Gerund and Infinitive

If you need help with using gerund and infinitive correctly in English, we can help. Our guide provides an overview of these grammar elements and includes tips and examples to help you improve. Let’s get started!

TABLE OF CONTENT

1.1 What is a gerund

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding “-ing.” The gerund form of the verb “read” is “reading.” You can use a gerund as a sentence’s subject or object.

Examples:

  • Reading helps you learn English. ( subject of the sentence)
  • I enjoy reading. (object of the sentence)

1.2 What is an infinitive

The infinitive is the “to” form of the verb. There are two forms of the infinitive: Bare (without to ) and full infinitive ( with to ). The infinitive form of “learn” is “to learn.” You can also use an infinitive as a sentence’s subject or object.

Examples:

To learn is essential. (subject of a sentence)

He wants to learn. (object of a sentence)

2. Expressions and verbs used with the gerund

2.1 Verbs used with the gerund

Acknowledge – admit – anticipate – appreciate – avoid – carry on – can’t help/resist/stand – look forward to – celebrate – complete – confess – consider – delay – deny – detest – discuss – dislike – endure – enjoy – fancy – feel like – finish – forget – give up – go – go on – imagine – include – involve – it’s worth – keep (= continue) – love – mention – (don’t)mind – miss – postpone – practice – quit – recall – recollect – regret – resent – resist – risk – spend – suggest – tolerate – understand – waste time – spend time.

Examples:

  • The doctor advised him to avoid eating junk food
  • You need to carry on working if you want to get good grades.
  • Tom gave up smoking 15 years ago.
  • She hates watching horror films.

2.2 Expressions used with the gerund

It’s no use … / It’s no good … / There’s no point in …/ What’s the use of …? / To be busy … /Don’t mind … / It’s (not) worth …/ Have difficulty in … / To be accustomed to …

Examples:

  • It’s no use crying over spilled milk.
  • Tom is busy looking for a job these days

3. Expressions and verbs used with the infinitive

3.1 Verbs used with the infinitive

Afford – agree – appear – arrange – beg – care – choose – claim – consent – decide – demand – deserve – fail – happen – hesitate – hope – learn – manage – mean – need – offer – plan – prepare – pretend – promise – propose – refuse – resist – seem – struggle – swear – threaten – try – volunteer – wait – want – wish – would hate/like/love/prefer – be allowed to

Examples:

  • She agreed to help me with my project.
  • He managed to solve the math problem on his own.

3.2 Adjectives

excellent – glad – sorry – happy – willing – pleased – angry – afraid – ashamed – annoyed

Examples:

  • She was happy to see her old friends.
  • It’s essential to be punctual.
  • The children were excited to visit the zoo.

3.3 Wh-words

The Full infinitive is also used after the WH-words and after ( the first, the second, the third…)

Examples:

  • “I don’t know which choice to make,” said the girl to her mother.
  • Where to find the best coffee in town?
  • The first to get a good mark is going to have a gift,” said the teacher to his students

3.4 Verb + object + full infinitive

Advise – allow – ask – beg – cause – challenge – command – convince – dare – enable – encourage – expect-forbid – force – help – hire – instruct – invite – need – order – permit – persuade – recommend – remind – require – teach-tell – urge – want – warn – wish – would like – would love – would hate – would prefer

Examples:

  • want you to come with me.
  • The teacher advised us to revise well.

3.5 Expressions and verbs used with the bare infinitive (verb)

Can/could – shall/should – will/would – may/might – have to – must – had better – help – hear – let – let’s – make – would rather/sooner, rather than/ – used to – watch

Examples:

  • They can speak English
  • Let’s revise our lessons
  • You had better play some sports before you get fat.

4. Expressions and verbs used with the full infinitive (to+verb) or the gerund

attempt – begin – cease – forget – hate – intend – like – love – neglect – prefer – recommend – remember – start – stop – watch

Examples:

  • Tom stopped to smoke/smoking 15 years ago
  • She hates watching/to watch horror films

5. Gerund and infinitive exercises

coming soon

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