English as a Second Language | Gerund and infinitive

🧠 Grammar Toolkit: Mastering the Gerund and Infinitive (CEFR B2)

Hello future grammar experts! Welcome to one of the most important (and sometimes trickiest!) chapters in B2 English: the Gerund and the Infinitive. Don't worry if these terms sound confusing—we’re going to break them down into simple, easy-to-manage rules.

What are we learning? We are learning how to use verb forms that function as nouns or adjectives, allowing us to connect ideas smoothly and speak English fluently and naturally.

Why is this important? Using the correct form (Gerund or Infinitive) after certain verbs is essential for accurate communication and achieving high marks in your exams. Let’s dive in!

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1. Understanding the Gerund

What is a Gerund?

The Gerund is the base form of a verb plus -ing, used in a sentence like a noun.

Analogy: Imagine the verb run decides to take a job as a noun. It puts on a special -ing uniform and becomes running.

Key Concept: A gerund names an activity.

Example:
To study is a verb.
Studying is a gerund (an activity).

Common Uses of the Gerund

The gerund can appear in three main places:

1. As the Subject of the Sentence (who or what is doing the action):
Example: Swimming is my favorite activity.

2. As the Object of a Preposition (after words like in, on, about, before, after, without):
Example: She is good at cooking.
Example: He left without saying goodbye.

3. As the Object of Specific Verbs (See Section 3 for the list):
Example: I enjoy reading novels.

🚨 Common Mistake to Avoid!

Don't confuse the gerund (a noun) with the continuous tense (a verb).

Continuous Tense: They are studying now. (Action in progress)
Gerund: Studying is hard work. (The activity itself)

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2. Understanding the Infinitive

What is the Infinitive?

The Infinitive is usually the word to followed by the base form of the verb (the simplest form).

Full Infinitive: to run, to eat, to think.

Bare Infinitive: Sometimes, we drop the to. (We will look at this shortly.)

Common Uses of the Full Infinitive (To + Verb)

The infinitive is most commonly used:

1. To Express Purpose (The 'Why'):
Example: I went to the shop to buy milk. (Why did I go? To buy milk.)

2. As the Object of Specific Verbs (See Section 4 for the list):
Example: We decided to travel next year.

3. After Adjectives:
Example: It is difficult to understand this rule.

The Bare Infinitive (Verb without 'to')

At B2 level, you must know when to drop the to:

1. After Modal Verbs: (can, could, must, should, will, would, may, might)
Example: You must study harder. (NOT must to study)

2. After the Verbs MAKE, LET, and sometimes HELP:
Example: My parents made me clean my room.
Example: Please let me explain.

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3. Verbs Followed ONLY by the Gerund (-ing)

These verbs MUST be followed by the Gerund form. You simply have to memorize the most common ones. Don’t panic—focus on the verbs that deal with stopping, suggesting, or continuing activities.

Key Gerund-Only Verbs (B2 Focus)

• Enjoy: I enjoy listening to music.
• Finish: Have you finished writing the essay?
• Mind: Would you mind opening the window?
• Suggest: She suggested visiting the museum.
• Avoid: Try to avoid making noise.
• Admit: He admitted stealing the pen.
• Postpone/Delay: We postponed making the decision.
• Keep (on): She kept talking even when the lesson started.

Memory Aid: The F-A-C-E Trick (For some key verbs)

Try to remember verbs related to liking and avoiding:

Finish, Avoid, Consider, Enjoy, Suggest (FACES).

Key Takeaway: If you use one of these verbs, the next action word must end in -ing.

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4. Verbs Followed ONLY by the Infinitive (To + Verb)

These verbs usually express future intention, planning, or decision.

Key Infinitive-Only Verbs (B2 Focus)

• Want: I want to travel next summer.
• Decide: They decided to leave early.
• Hope: We hope to see you soon.
• Promise: He promised to help me study.
• Plan: She plans to start a new business.
• Agree: We agreed to meet at 7 PM.
• Refuse: They refused to participate in the game.
• Learn: I learned to cook from my grandmother.

Memory Aid: Future Focus

If the main verb suggests something you will do later (a promise, a hope, a plan, a decision), it almost always takes the infinitive (to + verb).

Example: I decided (now) to go (later).

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5. Verbs Followed by BOTH Gerund and Infinitive

This section is crucial because some verbs can take both forms, but sometimes, the meaning changes completely!

A. Verbs Where the Meaning Stays (Mostly) the Same

These verbs usually relate to liking, starting, or continuing. Feel free to use either form after these common verbs:

• Like / Love / Hate / Prefer:
  I love to ski. (Same meaning) I love skiing.
• Start / Begin:
  It started to rain. (Same meaning) It started raining.
• Continue:
  He continued to work. (Same meaning) He continued working.

Quick Tip: If the main verb is already in the -ing form (e.g., *I am starting*), it sounds better and is clearer to use the infinitive afterwards (e.g., *I am starting to read*).

B. Verbs Where the Meaning Changes Drastically (B2/C1 Critical!)

You must be very careful with these four verbs:

1. STOP

STOP + Gerund (-ing): Means to quit or cease an activity permanently or generally.
Example: I stopped smoking. (I no longer smoke.)

STOP + Infinitive (to + verb): Means to pause one activity in order to begin another.
Example: We stopped to eat lunch. (We stopped driving/walking because we wanted to eat.)

Analogy: Imagine driving a car. If you stop driving (-ing), you quit the activity. If you stop to fill petrol (to + verb), you pause the drive to do something else.

2. REMEMBER / FORGET

REMEMBER / FORGET + Gerund (-ing): Refers to a memory of the past.
Example: I remember visiting Paris last year. (The memory exists.)

REMEMBER / FORGET + Infinitive (to + verb): Refers to a duty or task for the future.
Example: Did you remember to call your mother? (Did you remember the task you had to do?)

3. TRY

TRY + Gerund (-ing): Means to experiment with a solution.
Example: If the door is stuck, try pushing it harder. (Suggestion/experiment)

TRY + Infinitive (to + verb): Means to make an effort, usually when the task is difficult.
Example: I tried to lift the heavy box, but I couldn't. (Putting effort in)