Infinitive vs Gerund in English

Overview

One of the trickiest areas of English grammar is knowing whether to use the infinitive (to + verb: to go, to eat) or the gerund (verb + -ing: going, eating) after certain verbs. Some verbs take only the infinitive, some take only the gerund, and some take both -- sometimes with a change in meaning. There is no single rule; you need to learn the patterns.

At the CEFR B1 level, this topic is essential because these patterns appear in nearly every English sentence. Getting them wrong does not usually cause misunderstanding, but it sounds unnatural and is one of the most noticeable signs of a non-native speaker. The good news is that the most common patterns are predictable and become automatic with practice.

The key principle to remember: after prepositions, always use the gerund. And there are helpful patterns for which verbs take which form. This article will give you the tools to navigate this complex but learnable area of English.

How It Works

Verbs Followed by the Infinitive (to + verb)

Verb	Example
want	I want to learn English.
need	She needs to leave early.
decide	He decided to stay.
hope	I hope to see you soon.
plan	We plan to travel next year.
promise	She promised to help.
agree	They agreed to wait.
learn	I'm learning to drive.
seem	He seems to be happy.
offer	She offered to pay.

Verbs Followed by the Gerund (verb + -ing)

Verb	Example
enjoy	I enjoy playing tennis.
finish	She finished reading the book.
avoid	He avoids eating sugar.
suggest	I suggest leaving early.
mind	Do you mind waiting?
practice	She practices speaking English.
consider	We considered moving.
keep	He keeps forgetting.
imagine	I can't imagine living there.
give up	She gave up smoking.

Verbs That Take Both (with Different Meanings)

Verb	+ Infinitive	+ Gerund
stop	stopped to smoke (stopped in order to smoke)	stopped smoking (quit the habit)
remember	remember to lock the door (don't forget to do it)	remember locking the door (recall doing it)
forget	forgot to call (didn't call)	forgot calling (don't recall calling)
try	try to open it (attempt)	try opening it (experiment with this method)
regret	regret to inform you (formal: I'm sorry to say)	regret not studying (wish I had studied)

After Prepositions: Always Gerund

Preposition	Example
interested in	I'm interested in learning.
good at	She's good at swimming.
tired of	I'm tired of waiting.
instead of	Instead of complaining, do something.
before / after	Before leaving, check your bag.
without	He left without saying goodbye.

Examples in Context

English	Note
I want to learn English.	Want + infinitive
I enjoy playing tennis.	Enjoy + gerund
I stopped smoking last year.	Stop + gerund = quit
She stopped to buy a coffee.	Stop + infinitive = paused in order to
I'm interested in learning more.	Preposition + gerund
He decided to accept the offer.	Decide + infinitive
Do you mind opening the window?	Mind + gerund
I remember meeting her for the first time.	Remember + gerund = recall the memory
Remember to lock the door.	Remember + infinitive = don't forget
She keeps asking the same question.	Keep + gerund
I hope to see you again soon.	Hope + infinitive
He avoids driving at night.	Avoid + gerund

Common Mistakes

Using the infinitive after "enjoy"

• Wrong: I enjoy to play tennis.
• Right: I enjoy playing tennis.
• Why: Enjoy is always followed by the gerund. This is one of the most common errors learners make.

Using the gerund after "want"

• Wrong: I want going home.
• Right: I want to go home.
• Why: Want is always followed by the infinitive. There are no exceptions.

Using the infinitive after a preposition

• Wrong: I'm interested in to learn.
• Right: I'm interested in learning.
• Why: Prepositions are always followed by the gerund in English. This is a universal rule with no exceptions.

Confusing "stop to do" and "stop doing"

• Wrong: I stopped to smoke three years ago. (meaning: I quit smoking)
• Right: I stopped smoking three years ago.
• Why: "Stop to do" means you pause one activity in order to do another. "Stop doing" means you quit the activity permanently. The meaning is very different.

Using a base verb after "suggest"

• Wrong: I suggest to leave early.
• Right: I suggest leaving early. / I suggest that we leave early.
• Why: Suggest takes the gerund or a that-clause, never the infinitive.

Usage Notes

There is no grammar rule that explains why certain verbs take infinitives and others take gerunds. This is largely a matter of convention and must be learned through exposure. However, some patterns can help:

• Verbs about desires, plans, and future intentions tend to take infinitives: want, hope, plan, decide, promise.
• Verbs about experiences, feelings, and completed actions tend to take gerunds: enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest.

In informal English, some verbs are flexible: "I like to swim" and "I like swimming" are both correct with no difference in meaning. The same applies to love, hate, prefer, and begin/start.

Both British and American English follow the same infinitive/gerund patterns.

Practice Tips

• Learn in groups: Memorize verbs in categories (infinitive verbs, gerund verbs, both-meaning verbs). Flashcards work well for this.
• The preposition test: Whenever you see a preposition before a verb, use the gerund. This one rule eliminates many errors: "good at cooking," "tired of waiting," "interested in learning."
• Meaning-change pairs: Practice the verbs that change meaning (stop, remember, forget, try) by writing contrasting sentences for each. This is where the real complexity lies, and focused practice pays off.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Present Simple -- basic verb forms are needed before learning about infinitive and gerund patterns