VERBALS: GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

GERUNDS

Use a gerund, not an infinitive, after some verbs, as in this sentence:

Children enjoy reading fairy tales.

COMMON VERBS TAKING GERUNDS

admit consider finish postpone anticipate delay imagine practice appreciate deny keep quit avoid discuss mind recommend can't help enjoy miss suggest

GERUNDS WITH IDIOMATIC_EXPRESSIONS

After go (any tense): 1 go swimming. I went kayaking. After spend time: Volunteers spend a lot of time helping others. After have + noun: Pilots have difficulty flying in bad weather. After a preposition: Midwives are trained in assisting at childbirth.

GERUNDS WITH TO ACTING AS A PREPOSITION

In each of the following examples, to is not part of an infinitive. To acts like a preposition and must be followed by a gerund ending in -ing.

I look forward to working at the museum. He is accustomed to designing exhibits. Patrons are used to viewing complex displays.

INFINITIVES

Some verbs take only an infinitive, not a gerund, as in this sentence: Some students need to work part time.

COMMON VERBS TAKING AN INFINITIVE

agree expect need refuse ask fail offer seem choose hope plan venture claim intend pretend want decide manage promise wish

COMMON VERB TAKING AN OBJECT + INFINITIVE

Other verbs take an object and an infinitive: Doctors often advise their patients to eat well.

advise encourage need teach allow expect permit tell ask force persuade urge convince help require want

GERUNDS OR INFINITIVES

The meaning stays the same when you use most verbs that can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

Gerund: Developers prefer working with local contractors. Infinitive: Developers prefer to work with local contractors.

COMMON VERBS TAKING EITHER GERUNDS OR INFINITIVES

begin hate like start can't stand intend love stop continue learn prefer try

Remember, forget, regret, and stop change meaning with a gerund or an infinitive.

GERUND I remembered meeting Mark. [I recall an event in the past.]

INFINITIVE I remembered to meet Mark, [I did not forget to do this in the past.]

GERUND I will never forget visiting Texas. [I recall a past event.]

INFINITIVE I never forget to study for exams. [I remember to do something.]

GERUND I regret telling you about her. [I’m sorry I told you in the past.]

INFINITIVE I regret to tell you that you were not hired. [I’m sorry to tell you now.]

GERUND I stopped smoking. [I do not smoke anymore.]

INFINITIVE I stopped to smoke. [I paused to smoke.]