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Some verbs take a gerund (-ing), others take an infinitive (to + verb), and some take both with different meanings.
Side-by-side comparison
The gerund (verb + -ing) follows certain verbs that refer to actions already in progress, completed, or habitual: "enjoy", "finish", "avoid", "suggest".
She enjoys traveling to new places, she has visited more than thirty countries over the past ten years.
He kept asking questions throughout the presentation, which slowed the session down considerably.
Have you considered applying for the senior position? Your experience makes you a strong candidate.
The infinitive ("to" + verb) follows certain verbs that refer to future actions, intentions, or desires: "want", "hope", "decide", "plan".
She decided to take a year off before starting her graduate program to gain some work experience.
He refused to sign the contract until the legal team reviewed the liability clause more carefully.
They managed to deliver the project on time despite losing two key team members mid-sprint.
Common mistake
- •"I enjoy to swim" is wrong: "enjoy" always takes a gerund ("enjoy swimming").
- •"She wants going" is also wrong: "want" always takes an infinitive ("wants to go").
- •Dual-meaning verbs: "stop smoking" = quit; "stop to smoke" = pause in order to smoke.
- •"Remember locking" = recall doing it; "remember to lock" = don't forget to do it.
Trick to remember it
- •Does the verb express pleasure, habit, or avoidance? → gerund ("enjoy swimming", "avoid eating").
- •Does the verb express purpose, plan, or desire? → infinitive ("want to go", "plan to study").
- •Stop/remember/try change meaning: "stop smoking" (quit) ≠ "stop to smoke" (pause to smoke).
Quick rule
- •Gerund (-ing) after: enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, mind.
- •Infinitive (to + verb) after: want, need, decide, plan, hope, refuse.
- •Some verbs (stop, remember, try) change meaning depending on which you use.
Did you know?
English is exceptional among European languages in having such a marked distinction between gerund and infinitive after the same verb. In English, the choice is largely lexical: you must memorize what verb goes with what form. Linguists estimate more than 200 verbs in English can be followed by gerund, infinitive, or both with a change in meaning. The complete list cannot be deduced from rules, only from language exposure.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I really enjoy _____ . It's the best way to relax after work.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She decided _____ a new language this year.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
"Been" is the past participle of "be" (used with have/has/had); "being" is the present participle of "be" (used with am/is/are/was/were).
'Do' is used for actions and general tasks; 'make' is used when the result is something tangible or created.
Simple past indicates a completed action at a specific past moment; present perfect connects the past to the present.
'A' is used before consonant sounds; 'an' is used before vowel sounds.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy