Gerunds vs Infinitives: When to Use -ing or to + Verb

Master the Rules Once and Never Second-Guess Again

📌 Quick Answer
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun (Swimming is fun). An infinitive is to + verb (I want to swim). Some verbs take only gerunds (enjoy, avoid), some only infinitives (decide, want), and some change meaning depending on which form follows (stop, remember, forget).

Memory Trick: Verbs about feelings and past actions often take gerunds (enjoy swimming, regret saying). Verbs about plans and future actions often take infinitives (decide to go, plan to study).

💡 Key Difference

When a verb changes meaning depending on gerund or infinitive (like stop or remember), the choice completely changes what the sentence means.

Quick Comparison

Form Use It For Quick Check
Gerunds Use the role described in the quick answer. Match the sentence meaning before you choose.
Infinitives Use the role described in the quick answer. Match the sentence meaning before you choose.

Common Mistakes

Using an Infinitive After "Enjoy"

❌ Incorrect:

"I enjoy to swim in the morning."

✓ Correct:

"I enjoy swimming in the morning."

"Enjoy" always takes a gerund, never an infinitive. The same rule applies to: avoid, finish, miss, and consider.

Using a Gerund After "Decide"

❌ Incorrect:

"She decided going to Paris for the conference."

✓ Correct:

"She decided to go to Paris for the conference."

"Decide" always takes an infinitive. Other verbs in this group: want, plan, hope, refuse, manage, and agree.

Confusing "Stop + Gerund" vs "Stop + Infinitive"

❌ Ambiguous / Wrong context:

"He stopped to smoke, so he is healthier now." (Incorrect logic)

✓ Correct:

"He stopped smoking, so he is healthier now."

"Stop smoking" means he quit. "Stop to smoke" means he paused something to have a cigarette — the opposite meaning entirely.

🎯 Test Your Knowledge

1. "She enjoys ____ in the lake every summer."

2. "He managed ____ the report before the deadline."

3. "We stopped ____ coffee on the way to the office." (We made a stop for coffee)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

A gerund is the -ing form used as a noun (Swimming is fun). An infinitive is to + verb (I want to swim). The key is knowing which verbs require which form after them.

Which verbs take only gerunds?

Common gerund-only verbs: enjoy, avoid, admit, consider, deny, finish, keep, miss, practice, suggest, quit, and stop (meaning to quit). Example: "She enjoys reading." "He admitted making the error."

How does "stop" change meaning?

"Stop + gerund" means to quit: "He stopped smoking" (he quit). "Stop + infinitive" means to pause in order to do something: "He stopped to smoke" (he halted what he was doing to have a cigarette).

Can "like", "love", and "hate" take both forms?

Yes. "Like swimming" and "like to swim" are both correct. "Like to + infinitive" often implies a habit: "I like to exercise daily." "Like + -ing" describes general enjoyment: "I like swimming in the sea."

Verbs That Take Only Gerunds

These verbs must always be followed by a gerund (-ing), never an infinitive.

Examples

  • "She enjoys hiking in the mountains on weekends." (Casual)
  • "The committee considered postponing the meeting." (Professional)
  • "He admitted making the error in the report." (Professional)
  • "You should avoid using jargon in client emails." (Professional)
  • "The researchers suggested replicating the experiment." (Academic)
  • "I miss living near the coast." (Casual)

Verbs That Take Only Infinitives

These verbs must always be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).

Examples

  • "The team decided to postpone the launch." (Professional)
  • "She wants to study computational linguistics." (Academic)
  • "He refused to sign the contract without legal review." (Professional)
  • "They managed to complete the project under budget." (Professional)
  • "I hope to hear from you soon." (Casual)
  • "The study failed to demonstrate a significant correlation." (Academic)

Word Origins & Etymology

Gerund comes from Latin 'gerundium' (that which is to be carried on), from 'gerere' (to carry, perform). A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun: 'Swimming is fun.'

Infinitive derives from Latin 'infinitivus' (unlimited, indefinite), because infinitives don't specify person or number. The 'to + verb' form: 'to swim.'

🔗 The Connection

Some verbs take only gerunds (enjoy swimming), some take only infinitives (want to swim), and some take both with different meanings (stop smoking vs stop to smoke).

Real-World Examples

See how these words work in genuine contexts — from business emails to academic papers.

📏 Gerund Only:

I enjoy swimming in the ocean.

Enjoy + gerund (never: enjoy to swim)
📏 Infinitive Only:

She wants to travel to Japan next year.

Want + infinitive (never: want traveling)
⚠️ Both (different meaning):

He stopped smoking. (quit) vs He stopped to smoke. (paused in order to smoke)

Same verb, different meaning based on gerund vs infinitive
⚠️ Both (same meaning):

I like swimming. = I like to swim. (same meaning)

Some verbs accept both with no change in meaning
💡 Common Gerund Verbs:

enjoy, avoid, finish, consider, suggest, mind + gerund

These verbs ONLY take gerunds
💡 Common Infinitive Verbs:

want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree + infinitive

These verbs ONLY take infinitives

Why Do People Confuse Them?

There is no logical rule for which verbs take gerunds vs infinitives. It must be memorized or absorbed through exposure. ESL learners from languages without this distinction (Korean, Japanese, Chinese) find it particularly challenging. The key pairs to master are the 'meaning-change' verbs: stop, remember, forget, try, regret.

Practice with Related Guides

For more patterns, review Its vs It's and Subject-Verb Agreement before moving to the quiz.

Related Articles

Check Your Writing Now

Not sure if you used a gerund or infinitive correctly? Our free checker catches the mistake instantly.

Try Grammar Checker Free →
🏠 📚