) carry it."

6. Like, Love, and Hate

After like, love, and hate, a gerund and a to-infinitive are often both possible without an important change in meaning.

• “I like reading before bed.” / “I like to read before bed.”
• “She loves cooking.” / “She loves to cook.”

In British English, like to get up early can suggest a habit or what is sensible, while like getting up early often stresses enjoyment. The to-infinitive is also more frequent in American English.

For wishes and offers, would like and would love normally take the to-infinitive: "I’d like to go," not "I’d like going." Would hate to + verb is common for an unwanted prospect (I’d hate to miss it); would hate + -ing is also possible for an imagined experience (I’d hate being famous).

7. Stop + -ing vs Stop + Infinitive

7.1 Stop + -ing

Meaning: stop doing an activity (at that moment) or quit a habit

Structure: stop + gerund

Examples:

• “He stopped smoking.”
• “She stopped eating sugar.”
• “They stopped talking.”

Why: The activity ended at that point; context tells us whether the stop was temporary or permanent.

7.2 Stop + to + verb

Meaning: pause one activity in order to do another activity

First you were doing something else.

Structure: stop + infinitive

Here, the to-infinitive means in order to; it expresses purpose.

Examples:

• “We stopped to eat.”
• “She was working, but she stopped to answer the phone.”
• “On the way home, I stopped to buy some water.”

Why: The person pauses one action to do something else.

7.3 Compare

• “I stopped smoking.” → I ended the activity; this may be temporary or permanent, depending on context.
• “I stopped to smoke.” → I paused another activity so I could smoke.

Negative and question: “She didn’t stop talking.” / “Did you stop to rest?”

8. Remember + -ing vs Remember + Infinitive

8.1 Remember + -ing

Meaning: remember a past action

Structure: remember + gerund

Examples:

• “I remember meeting her.”
• “She remembers visiting Paris.”
• “We remember watching that movie.”

Why: The memory is about something that already happened.

8.2 Remember + to + verb

Meaning: not forget to do something

First you remember, then you do the action.

Structure: remember + infinitive

Examples:

• “Remember to lock the door.”
• “I remembered to call my mother.”
• “She remembered to bring her passport.”

Why: The action happens after the remembering.

8.3 Compare

• “I remember visiting him.” → I have a memory of it.
• “I remembered to visit him.” → I did not forget to visit him.

Negative and question: “I don’t remember meeting him.” / “Did you remember to send the email?”

8.4 Forget + -ing vs Forget + infinitive

Forget + -ing means have no memory of a past experience: "I’ll never forget seeing the Alps."

Forget + to + verb means fail to do something: "I forgot to lock the door."

9. Try + Infinitive vs Try + -ing

9.1 Try + to + verb

Meaning: attempt / make an effort to do something (you may or may not succeed)

Structure: try + infinitive

Examples:

• “I tried to open the door.”
• “She tried to understand the lesson.”
• “They’re trying to fix the problem.”

Why: The action may be difficult.

9.2 Try + -ing

Meaning: do it to see if it helps or to test an idea

Structure: try + gerund

Examples:

• “Try restarting the computer.”
• “I tried restarting the computer, and it worked.”
• “He tried taking some medicine.”
• “Try speaking more slowly.”

Why: The action is a suggestion or experiment.

9.3 Compare

• “I tried to open the window.” → I made an effort.
• “Try opening the window.” → Maybe this solution will help.

Negative and question: “He didn’t try to call me.” / “Have you tried turning it off?”

10. Other verbs whose meaning changes

Some verbs can take both forms, but the meaning changes:

• regret to tell = be sorry to give bad news; regret telling = be sorry about a past action.
• go on to explain = do the next thing; go on explaining = continue the same activity.
• mean to call = intend to call; mean waiting = involve waiting.

11. Summary Table

Pattern	Verbs	Meaning
verb + gerund	enjoy, avoid, mind, finish	an activity or experience
verb + to-infinitive	want, decide, hope, promise	an intention, plan, or choice
preposition + gerund	before leaving, interested in learning	an action after a preposition
verb + object + to-infinitive	want someone to help	another person’s action
stop + gerund / infinitive	stop	end an activity / pause in order to do something
remember + gerund / infinitive	remember	past memory / do not forget
forget + gerund / infinitive	forget	past memory / fail to do something
try + gerund / infinitive	try	experiment / make an effort

12. Easy Way to Remember

• stop + -ing = quit; stop + to = pause in order to do
• remember + -ing = memory; remember + to = don’t forget
• try + -ing = experiment; try + to = attempt/effort

These are helpful clues for these four verbs (stop/remember/forget/try), but other verbs can follow different patterns, so always learn the meaning with the verb.