19. Gerunds and Infinitives

Overview

Choosing between a gerund and an infinitive is one of the most nuanced challenges in English grammar. Each form carries its own grammatical rules tied to specific verbs, prepositions, and sentence roles. Mastering these patterns will sharpen your writing and help you avoid some of the most common structural errors. This chapter provides a systematic guide to making the right choice in every context.

Definition

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that occupies a noun slot in a sentence—it names an action or state rather than performing one. An infinitive is the base form of a verb, typically introduced by 'to,' though certain constructions drop the 'to' entirely to produce what is called a bare infinitive. Which form is appropriate at any given point is determined by the governing verb, any preposition that precedes the verbal, or the grammatical function the word must fill in the clause.

Key Rules

  1. 1. Verbs Followed by Gerunds

    A defined set of verbs demands that any following verbal action appear as a gerund. These include enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, mind, practice, suggest, deny, admit, postpone, risk, keep, quit, imagine, and miss. The pattern is fixed: substituting an infinitive after any of these verbs produces an ungrammatical sentence.

    Show example Example

    The committee considered revising the policy before the annual review.

  2. 2. Verbs Followed by Infinitives

    Another group of verbs requires an infinitive—rather than a gerund—when a second action is introduced. This group includes want, decide, hope, plan, promise, agree, refuse, learn, need, expect, seem, appear, pretend, offer, and afford. Using a gerund after these verbs is a common learner error that changes the grammatical acceptability of the sentence.

    Show example Example

    The young architect planned to redesign the entire lobby area.

  3. 3. Dual-Construction Verbs with Shifting Meanings

    A handful of verbs—stop, remember, forget, try, and regret—accept both gerunds and infinitives, but the two constructions produce distinctly different meanings. With 'stop,' an infinitive indicates that the subject halted what they were doing in order to begin a new action, whereas a gerund indicates that the subject permanently ceased an activity.

    Show example Example

    She stopped to check her messages while walking to the station.

  4. 4. Gerunds Following Prepositions

    Regardless of context, whenever a verbal form follows a preposition—whether a simple one like 'in,' 'at,' or 'of,' or a longer prepositional phrase such as 'instead of,' 'by,' or 'without'—the gerund is the mandatory choice. An infinitive cannot occupy this position in standard English.

    Show example Example

    Without practising daily, it is difficult to develop fluency in any language.

  5. 5. Gerunds and Infinitives in Subject and Object Positions

    Both gerunds and infinitives can occupy noun positions in a clause, functioning as subjects or direct objects. In contemporary English, the gerund is strongly preferred when the verbal serves as the subject, while infinitives in subject position carry a formal or literary tone. In the object position, the choice is typically dictated by the governing verb.

    Show example Example

    Cycling through the countryside is one of the most effective ways to clear your mind.

  6. 6. Bare Infinitives After Causatives and Perception Verbs

    After the causative verbs 'make' and 'let,' after sensory or perception verbs such as 'see,' 'hear,' 'watch,' and 'feel,' and optionally after 'help,' the following verb must appear in its base form without 'to.' This uninflected form is called the bare infinitive.

    Show example Example

    We watched the technician disassemble the device piece by piece.

Example Sentences

  1. Example 1

    Running five kilometres every morning transformed her energy levels completely.

    Why this works

    Illustrates a gerund serving as the subject of the main clause.

  2. Example 2

    The delegates agreed to extend the negotiation deadline by another week.

    Why this works

    Demonstrates an infinitive following the verb 'agree,' which always takes that form.

  3. Example 3

    He deeply regrets quitting his graduate programme during the final semester.

    Why this works

    Shows a gerund after 'regret,' referring to a past action the subject now wishes had not occurred.

  4. Example 4

    The children were excited about performing in the school play for the first time.

    Why this works

    Illustrates the obligatory gerund after the preposition 'about' in the adjective phrase 'excited about.'

Common Errors

  • She suggested to go to the park.

    She suggested going to the park.

  • He is very skilled at to play the piano.

    He is very skilled at playing the piano.

  • The teacher let him to leave early.

    The teacher let him leave early.

  • I will never forget to visit Paris last summer.

    I will never forget visiting Paris last summer.

  • They enjoy to hike on weekends.

    They enjoy hiking on weekends.

  • He made her to apologise in front of the class.

    He made her apologise in front of the class.

Key Takeaways

  • Verbs such as enjoy, avoid, finish, and suggest are exclusively paired with gerunds as their verbal complement.
  • Verbs like want, decide, hope, and agree must always be followed by a full infinitive.
  • Any verb that immediately follows a preposition or a prepositional collocation must appear in the gerund form.
  • A small set of verbs—stop, remember, forget, try, and regret—shift their meaning depending on whether a gerund or an infinitive follows them.
  • Causative verbs like make and let, as well as sensory perception verbs, require the bare infinitive without 'to'.
  • Gerunds are the default choice when a verbal noun functions as the subject of a clause in modern English.
  • 'Stop + gerund' signals the permanent end of an activity; 'stop + infinitive' indicates pausing one activity to begin another.
  • 'Remember/forget + gerund' refers to recollecting or failing to recollect a past event; 'remember/forget + infinitive' concerns a task or duty yet to be fulfilled.

Practice - Set 1

  1. The project manager suggested ________ the weekly meeting until more data was available.

  2. Although she was exhausted, Clara managed ________ the marathon in under four hours.

  3. On his way to the office, Mark stopped ________ a cup of coffee at the local café.

  4. She has always been interested in ________ historical novels from the nineteenth century.

  5. The coach made all the players ________ the drills three times before the game started.

  6. I clearly remember ________ the front door before leaving, so the house must be secure.

  7. ________ foreign languages can open up numerous career opportunities in international business.

Practice - Set 2

  1. We cannot afford ________ a new car right now because of our current financial situation.

  2. Please let me ________ if you need any assistance with the preparation.

  3. They avoided ________ their opinions during the tense board meeting.

  4. My younger brother finally quit ________ junk food after his doctor's warning.

  5. You should try ________ the sauce before adding more salt to it. (experiment to see the result)

  6. The security guard heard someone ________ the emergency exit alarm late at night.

  7. She is quite good at ________ conflicts between team members without causing further tension.

Live speaking practice

Speak it out: Gerunds and Infinitives

You are co-organizing a farewell party for your senior manager in Bangalore with your colleague Priya. You need to finalize the venue, food, and gifts before the end of the day.

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