Using Gerunds & Infinitives
Share In this post we will look at using gerunds & infinitives and why they are important in English What are Gerunds & Infinitives? In
Using Gerunds & Infinitives
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In this post we will look at using gerunds & infinitives and why they are important in English
What are Gerunds & Infinitives?
In English, both gerunds and infinitives are forms of verbs that can function as nouns.
The gerund is also known as the -ing form of the verb and the infinitive is sometimes called the to form or the base form of the verb. Both forms can be used as the subject of a sentence. Look at these two examples.
- Swimming is good for you.
- To swim is good for you.
In our first example the gerund can also be considered a noun form.
Using Gerunds
There are a number of ways we can use the gerund form in English. As we have seen above, the gerund can be used as a noun. Here are other ways we use the gerund form.
After verbs of likes and verbs that are similar to talking about likes
- appreciate
- enjoy
- fancy
- feel like
- like
- love
- mind
- can’t stand
- detest
- dislike
- hate
- loathe
Other Verbs
We also use the gerund form after a number of other verbs. Here are some examples.
- avoid
- can’t help
- carry on
- consider
- deny
- delay
- finish
- keep
- miss
- practise
- risk
- suggest
Prepositions
Another common use of gerunds is following prepositions and we can also find many examples used with phrasal verbs.
- I am interested in studying English
- I stopped the small boy from running across the road.
- My brother is giving up smoking at the moment.
Using Infinitives
We can use the following verbs with infinitive forms.
- afford
- fail
- offer
- agree
- forget
- plan
- arrange
- hope
- promise
- decide
- deserve
- manage
We can also use verbs like need, like and want where we can use them in two ways.
- I want/need to go.
- I want/need you to go.
Finally we have an expression like it is + adjective.
It is common/normal/typical to see snow in Germany in the winter.
Gerunds & Infinitives
Some verbs can be used with both gerunds & infinitives with very little difference in meaning.
- begin
- start
- continue
- intend
- bother
It began to rain/began raining.
It started to rain/started raining.
It continued to rain/continued raining.
I intended to call you/ intended calling you.
I didn’t bother to/didn’t bother doing my homework.
Gerund or Infinitive?
There is a small group of verbs where we can use both the gerund and infinitive forms but there is a difference in meaning in how we use them.
Stop
Not continue
The boy’s grandmother told him to stop crying
Stop to do another thing
I stopped to buy an ice-cream
Try
To attempt
I tried to call you
Experiment or test
Try taking an aspirin for your headache
Remember
Not forget
Remember to buy milk on your way home
Talk about a memory
I remember visiting the Colisseum in Rome
Forget
Not remember
I forgot to post the letter.
Talk about a memory
I’ll never forget seeing Machu Pichu for the first time
Regret
To apologise
We regret to inform you that you have been unsuccessful in your job application
Unhappy about past actions
I regret not going to university
Go on
Continue
We went on walking on the beach until it was late
Do something next or after
After leaving school my brother went on to become a doctor
Mean
To intend
Sorry I didn’t mean to be rude to you
To involve
My new jobs means getting up at 6 in the morning
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