When I introduce a gerunds and infinitives activity in class, I’m usually faced with looks of quiet desperation or grim

determination. Most students find the endless list of verbs to memorize daunting, to say the least! Also, most
textbooks don’t cover the fact that there ARE a few helpful rules for deciding whether to use a gerund or an
infinitive in a sentence. The next time you’re doing gerunds and infinitives in class, try teaching the rules below—
your students will thank you!

The Basics

Gerund: VERB + -ING (eating, going, studying)

Infinitive: TO + BASE VERB (to eat, to go, to study)

A gerund is the present participle (-ing) form of the verb. An infinitive is to + the base verb (the verb with no
ending). Both gerunds and infinitives are action words (i.e., verbs) in meaning, but they act like nouns in the
sentence. They always take a noun position: a subject or an object of the main verb. A gerund or infinitive is never
the main verb (e.g., I hiking and I to study are incorrect).

 Skiing is fun.
 I like hiking.
 I need to study.

Even when the gerund or infinitive is the object of a sentence, it is common for a second object follow the gerund
or infinitive because of their “verb” meaning.

 I enjoy watching movies.

 I don’t want to study English.
 I asked my friend to help me.

Three Gerund Rules

1. Subject = Gerund

When you need an action as a subject, use a gerund. Infinitives are possible, but they are very formal and not very
common in this position.

 Reading is my favorite hobby.

 Learning English has improved my confidence.

2. Preposition + Gerund

After a preposition, use a gerund. This is true for prepositions that are part of phrasal verbs, too.

 I thought about calling my grandma, but I was too tired.

 Are you planning on going to the party? (See the Notes section below to find out why planning is not a
gerund.)

3. Verb + Gerund

A gerund or an infinitive can be used after a main verb. It depends on the verb, and there isn’t an easy rule for this
case. Memorizing the most common verbs that take a gerund, such as advise, avoid, enjoy, finish, practice, quit,
and suggest, is helpful.

 My teacher advised studying for the quiz.

 They enjoy making crafts in class.
*Don’t forget that some verbs take either a gerund or an infinitive with no change in meaning! Some common verbs
include like, love, and hate.

 She likes watching movies.

 She likes to watch movies.

Three Infinitive Rules

1. Adjective + Infinitive

After an adjective, it is common to use an infinitive verb. A gerund is possible in some cases, but an infinitive is
usually the better choice.

 It is fun to play video games on the weekend.

 It was helpful to learn these grammar rules.

2. Noun + Infinitive

If the main verb has an object that is a noun or a pronoun, it is almost always followed by an infinitive verb instead
of a gerund.

 Did you want me to call you?

 The students asked their teacher to help them.

*Note: This rules is very helpful, because it is stronger than the “verb + gerund” rule. For example, the verb advise
normally takes a gerund (She advised studying for the test), but a noun/pronoun object will override this rule (She
advised her students to study for the test).

3. Verb + Infinitive

A gerund or an infinitive can be used after a main verb. It depends on the verb, and there isn’t an easy rule for this
case. Memorizing the most common verbs that take a infinitive, such as ask, choose, decide, get, need, plan,
promise, and want, is helpful.

 He wants to learn Japanese.

 We need to clean up this mess.

*Try typing in “gerunds and infinitives verb list” into a search engine to see lists of common verbs that take a
gerund or an infinitive.

Notes

Students often get confused by the other functions of -ing words in English. It’s worth pointing out that Be + -ing
verb can also be a progressive verb form, and that -ing adjectives are possible after the Be verb or before a noun.

 I am studying for my test. (present progressive verb; not a gerund)

 That game was exciting. (adjective; not a gerund)
 That was an exciting game. (adjective; not a gerund)

What are Gerunds?

A gerund is a verb in its ing (present participle) form that functions as a noun that names an activity rather than a
person or thing. Any action verb can be made into a gerund.

Spelling Tip
Verbing (Present Participle)
 Add ing to most verbs. Ex. play > playing, cry > crying, bark > barking
 For verbs that end in e, remove the e and add ing. Ex: slide > sliding, ride > riding
 For verbs that end in ie, change the ie to y and add ing. Ex: die > dying, tie > tying
 For a verb whose last syllable is written with a consonant-vowel-consonant and is stressed, double the last
letter before adding ing. Ex: beg > begging, begin > beginning. However: enter > entering (last syllable is
not stressed)

Gerund Examples
Gerunds can appear at the beginning of a sentence when used as a subject:
1. Jogging is a hobby of mine.

Gerunds can act as an object following the verb:

1. Daniel quit smoking a year ago.

Gerunds can serve as an object after a preposition:

1. I look forward to helping you paint the house.

Note: The same spelling rules that apply to the progressive tenses also apply to gerunds.

Some verbs and verb phrases are directly followed a gerund:

1. Paul avoids using chemicals on the vegetables he grows.

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive without causing a change in meaning:
1. Some people prefer getting up early in the morning.
2. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a change in meaning:
1. He remembered sending the fax. (He remembered the act of send the fax)
2. He remembered to send the fax. (He remembered the fax and sent it.)

What are Infinitives?

An infinitive is a verb form that acts as other parts of speech in a sentence. It is formed with to + base form of the
verb. Ex: to buy, to work.

Infinitive Examples
Infinitives can be used as:
an object following the verb:
1. Jim always forgets to eat

a subject at the beginning of a sentence:

1. To travel around the world requires a lot of time and money.

an adverb modifying a verb:

1. You promised to buy me a diamond ring.

an adjective modifying a noun:

1. Tara has the ability to succeed.
Some verbs are directly followed by an infinitive:
1. Do you want to call your family now?

Some verbs are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and then by an infinitive:
1. I convinced Catherine to become vegetarian.
2. He advised me to sell all my shares of stock.

Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund without causing a change in meaning:
1. Will you continue working after you give birth?
2. Will you continue to work after you give birth?
Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund but with a change in meaning:
1. He stopped drinking coffee. (He never drank coffee again.)
2. He stopped to drink coffee. (He stopped what he was doing and drank some coffee.)

Exercises – Gerunds and Infinitives

Choose the correct gerund or infinitive from the parenthesis at the end of the sentence.

1. She likes to get up early in the morning. (likes / dislikes)

1. 1. Alan can’t stand riding on trains. (riding/ to ride)

2. Mr. Harris enjoys inviting people out to dinner. (inviting / to invite)
3. In the old days, gentlemen challenged their rivals to fight. (fighting / to fight)
4. As the famous saying goes, there’s no use cryin over spilt milk. (crying / to cry)
5. Jim stopped to tie his shoelace. Wait for him. (tying / to tie)
6. My wife always volunteers to bake cakes PTA meetings. (baking / to bake)
7. Don’t waste my time complaining about your salary. (complaining/ to complain)
8. Eva is having trouble concentrating on the exam. (concentrating / to concentrate)
9. Please allow me to join your Facebook page. (joining / to join)
10. You won’t forget to pick up milk on your way home, will you? (picking up /to pick up)

Reference Lists – Gerunds and Infinitives

Common verbs and phrases that are followed by a gerund

 admit  end up  have trouble  remember

 advise  enjoy  imagine  quit
 avoid  feel like  it’s no use  spend time
 be used to  finish  it’s worthwhile  stop
 can’t help  forget  keep  suggest
 can’t stand  get used to  look forward to  understand
 consider  give up  mention  waste time
 deny  go on  mind  work at
 discuss  have difficulty  miss
 dislike  have problems  recommend

Common verbs that can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without causing a change in
meaning
 begin  hate  like  prefer
 continue  intend  love  start
Common verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a change in meaning

 forget
 remember
 stop

Common verbs that are followed by an infinitive

 afford  demand  mean  remember

 agree  expect  offer  seem
 appear  fail  plan  stop
 arrange  forget  prepare  volunteer
 ask  hope  pretend  wait
 care  learn  promise  want
 decide  manage  refuse  wish
Common verbs that are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and then by an infinitive

 advise  convince  invite  teach

 allow  expect  order  tell
 ask  forbid  pay  urge
 cause  force  permit  want
 challenge  hire  program  warn
 command  instruct  remind

Using Gerunds or infinitives

One of the difficulties of the English language is to know whether to use a gerund (ex : doing) or an infinitive (ex :
to do).
Generally speaking we can use the following rules:
Examples Rules Explanations

Often we use the gerund for 1. I enjoy myself at the time of

1. I enjoy playing an action that happens before playing.
Verb + gerund
2. I denied stealing or at the same time as the 2. I deny having stolen
action of the main verb. anything before.

1. Visiting my uncle was an

1. I decided to visit my uncle
Verb + infinitive
2. I want to go out
Often we use the infinitive for action of my decision. It comes
actions that follow the action after.
of the main verb. 2. What I want (now) is to go
out (after/later)

These rules are helpful but DO NOT always explain all uses of gerunds and infinitives.

Verbs commonly followed by a gerund

1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :

 like
 love
 enjoy
 dislike
 hate

Example:

" I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."

Note "like/love/hate..." can be also followed by an infinitive:

Example:

I like to watch TV in the evening.

2- After verbs such as :

Verbs Examples
 admit He admitted stealing the wallet.
advise I wouldn't advise buying a used car.
They don't allow smoking here. (Note that when an object is introduced an infinitive is used
allow
instead of a gerund: they allowed us to leave early.)
anticipate He anticipated passing the exam.
avoid She avoided meeting him.
appreciate I appreciate working with you.
complete They completed building their house.
consider She considered starting a new business.
delay She delayed doing her homework.
deny He denied stealing the money.
fancy Fancy meeting you here!
finish She finished writing the letter.
go go swimming.
imagine He imagines meeting her.
involve the job involves working in teams.
keep He keeps complaining about his girlfriend.
mention He mentioned working in that company.
mind Would you mind helping me?
miss He misses talking to her.
The don't permit smoking here. (Note that, like allow, when an object is introduced an infinitive is
permit
used instead of a gerund: they permitted us to leave early.)
postpone They postponed traveling to Japan.
practice She practiced painting.
reject He rejected working with them.
resist He couldn't resist eating the cake.
risk She risks losing her job.
suggest I suggest leaving early.
waste
Don't waste my time complaining.
time/money

3- After prepositions

 aim at
 keep on
 interested in
 instead of
 good at
 before ...
 after ...

Example:
"I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".

4- After some expressions :

 It's no use ...

 It's no good ...
 There's no point in ...
 I can't help...
 I don't mind...
 I can't stand/bear...

" It's no use convincing him to meet her. "

Verbs that can be followed by an infinitive

1- After verbs that generally refer to a future event:

Verbs Examples
afford We can't afford to buy a new car.
agree She agreed to help him.
aim The government aims to reduce illiteracy rates
arrange He arranged to stay at a hotel.
attempt He attempted to join them.
choose He chose to stay at home.
consent She consented to marry him.
decide They decided to go to the movies.
deserve He deserves to be punished.
demand He demanded to speak to Mrs. Lynch
endeavor They endeavor to provide the best possible service
expect They expected to arrive early.
fail He failed to convince him.
happen They happened to be at the theatre when we met them.
She helped me to do the exercise. (Note, help is also followed by a bare infinitive: She
help
helped me do the exercise.)
hope I hope to join you as soon as possible.
intend She intends to write an autobiography.
learn He learned to play the guitar when he was young.
manage He managed to do his homework without his mother's help.
need I need to find a job.
offer He offers to help us.
plan He plans to follow a career as an engineer.
pretend The child pretended to be asleep.
proceed He proceeded to show us how to use the machine.
 promise She promised to come on time.
refuse She refused to forgive him.
seem He seemed to be unhappy.
swear I swear to tell the truth.
threaten He threatened to reveal her secret.
volunteer He always volunteers to help the needy.
want I want to finish my work early.
would hate He would hate to lose.
would like He would like to drink a cup of tea.
would love I would love to meet you.

2- After adjectives

 be determined
 be disappointed
 be glad
 be happy
 be pleased

Examples:

"I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."

"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."

First Conditional

We use the First Conditional to talk about future events that are likely to happen.

 If we take John, he'll be really pleased.

 If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
 If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them.
 If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.

The 'if' clause can be used with different present forms.

 If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building.
 If he's feeling better, he'll come.
 If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.

The "future clause" can contain 'going to' or the future perfect as well as 'will'.

 If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am.
 If we don't get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.

The "future clause" can also contain other modal verbs such as 'can' and 'must'.

 If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's.

 If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.
First Conditional: When, As Soon As, Unless

“I’ll call you as soon as I arrive!”

It is possible to use other words instead of if in first conditional sentences:

ALTERNATIVE TO “IF” WHY USE IT? EXAMPLE

When When the “condition” will When I die, I’ll leave all my money to charity.
definitely happen.

As soon as To emphasize immediacy This situation is very urgent. I’ll call you as soon
as I have more information.

Unless In place of “if not” You’ll fail the test unless you study.
= You’ll fail the test if you don’t study.

Let’s study each case separately.

When: When the “condition” will definitely happen in the future.

Look at the difference between these two sentences:

 If I see Sam, I’ll give him your message. (I’m not sure if I will see him or not)
 When I see Sam, I’ll give him your message. (I will definitely see Sam)

As soon as: To emphasize immediacy.

 My feet hurt! As soon as I get home, I’m going to take off these high heels.
 As soon as we have enough money saved, we’ll take a vacation to Costa Rica. We can’t wait!
 I’ll respond to your e-mail as soon as I can.

Unless: Substitute for “if not.”

 You won’t lose any weight unless you start eating healthier food.
= You won’t lose any weight if you don’t start eating healthier food.
 I’m not going to dance unless somebody invites me.
= I’m not going to dance if somebody doesn’t invite me.
 Unless there’s an emergency at work, I’ll be home on time.
= If there’s not an emergency at work, I’ll be home on time.

Modals in the first conditional

Tags:
  conditionals  prediction  MAY
 future  request  MIGHT
 intention  suggestion  MUST
 modals  willingness  SHOULD
 obligation  BE GOING TO  WILL
 permission  CAN
 possibility  HAVE (GOT) TO

Main clause

We can use modals other than will in the main clause of a sentence in the first conditional:

If you ask George, he may/might be able to help you. (possibility)

You can/may leave the room if you've finished the test. (permission)
If he doesn't come soon, we must / will have to leave without him. (obligation)
If you ever go to Chicago, you should take a boat trip on the river. (suggestion)
If you don't watch your steps, you are going to fall over. (prediction)

If-clause

We can use be going to in the if-clause to express intention:

If you are going to speak like that, you'll have to leave.

Should in the if-clause makes the condition less likely:

If you should see Kate, say hi from me.

In the if-clause, willingness can be expressed by will and refusal by won't. In this sense will and won't are
always stressed in speech and cannot be contracted with the subject in writing:

If you will take me to the airport tomorrow, I won't have to take a taxi.
If Greg won't answer the phone, I'll speak to his roommate.

We can also use will in the if-clause to express a polite request. Sometimes the main clause is omitted:

If you will wait for a moment, I'll see if Mr Hawking is available.

If you'll just fill in this form, please.