Main Answer
Gerunds and infinitives can both be correct, but the right choice depends on the verb before them, the meaning you want, and the sentence structure. Use a gerund for forms like learning, reading, and swimming. Use an infinitive for forms like to learn, to read, and to swim.
Table of Contents
Which Form Is Correct?
The correct form is not always one word. Some English verbs are followed by a gerund, some are followed by a to-infinitive, and some can use both with a small or clear change in meaning. The first verb usually controls the second verb form.Source-1✅
The Simple Rule
- Use a gerund after verbs such as enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, and suggest.
- Use a to-infinitive after verbs such as want, decide, hope, plan, and offer.
- Use either form after some verbs, such as like, love, hate, and prefer.
- Watch special verbs such as stop, try, remember, and forget, because the form can change the meaning.
What Is a Gerund?
A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that works like a noun. In Swimming is relaxing, the word swimming names an activity, so it acts as the subject of the sentence.Source-2✅
✅ Gerund as a Subject
Reading improves vocabulary.
Cooking at home saves time.
✅ Gerund as an Object
She enjoys drawing.
They finished cleaning.
Common Places for Gerunds
- After certain verbs: enjoy reading, avoid waiting, finish writing.
- After prepositions: good at explaining, interested in learning, without asking.
- After fixed expressions: be worth trying, have trouble sleeping, feel like walking.
- As the name of an activity: Running is exercise. Studying takes focus.
What Is an Infinitive?
An infinitive is usually to + base verb, such as to read, to learn, or to write. It can work as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.Source-3✅
✅ To-Infinitive
I want to learn.
She decided to wait.
✅ Bare Infinitive
They can swim.
Let him try.
A bare infinitive is the base verb without to. It appears after modal verbs such as can, must, should, and may. It also appears after some verbs such as let and make in active sentences.
Verb Patterns with Gerunds and Infinitives
The safest way to choose between a gerund and an infinitive is to learn the verb pattern. English often treats the first verb as the guide for the second verb form.
| Pattern | Common Verbs | Correct Example | Incorrect Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb + Gerund | enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, keep, consider | ✅ I enjoy learning grammar. | ❌ I enjoy to learn grammar. |
| Verb + To-Infinitive | want, hope, decide, plan, agree, offer, promise | ✅ We decided to leave early. | ❌ We decided leaving early. |
| Verb + Object + To-Infinitive | ask, tell, invite, encourage, allow, teach | ✅ She asked me to call. | ❌ She asked me calling. |
| Modal + Bare Infinitive | can, could, may, might, must, should | ✅ You should check the answer. | ❌ You should to check the answer. |
| Preposition + Gerund | in, on, at, about, after, before, without | ✅ He is good at explaining. | ❌ He is good at to explain. |
Verbs Usually Followed by a Gerund
Some verbs normally take the -ing form, not the to-infinitive. This group includes verbs such as avoid, enjoy, finish, mind, suggest, consider, and risk.Source-4✅
✅ Correct She avoided answering too quickly.
❌ Wrong She avoided to answer too quickly.
✅ Correct We finished organizing the files.
❌ Wrong We finished to organize the files.
Verbs Usually Followed by a To-Infinitive
Other verbs normally take to + base verb. These include want, hope, decide, plan, agree, promise, and offer.
✅ Correct I hope to visit soon.
❌ Wrong I hope visiting soon.
✅ Correct They agreed to help.
❌ Wrong They agreed helping.
Verbs That Can Use Both Forms
Some verbs can take either a gerund or a to-infinitive. With verbs like like, love, hate, and prefer, the difference is often small. The -ing form can feel more focused on the activity itself, while the to-infinitive can feel more focused on preference, choice, or result.
✅ Gerund
I like walking after dinner.
This focuses on the activity itself.
✅ Infinitive
I like to walk after dinner.
This can sound more like a habit or choice.
Gerunds and Infinitives That Change Meaning
With some verbs, both forms are grammatically correct, but they do not mean the same thing. Verbs such as stop, try, remember, and forget can change meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or a to-infinitive.Source-5✅
| Verb | Gerund Meaning | Infinitive Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| stop | Stop doing an action: She stopped talking. | Stop one action in order to do another: She stopped to talk. |
| try | Test something as a possible method: Try restarting the app. | Make an effort to do something: Try to restart the app. |
| remember | Have a memory of a past action: I remember meeting her. | Not forget a future task: Remember to call her. |
| forget | Not have a memory of a past action: I forgot meeting him before. | Not do a task because it slipped your mind: I forgot to send the message. |
| go on | Continue the same action: He went on speaking. | Move to the next action: He went on to explain the answer. |
Common Mistakes Table
Gerunds and infinitives often overlap in function, so learners may mix them. The form is easy to see, but the sentence role can be less obvious because both can work like nouns in some cases.Source-6✅
| Mistake Type | Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using infinitive after enjoy | ❌ I enjoy to cook. | ✅ I enjoy cooking. | Enjoy takes a gerund. |
| Using gerund after want | ❌ She wants leaving. | ✅ She wants to leave. | Want takes a to-infinitive. |
| Using to after modal verbs | ❌ You must to wait. | ✅ You must wait. | Modal verbs use the bare infinitive. |
| Using infinitive after a preposition | ❌ He is interested in to learn. | ✅ He is interested in learning. | Prepositions are followed by gerunds. |
| Confusing stop doing and stop to do | ❌ I stopped to smoke means I quit smoking. | ✅ I stopped smoking means I quit smoking. | Stop to do means pause for another action. |
| Mixing forms in a list | ❌ She likes reading, writing, and to draw. | ✅ She likes reading, writing, and drawing. | Parallel items should use the same pattern when they share the same role. |
Gerunds After Prepositions
After a preposition, English usually uses a gerund, not a to-infinitive. This is one of the most useful patterns to remember because it appears in many everyday phrases.
- She is good at explaining hard topics.
- They talked about moving next month.
- He left without saying anything.
- I am interested in learning more.
- Thank you for waiting.
The word to can also be a preposition in some expressions. That is why look forward to meeting you is correct, not look forward to meet you.
Adjectives Followed by Infinitives
Many adjectives are followed by a to-infinitive. This pattern often describes a feeling, judgment, readiness, or difficulty connected to an action.
- It is easy to understand.
- She is ready to begin.
- They were happy to help.
- This sentence is hard to explain.
- He was careful to check the details.
Infinitives for Purpose
A to-infinitive can explain purpose. It answers the idea of why someone does something.
✅ Purpose
I opened the window to get fresh air.
She studied to pass the test.
❌ Not Natural Here
I opened the window getting fresh air.
She studied passing the test.
Used to vs Be Used to
Used to and be used to look similar, but they follow different grammar patterns. This pair often causes mistakes because both contain the word to.
| Expression | Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| used to | used to + base verb | A past habit or past state | ✅ I used to walk to school. |
| be used to | be used to + gerund | Be familiar with something | ✅ I am used to waking up early. |
| get used to | get used to + gerund | Become familiar with something | ✅ She got used to driving on busy roads. |
More Correct Examples
These examples show the most common patterns in normal English sentences. Focus on the verb before the second action.
Gerund Examples
- I miss working with that team.
- They considered changing the date.
- She suggested taking a short break.
- He admitted forgetting the password.
- We kept practicing until it felt natural.
Infinitive Examples
- I agreed to help.
- She plans to study tonight.
- They hope to arrive early.
- He promised to call later.
- We learned to solve the problem.
FAQ
Gerunds vs Infinitives FAQ
Are gerunds and infinitives both correct?
Yes. Both can be correct, but they are used in different patterns. Enjoy reading is correct, while want to read is correct. The first verb usually decides the form.
What is the easiest difference between a gerund and an infinitive?
A gerund ends in -ing and often works like a noun: Reading is fun. An infinitive is usually to + base verb: to read, to write, to learn.
Is “I enjoy to read” correct?
No. The correct form is I enjoy reading. The verb enjoy is followed by a gerund.
Is “I want reading” correct?
No. The correct form is I want to read. The verb want is followed by a to-infinitive when another verb comes after it.
Can “like” take both a gerund and an infinitive?
Yes. I like reading and I like to read can both be correct. The difference is usually small. The gerund often focuses on the activity itself, while the infinitive can sound more like a habit or choice.
What is the difference between “stop doing” and “stop to do”?
Stop doing means the action ends. She stopped talking means she no longer talked. Stop to do means someone pauses one action in order to do another. She stopped to talk means she paused so she could talk.
Do prepositions take gerunds or infinitives?
Prepositions usually take gerunds. Say interested in learning, good at explaining, and before leaving, not interested in to learn.
Should I memorize verb patterns?
Yes. For many verbs, there is no single shortcut that works every time. Learning common patterns such as enjoy + gerund and want + to-infinitive makes the choice much easier.