Gerunds vs Infinitives: When to Use Each Verb Form

Every English learner hits this wall eventually. You know exactly what you want to say, but you pause — is it I enjoy to swim or I enjoy swimming? Is it She decided going or She decided to go? Gerunds and infinitives are among the most commonly confused grammar points in English, and a single wrong choice can shift the meaning of your sentence — or cost you marks on a TOEIC or IELTS exam.

The direct answer: a gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun (e.g., swimming, reading, working), while an infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by to (e.g., to swim, to read, to work). Certain verbs always require a gerund, others always require an infinitive, and a small group takes both — but with a distinct difference in meaning.

This guide covers the core rules, essential verb lists, real examples, practical exercises, and exam-ready strategies. By the end, you will stop guessing and start choosing correctly, every time.

What Are Gerunds and Infinitives? Clear Definitions First

Before stepping into the patterns, sharpen these two definitions in your mind.

Gerund: The -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun. It can serve as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

Infinitive: The base form of a verb preceded by to. It can follow certain verbs, express purpose, or act as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

Both forms can occupy the same grammatical slots — which is precisely what makes them confusing. The deciding factor is almost always the verb or preposition that comes before the blank, not the broader meaning of the sentence.

For a structured foundation across all English grammar structures, the Complete English Grammar Guide at EnglishPractices.com is the ideal resource to anchor all these rules together.

The Core Decision Rule: What Comes Before the Blank?

Most learners ask, "How do I feel the right answer?" The honest answer is: feeling comes after knowing. Start with the rule, and the intuition follows naturally.

Use this decision framework:

1. Identify the verb or preposition that precedes the blank.

2. If the preceding word is a preposition → always use a gerund, without exception.

3. If the preceding word is a verb → check the verb group lists below.

4. To express purpose → always use an infinitive (I studied hard to pass the exam.).

5. After an adjective → typically an infinitive (It is important to practice daily.).

There is no single sentence-level feeling that tells you which form to use. The answer is in the grammar of the word that comes before.

Verbs Always Followed by a Gerund

These verbs demand a gerund. There are no exceptions. This list appears repeatedly in TOEIC Part 5 and IELTS grammar tasks, so treat it as core vocabulary.

What connects these verbs? They tend to describe activities that are already in motion, habitual, or recently completed. You enjoy something you do. You avoid, finish, or deny something that exists. The gerund captures that quality of present reality — an action already real in some form.

Verbs Always Followed by an Infinitive

The infinitive group is forward-looking. These verbs describe plans, decisions, intentions, and refusals — all oriented toward something that has not happened yet.

One closely related pattern worth noting: modal verbs in English — words like can, should, must, and will — always take the bare infinitive (without to). Knowing both structures together strengthens your overall control of verb patterns significantly.

The Meaning-Change Group: Verbs That Take Both Forms

This is the section that separates B1 learners from C1 speakers. A handful of high-frequency verbs accept both a gerund and an infinitive — but the meaning shifts, sometimes dramatically, depending on which form you choose.

Stop

Remember

Try

Forget and regret follow the same logic:

• I forgot meeting her → I have no memory of that event (past reality).

• I forgot to meet her → I failed to show up (unfulfilled future obligation).

• I regret telling him the truth → I wish I had not said it (past action).

• I regret to inform you → I am sorry to share this news (formal, present announcement).

The consistent underlying pattern: gerund = completed or ongoing reality; infinitive = purpose, intention, or forward-looking action. Once you internalize this contrast, the meaning differences stop feeling arbitrary and start feeling logical.

Gerunds After Prepositions: The Rule That Never Fails

This rule has zero exceptions, and it is one of the most testable points in both TOEIC and IELTS: a preposition is always followed by a gerund, never by an infinitive.

• She is good at explaining complex financial ideas. (good at + gerund)

• He is interested in launching a new business. (interested in + gerund)

• Thank you for supporting the initiative. (for + gerund)

• They left the meeting without saying a word. (without + gerund)

• I look forward to meeting you next week. (to + gerund — to here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive)

That last example catches learners at every level. In the phrase look forward to, the word to functions as a preposition — so the correct continuation is a gerund: I look forward to meeting you, not I look forward to meet you.

For a deeper understanding of how prepositions function across different sentence structures, the Prepositions of Time, Place, and Movement guide at EnglishPractices.com is an excellent companion resource.

Gerunds as Subjects and Objects: Expanding Your Grammar Range

Gerunds do not only follow verbs — they can anchor an entire sentence as the subject, a pattern that appears frequently in academic and formal writing.

• Swimming every morning improved her concentration and energy levels.

• Learning a second language strengthens long-term cognitive flexibility.

• Reading widely is one of the most reliable strategies for IELTS Academic preparation.

In formal written English, gerund subjects sound more measured and natural than their infinitive equivalents. Compare:

• Swimming is good for you. → natural, direct, widely used

• To swim is good for you. → correct, but slightly literary or dramatic in tone

For IELTS Writing Task 2, gerund subjects ("Investing in public transport reduces urban congestion") signal a confident, academic register. Gerunds also function as objects without changing this rule:

• She loves dancing__.

• He cannot stand waiting in long queues.

Passive Gerunds and Passive Infinitives

Both gerunds and infinitives appear in passive constructions — a structure central to IELTS Academic writing and professional English communication.

• Passive gerund (being + past participle): She hates being interrupted during presentations.

• Passive infinitive (to be + past participle): He expected to be promoted by year-end.

If passive voice across all tenses is an area you want to strengthen, the Passive Voice Guide at EnglishPractices.com gives you a systematic walkthrough of every construction.

Gerunds and Infinitives in Reported Speech

Infinitives appear frequently in reported speech, specifically in structures that report orders, requests, and advice.

• Direct: "Please close the window."

• Reported: She asked him to close the window.

• Direct: "Don't be late."

• Reported: He told her not to be late.

The structure — reporting verb + object + infinitive — comes up in IELTS Listening and TOEIC Part 7 comprehension questions with notable frequency. The Reported Speech Rules guide at EnglishPractices.com covers the full system of tense backshifts and verb patterns in detail.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

These are the errors EP. observes most frequently across learners in Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, and the United Kingdom — patterns that appear regardless of a learner's native language.

Mistake 1: Infinitive after a preposition ❌ She is interested in to learn English. ✅ She is interested in learning English.Fix: After any preposition, use the gerund. Always. No exceptions.

Mistake 2: Confusing stop + gerund and stop + infinitive ❌ Assuming "He stopped to smoke" means he no longer smokes. ✅ He stopped smoking = he ended the habit. He stopped to smoke = he paused to light a cigarette. Fix: These two sentences are opposites. Memorize both.

Mistake 3: Infinitive after mind ❌ Would you mind to open the window? ✅ Would you mind opening the window?Fix: Mind always takes a gerund. No exceptions.

Mistake 4: Gerund after want, decide, or expect ❌ I want going home. ✅ I want to go home.Fix: Want, decide, and expect always take the infinitive.

Practice Exercises: Gerunds vs Infinitives

Exercise 1 — Fill in the Blank

Use the correct form (gerund or infinitive) of the verb in brackets.

1. She enjoys _______ (listen) to classical music on weekday evenings.

2. He decided _______ (apply) for the senior position in Singapore.

3. I look forward to _______ (see) you at next month's conference.

4. They suggested _______ (take) the express train to avoid delays.

5. Do you mind _______ (wait) outside for a few minutes?

6. She promised _______ (send) the revised draft before the deadline.

7. I cannot afford _______ (miss) this training opportunity.

8. He admitted _______ (make) a serious error in the final report.

Answer Key:

9. listening · 2. to apply · 3. seeing · 4. taking · 5. waiting · 6. to send · 7. to miss · 8. making

Exercise 2 — Spot and Correct the Error

Each sentence below contains one grammatical error. Identify it and rewrite the sentence correctly.

10. ❌ She is good at to explain complex financial concepts.

11. ❌ They plan going to the London office next spring.

12. ❌ I remember to meet her at Heathrow Airport two years ago.

13. ❌ He stopped to eat junk food. (intended meaning: he no longer eats junk food)

Corrected Sentences:

14. ✅ She is good at explaining complex financial concepts.

15. ✅ They plan to go to the London office next spring.

16. ✅ I remember meeting her at Heathrow Airport two years ago.

17. ✅ He stopped eating junk food.

TOEIC and IELTS Strategies for Gerunds and Infinitives

For TOEIC Part 5 — Incomplete Sentences

When the blank follows a verb, identify that verb first. If it belongs to the gerund group (enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, consider, suggest, postpone), select the -ing option. If it belongs to the infinitive group (decide, want, plan, refuse, expect, promise), select the to + base verb option. And if a preposition directly precedes the blank — choose the gerund, without any further analysis needed.

For IELTS Writing Task 2

Gerund subjects elevate your writing register. Compare "Swimming is good for health" (conversational) with "Investing in renewable energy is essential for sustainable development" (academic). The second structure — gerund + linking verb + complement — is a hallmark of Band 7+ writing. Use it in your thesis statements and topic sentences.

For IELTS Speaking Part 2

Gerund phrases demonstrate fluency and grammatical range — two of the four IELTS Speaking assessment criteria. Phrases like "I really enjoy visiting local markets when I travel abroad" or "I remember studying for this exam and feeling genuinely challenged" show natural, accurate English in action.

For Both Exams

The stop / remember / try / forget / regret meaning-change pairs appear as high-frequency test items across all four skills. Practice them with deliberate contrast exercises until choosing the right form is automatic, not reasoned.

The EnglishPractices.com Approach: Grammar That Becomes Instinct

At EP., teaching gerunds and infinitives is not about handing you a list to memorize. The goal is to help you see the underlying logic — the "why" behind each pattern — so that the rules become instincts rather than items you must consciously recall under exam pressure.

Learners from South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China, Mexico, and across the United Kingdom have found that connecting grammar to real communication contexts — job applications, academic essays, business emails, exam tasks — makes these patterns internalize far faster than isolated drills alone. Grammar connects to everything: how you express hypothetical situations using conditionals in English, how you write precisely with the present perfect tense, and how you structure arguments with the clarity and confidence that examiners and employers recognize immediately.

With over 19 years of experience working alongside global learners, EnglishPractices.com teaches grammar not as a checklist, but as a toolkit for clear, confident communication — one that prepares you for real conversations, real exams, and real professional environments.

Your Next Steps

18. Complete both exercises above — fill-in-the-blank and error correction — before moving on.

19. Write three original sentences using each structure: a gerund as the sentence subject, an infinitive after a verb, and a gerund after a preposition.

20. Revisit the meaning-change pairs — stop, remember, try, forget, regret — and write one sentence for each form until the contrast feels automatic.

21. Build your grammar systematically with the Complete English Grammar Guide at EnglishPractices.com for a structured path from foundational to advanced grammar.

Ready to go further? Visit EnglishPractices.com to explore lessons, exercises, and resources built for learners at every level — from A1 beginners to advanced IELTS and TOEIC candidates. If you have a specific goal — an exam deadline, a job interview conducted in English, or simply wanting to sound more natural in everyday conversation — the team at EP. is ready to help you get there.