Introduction
Have you ever wondered why we say “I enjoy swimming” but “I want to swim”? The answer lies in gerunds and infinitives—two essential grammar concepts that can change how a sentence is structured.
Understanding gerunds and infinitives helps improve your writing and speaking skills, making your English sound more natural and fluent. But don’t worry! Learning them is easier than you think.
In this guide, we’ll break down what gerunds and infinitives are, how to use them correctly, and common mistakes to avoid—all with simple explanations and examples. Let’s dive in!
What Are Gerunds?
A gerund is a verb that ends in -ing but acts like a noun in a sentence. It can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
Simply put, a gerund is a verb in disguise! Even though it looks like a verb, it behaves like a noun.
Examples of Gerunds in Sentences:
- Swimming is my favorite hobby. (Gerund as the subject)
- She enjoys reading novels. (Gerund as the object)
- His passion is painting. (Gerund as a complement)
Gerunds make sentences more natural and expressive. They’re commonly used after certain verbs like enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, and consider.
What Are Infinitives?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by to (e.g. to eat, to run, to learn). It acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.
Think of an infinitive as a verb with endless possibilities! It can express purpose, intention, or reason.
Examples of Infinitives in Sentences:
- I want to travel the world. (Infinitive as the object)
- She has a book to read before the exam. (Infinitive as an adjective)
- He studies hard to succeed in life. (Infinitive as an adverb – showing purpose)
Infinitives are commonly used after certain verbs like decide, plan, hope, agree, and learn.
Gerunds vs. Infinitives: Key Differences
Both gerunds (-ing verbs used as nouns) and infinitives (to + base verb) act as nouns in a sentence, but they are used differently. Let’s break it down!
1. Gerunds are always nouns
A gerund can be the subject, object, or complement in a sentence.
- Swimming is my favorite hobby. (Gerund as subject)
- I enjoy reading novels. (Gerund as object)
2. Infinitives can be nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
Infinitives express purpose, intent, or a future action.
- I love to travel. (Infinitive as a noun – object)
- She has a meeting to attend. (Infinitive as an adjective – describing meeting)
- He left early to catch the train. (Infinitive as an adverb – showing reason)
3. Some verbs take only gerunds, some take only infinitives
- Gerunds follow verbs like enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, mind.
She enjoys painting. - Infinitives follow verbs like decide, want, promise, learn, hope.
They decided to leave early.
4. Some verbs can take both – but the meaning may change!
- Stop + gerund → Stop an action.
He stopped smoking. (He quit smoking.) - Stop + infinitive → Pause one action to do another.
He stopped to smoke. (He paused what he was doing to smoke.)
Final Tip:
If you’re unsure whether to use a gerund or an infinitive, check which verb comes before it! Some verbs prefer one, while others allow both with a change in meaning.
Verbs That Take Both Gerunds and Infinitives (With Meaning Change)
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning can change depending on which one you use. It’s like a switch that alters how the action is understood! Let’s dive into some common verbs with examples.
1. Remember
- Remember + gerund = You recall something from the past.
I remember meeting her at the party last year. (You recall the meeting that already happened.) - Remember + infinitive = You think about something you need to do in the future.
Don’t forget to call me when you arrive. (You need to remember to do it in the future.)
2. Stop
- Stop + gerund = You quit doing something.
She stopped eating sugar to stay healthy. (She quit the habit.) - Stop + infinitive = You pause one activity to do something else.
He stopped to eat lunch during his hike. (He took a break from hiking to eat.)
3. Try
- Try + gerund = Attempt something as an experiment or for a solution.
I tried studying in a quiet place. (You experimented with studying in a quiet environment.) - Try + infinitive = Make an effort to do something difficult.
She tried to study all night for the exam. (She made an effort to study but it might have been challenging.)
4. Regret
- Regret + gerund = Feel sorry about something you did in the past.
I regret not attending the meeting yesterday. (It’s something you can’t change.) - Regret + infinitive = Feel sorry about something you are about to do.
I regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful. (You are expressing regret about giving bad news.)
5. Like
- Like + gerund = Enjoy doing something.
I like swimming in the ocean. (You enjoy the activity itself.) - Like + infinitive = Have a preference or show interest in doing something.
I like to swim before breakfast. (You prefer doing it at a particular time.)
Quick Tip:
- Gerunds often refer to actions as habits, experiences, or general activities, while infinitives often talk about things you need or want to do, or actions that are yet to happen.
Quick Practice: Test Your Understanding
Ready to test what you’ve learned about gerunds and infinitives? Try these sentences and choose the correct option.
1. I enjoy ________ (to swim / swimming) in the morning to start my day.
Answer: swimming
Explanation: Enjoy is one of the verbs that’s followed by a gerund, so we use swimming here.
2. He forgot ________ (to lock / locking) the door before leaving the house.
Answer: to lock
Explanation: Forgot to means he didn’t remember to do it, so we use the infinitive form to lock.
3. She stopped ________ (to talk / talking) when the teacher entered the room.
Answer: talking
Explanation: Stopped talking means she quit the activity of talking.
4. I regret ________ (to say / saying) that I can’t attend the meeting.
Answer: saying
Explanation: Regret saying refers to feeling sorry about something that already happened.
5. They tried ________ (to fix / fixing) the car themselves, but it didn’t work.
Answer: fixing
Explanation: Tried fixing means they experimented with fixing the car.