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Explanations + Extra Practice Activities

Infinitive vs Gerund: 9 Easy Rules

In English, verbs are often followed by TO + verb (the infinitive) or verb + ING (the gerund).

Example:

to eat
eating

The problem is: which one should you use?

This page explains the 9 most important cases.
If you learn these, you will understand almost all to vs ing situations in English.

1️⃣ Verb + Infinitive (TO)

Some verbs are always followed by the infinitive.

Pattern:
verb + to + base verb

Common verbs:
want, decide, plan, hope, promise, agree, need, expect, refuse

Examples:

I want to learn English.
She decided to leave early.
We hope to see you soon.
He refused to help.

❌ I want learning (wrong)

2️⃣ Verb + Gerund (ING)

Some verbs are always followed by a gerund.

Pattern:
verb + verb-ing

Common verbs:
enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest, recommend, mind, quit, keep, imagine

Examples:

I enjoy learning English.
She avoids driving at night.
He suggested taking a taxi.
Do you mind waiting?

❌ She suggested to take a taxi (wrong)

3️⃣ Verb + Infinitive OR Gerund (same meaning)

Some verbs can take both, and the meaning is almost the same.

Common verbs:
like, love, hate, prefer

Examples:

I like cooking.
I like to cook.
She loves traveling.
She loves to travel.

Both forms are correct.

4️⃣ Tricky Verbs (Meaning Changes)

Some verbs can use both forms, but the meaning changes.

stop

I stopped smoking. (I quit)
I stopped to smoke. (I stopped another action)

remember

I remember locking the door. (memory)
Remember to lock the door. (future action)

forget

I forgot meeting him. (memory)
I forgot to meet him. (I didn’t do it)

try

Try pressing this button. (experiment)
Try to press this button. (make an effort)

regret

I regret saying that. (past)
I regret to tell you the news. (formal announcement)

5️⃣ Verb + Preposition + Gerund

After a preposition, we always use -ING.

Pattern:
verb + preposition + verb-ing

Examples:

I’m interested in learning English.
I look forward to meeting you.
She apologized for being late.
He left without saying goodbye.

📌 TO is often a preposition, not an infinitive.

6️⃣ Verb + Object + Infinitive

Some verbs use an object + infinitive.

Pattern:
verb + person + to + verb

Common verbs:
ask, tell, want, advise, expect, encourage, allow

Examples:

The teacher asked us to listen.
She told him to wait.
I want you to succeed.

Bare infinitive (no “to”)

Used with perception verbs and causative verbs.

Examples:

I saw him leave.
She made me apologize.
Let me explain.

7️⃣ Adjective + Infinitive

After adjectives, we usually use the infinitive.

Pattern:
adjective + to + verb

Examples:

It’s easy to understand.
It’s hard to stay awake.
I’m happy to help.
She’s afraid to ask.

This is the default and safest rule.

8️⃣ Adjective + Preposition + Gerund

If an adjective is followed by a preposition, use -ING.

Examples:

I’m afraid of flying.
She’s good at explaining.
He’s interested in learning English.
They’re tired of waiting.

9️⃣ Infinitive or Gerund as Subject

Both forms can be the subject of a sentence.

Gerund (more natural)

Learning English takes time.
Smoking is bad for you.

Infinitive (more formal)

To learn English takes time.
To smoke is harmful.

📌 In daily English, gerunds are more common.

✅ Final Tip

Native speakers don’t memorize rules.
They develop instinct.

Learning these 9 patterns will help you choose TO or ING naturally and correctly.

Extra Practice!

🟢 QUIZ 1 — UPPER-BEGINNER (A2 → low B1)

Focus:
✔️ Clear verb patterns
✔️ Longer sentences, but no meaning change
✔️ One correct grammatical form

I decided ___ English seriously after realizing how useful it is for my career.
a) studying
b) to study

Answer: b) to study
Reason: Decide is always followed by the infinitive (verb + to).

She enjoys ___ documentaries because they help her learn new vocabulary naturally.
a) watching
b) to watch

Answer: a) watching
Reason: Enjoy is always followed by a gerund (-ing).

He hopes ___ abroad once he saves enough money to support himself.
a) living
b) to live

Answer: b) to live
Reason: Hope is an infinitive-only verb.

We avoid ___ complicated grammar explanations during the first week of class.
a) to give
b) giving

Answer: b) giving
Reason: Avoid must be followed by a gerund.

It’s difficult ___ focused when the lecture lasts more than two hours.
a) staying
b) to stay

Answer: b) to stay
Reason: After adjectives, we usually use the infinitive.

I like ___ English news articles because they expose me to real expressions.
a) reading
b) to read

Answer: a) reading / b) to read
Reason: Like can take both forms with little difference in meaning.

The teacher encouraged us ___ questions whenever something was unclear.
a) asking
b) to ask

Answer: b) to ask
Reason: Verb + object + infinitive pattern (encourage someone to do).

I’m interested in ___ my pronunciation through daily practice.
a) improve
b) improving

Answer: b) improving
Reason: After a preposition (in), we always use a gerund.

🟡 QUIZ 2 — INTERMEDIATE (B1 → B2)

Focus:
✔️ Multiple rules
✔️ Prepositions, objects, and bare infinitives
✔️ Meaning is implied by context

He suggested ___ the meeting until everyone had more information.
a) to postpone
b) postponing

Answer: b) postponing
Reason: Suggest is a gerund-only verb.

I look forward to ___ your feedback after you review the proposal carefully.
a) receive
b) receiving

Answer: b) receiving
Reason: To here is a preposition, so it must be followed by a gerund.

She stopped ___ coffee because it was affecting her sleep quality.
a) drinking
b) to drink

Answer: a) drinking
Reason: Stop + gerund means to quit an activity.

Remember ___ the client as soon as you arrive at the office tomorrow.
a) calling
b) to call

Answer: b) to call
Reason: Remember + infinitive refers to a future responsibility.

They made him ___ the report again due to several serious errors.
a) revise
b) to revise

Answer: a) revise
Reason: Make is a causative verb and takes the bare infinitive.

She’s afraid of ___ her opinion during meetings with senior managers.
a) expressing
b) to express

Answer: a) expressing
Reason: Adjective + preposition (afraid of) → gerund.

I saw the technician ___ the machine before it suddenly shut down.
a) adjusting
b) to adjust

Answer: a) adjusting
Reason: Perception verbs often use the bare infinitive or gerund; here the action was in progress.

It was challenging ___ motivated while working remotely for such a long time.
a) staying
b) to stay

Answer: b) to stay
Reason: Adjective + infinitive is the standard pattern.

🔵 QUIZ 3 — ADVANCED (B2 → C1)

Focus:
✔️ Meaning change
✔️ Formal vs natural choices
✔️ Context-driven interpretation

He stopped ___ emails to focus entirely on the urgent presentation.
a) answering
b) to answer

Answer: a) answering
Reason: Stop + gerund means to stop an ongoing activity.

He stopped ___ the email when he realized he needed more information first.
a) writing
b) to write

Answer: a) writing
Reason: Stop + gerund means to stop an ongoing activity.

Try ___ the software before calling technical support.
a) restarting
b) to restart

Answer: a) restarting
Reason: Try + gerund means to experiment or test a possible solution.

She tried ___ her manager, but he refused to change his decision.
a) persuading
b) to persuade

Answer: b) to persuade
Reason: Try + infinitive means to make a serious effort.

I regret ___ such a harsh comment during the meeting yesterday.
a) making
b) to make

Answer: a) making
Reason: Regret + gerund refers to past actions.

We regret ___ you that your application has been unsuccessful.
a) informing
b) to inform

Answer: b) to inform
Reason: Regret + infinitive is used for formal announcements.

I remember ___ him years ago at an international conference.
a) meeting
b) to meet

Answer: a) meeting
Reason: Remember + gerund refers to a memory.

___ effectively in a foreign language requires patience and long-term commitment.
a) Communicating
b) To communicate

Answer: a) Communicating
Reason: Gerunds are more natural as sentence subjects in everyday English.

It was thoughtful of her ___ extra time explaining the concept to the students.
a) spending
b) to spend

Answer: b) to spend
Reason: Adjective + infinitive structure (thoughtful of someone to do).

He watched the negotiations ___ slowly as both sides searched for compromise.
a) unfolding
b) to unfold

Answer: a) unfolding
Reason: Gerund emphasizes an action in progress that was observed.