Some verbs are followed by gerund (-ing), others by infinitive (to + verb), and some by both with a different meaning. It is one of the most searched grammar points in English.
Gerund: -ing form functioning as a noun. Used after certain specific verbs: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, consider, keep, suggest, miss, practice, stop, admit, deny, imagine, risk, postpone, delay. "I enjoy swimming" (not "to swim"). "She avoids taking risks" (not "to take"). "They finished working" (not "to work"). Also used after prepositions: "She is good at drawing." "He insisted on paying."
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.
Infinitive: "to + verb" functioning as a noun or modifier. Used after certain verbs: want, need, hope, decide, plan, expect, agree, refuse, manage, fail, afford, learn, promise, seem, appear, offer, tend. "I want to go" (not "going"). "She decided to stay" (not "staying"). "He refused to help" (not "helping"). Also after adjectives: "It is easy to understand." And to express purpose: "I came to see you."
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
The two most common errors: (1) "I enjoy to swim" = INCORRECT. ENJOY always takes GERUND: "I enjoy swimming." (2) "She wants going" = INCORRECT. WANT always takes INFINITIVE: "She wants to go." Verbs that change meaning depending on the form (dual-use verbs): STOP + gerund = stop doing something ("She stopped smoking" = quit). STOP + infinitive = stop in order to do something ("She stopped to smoke" = paused her activity to smoke). REMEMBER + gerund = remember having done something in the past ("I remember locking the door"). REMEMBER + infinitive = remember to do something in the future ("Remember to lock the door").
Trick to remember it
Most common verbs of each type (memorize these lists): GERUND: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, consider, keep, suggest, miss, practice, stop (quit), admit, deny, risk, imagine. INFINITIVE: want, need, hope, decide, plan, expect, agree, refuse, manage, fail, afford, learn, promise, seem, offer, tend, would like. Heuristic rule (not perfect): verbs of SENSATION or PREFERENCE (enjoy, like, love, hate) tend to use gerund. Verbs of PLAN or DECISION (want, decide, plan, intend) tend to use infinitive.
Quick rule
Gerund (-ing) after: enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, mind, consider. Infinitive (to + verb) after: want, need, decide, plan, hope, refuse. Some verbs (stop, remember, try, forget) 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. Spanish, French, German, and Italian do not have this problem: the choice is structurally predictable. In English, the choice between gerund and infinitive after a verb is largely lexical (you must memorize what goes with what), although there are patterns that help. Linguists estimate there are more than 200 verbs in English that can be followed by gerund, infinitive, or both — the complete list cannot be deduced from rules, only from language exposure.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She finally decided _____ for the management position after years of building her team leadership skills.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
He keeps _____ the same mistakes in his written reports despite the feedback he received last quarter.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Gerund (-ing) after: enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, mind, consider. Infinitive (to + verb) after: want, need, decide, plan, hope, refuse. Some verbs (stop, remember, try, forget) change meaning depending on which you use.
The two most common errors: (1) "I enjoy to swim" = INCORRECT. ENJOY always takes GERUND: "I enjoy swimming." (2) "She wants going" = INCORRECT. WANT always takes INFINITIVE: "She wants to go." Verbs that change meaning depending on the form (dual-use verbs): STOP + gerund = stop doing something ("She stopped smoking" = quit). STOP + infinitive = stop in order to do something ("She stopped to smoke" = paused her activity to smoke). REMEMBER + gerund = remember having done something in the past ("I remember locking the door"). REMEMBER + infinitive = remember to do something in the future ("Remember to lock the door").
Most common verbs of each type (memorize these lists): GERUND: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, consider, keep, suggest, miss, practice, stop (quit), admit, deny, risk, imagine. INFINITIVE: want, need, hope, decide, plan, expect, agree, refuse, manage, fail, afford, learn, promise, seem, offer, tend, would like. Heuristic rule (not perfect): verbs of SENSATION or PREFERENCE (enjoy, like, love, hate) tend to use gerund. Verbs of PLAN or DECISION (want, decide, plan, intend) tend to use infinitive.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy