gerunds & infinitives

Gerunds & Infinitives

Laura Galindo. Adapted from New English File Upper-‐Intermediate. Oxford.


When one verb follows another, the first verb determines the form of the second. This can be gerund (verb + ing) or the infini)ve (with or without to).

I enjoy listening to music.

I want to speak to you.


We use the gerund a@er certain verbs and expressions.

You will have to study these verbs and expressions and with Dme you will develop an ear for language which will help you to know what is right and what is wrong.


Some verbs followed by the gerund are:

admit, avoid, can’t help, can’t stand, carry on, deny, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, keep on, imagine, involve, mind, miss, postpone, pracDse, risk, stop, suggest.


We use the infini)ve a@er certain verbs and expressions. The infiniDve can appear with or without to.

You will have to study these verbs and expressions and with Dme you will develop an ear for language which will help you to know what is right and what is wrong.


Some verbs followed by the infini)ve (with to) are:

agree, appear, be able to, can’t afford, can’t wait, decide, expect, happen, have (got), help, learn, manage, offer, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, teach, tend, threaten, want, would like


Some other verbs followed by the infini)ve (without to) are:

can, may, might, must, should, had beIer, would rather, make, let


In the passive, make is followed by the infiniDve with to.

My boss makes us work hard.

At school we were made to wear a uniform.


Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or infiniDve (with to) with no change of meaning.

I started to work when I was 21.

I started working when I was 21.


Like, love, hate and prefer can also be used with wither the infiniDve with to or the gerund. However, the gerund is more common when you are talking generally, and the infiniDve when you talk about a specific occasion.

I like skiing. (in general)

I like to ski in February. (specific)


Some other verbs can be followed by the gerund or infiniDve (with to), but with a change of meaning.

These verb are remember, forget, try and need.

Gerunds & Infinitives REMEMBER:

1. Remember + infini)ve = you remember first, then you do something. Remember to lock the door.

2. Remember + gerund = you do something when you remember it.

I remember going to Venice as a child.

Gerunds & Infinitives FORGET:

1. Forget + infini)ve = you didn’t remember to do something. I forgot to do it, sorry.

2. Forget + gerund = you did something and you won’t forget it. It is more common in the negaDve.

I’ll never forget seeing the Taj Mahal.

Gerunds & Infinitives TRY:

1. Try + infini)ve = make an effort to do something. I tried to open the window.

2. Try + gerund = experiment to see if something works.

Try calling Miriam on her mobile.

Gerunds & Infinitives NEED:

1. Need + infini)ve = acDve construcDon. You need to clean the car.

2. Need + gerund = passive construcDon. The car needs cleaning = needs to be cleaned.

gerunds & infinitives

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