Grammar Lesson 7
Master Gerunds and Infinitives
Learn when to use gerunds (-ing forms) and infinitives (to + verb) correctly for IELTS Speaking and Writing. Understand the rules, avoid common mistakes, and practice with examples.
Learn Gerunds and Infinitives | IELTS Grammar Lesson
Master gerunds and infinitives with this comprehensive guide for IELTS learners. Watch the lesson video below and improve your grammar for the IELTS Speaking and Writing tests.
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Gerunds & Infinitives for IELTS
Verb + -ing used as a noun
Examples: swimming, reading, cooking
Can be subject, object, or complement
Swimming is fun (subject)
I enjoy reading (object)
To + base form of verb
Examples: to swim, to read, to cook
Can express purpose or intention
I want to learn (shows intention)
He came to help (shows purpose)
enjoy + gerund (enjoy reading)
love + gerund (love cooking)
like + gerund (like swimming)
dislike + gerund (dislike waiting)
hate + gerund (hate losing)
avoid + gerund (avoid making)
stop + gerund (stop smoking)
quit + gerund (quit drinking)
give up + gerund (give up trying)
finish + gerund (finish working)
suggest + gerund (suggest going)
recommend + gerund (recommend visiting)
mention + gerund (mention seeing)
discuss + gerund (discuss having)
consider + gerund (consider buying)
keep + gerund (keep working)
continue + gerund (continue studying)
carry on + gerund (carry on talking)
want + infinitive (want to go)
would like + infinitive (would like to see)
wish + infinitive (wish to speak)
plan + infinitive (plan to visit)
hope + infinitive (hope to succeed)
decide + infinitive (decide to leave)
agree + infinitive (agree to help)
refuse + infinitive (refuse to accept)
offer + infinitive (offer to assist)
promise + infinitive (promise to call)
learn + infinitive (learn to drive)
try + infinitive (try to understand)
manage + infinitive (manage to finish)
fail + infinitive (fail to notice)
stop + gerund = quit the action
He stopped smoking (quit the habit)
stop + infinitive = pause to do something
He stopped to smoke (paused for a cigarette)
remember + gerund = recall past action
I remember meeting him (I recall it)
remember + infinitive = not forget to do
Remember to call me (don't forget)
forget + gerund = forget past action
I'll never forget visiting Paris
forget + infinitive = not remember to do
I forgot to buy milk
try + gerund = experiment with method
Try drinking tea (as an experiment)
try + infinitive = attempt, make effort
Try to understand (make an effort)
Always use GERUND after prepositions
interested in + gerund (interested in learning)
good at + gerund (good at cooking)
tired of + gerund (tired of waiting)
before/after + gerund (before leaving)
without + gerund (without thinking)
by + gerund (by studying hard)
Use INFINITIVE after adjectives
It's easy to learn
It's difficult to understand
It's important to study
It's nice to meet you
It's hard to believe
✗ I enjoy to read → ✓ I enjoy reading
✗ I want going → ✓ I want to go
✗ I'm interested in to learn → ✓ interested in learning
✗ She suggested to meet → ✓ She suggested meeting
✗ He decided going → ✓ He decided to go
✗ I finished to work → ✓ I finished working
Essential for Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Critical for Speaking fluency
Important for Writing coherence
Common error area in IELTS
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Understanding Gerunds and Infinitives
The essential difference and when to use each form
Gerunds (Verb + -ing)
A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. It can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
Examples:
- Swimming is my favorite hobby. (subject)
- I enjoy reading books. (object)
- My passion is cooking. (complement)
Infinitives (To + Verb)
An infinitive is "to" plus the base form of a verb. It often expresses purpose, intention, or future actions.
Examples:
- I want to learn English. (intention)
- She came to help me. (purpose)
- It's important to study. (after adjective)
Complete Guide to Using Gerunds and Infinitives
Master the rules with clear explanations and examples
1
Verbs Followed by Gerunds Only
These verbs must be followed by a gerund, never an infinitive:
- enjoy + gerund: I enjoy swimming.
- finish + gerund: She finished working.
- avoid + gerund: Avoid making mistakes.
- suggest + gerund: He suggested going out.
- consider + gerund: Consider buying it.
- mind + gerund: Do you mind waiting?
- keep + gerund: Keep trying!
- quit + gerund: I quit smoking.
- miss + gerund: I miss seeing you.
- recommend + gerund: I recommend visiting.
- practice + gerund: Practice speaking.
- postpone + gerund: Postpone leaving.
2
Verbs Followed by Infinitives Only
These verbs must be followed by an infinitive, never a gerund:
- want + infinitive: I want to go.
- decide + infinitive: She decided to leave.
- plan + infinitive: We plan to visit.
- hope + infinitive: I hope to succeed.
- agree + infinitive: He agreed to help.
- refuse + infinitive: She refused to answer.
- promise + infinitive: I promise to call.
- offer + infinitive: He offered to assist.
- learn + infinitive: Learn to drive.
- manage + infinitive: I managed to finish.
- fail + infinitive: He failed to notice.
- expect + infinitive: I expect to arrive soon.
3
Verbs Followed by Both (With Different Meanings)
These verbs can take either form, but the meaning changes:
Stop
- stop + gerund = quit the action permanently
He stopped smoking. (He quit the habit) - stop + infinitive = pause one action to do another
He stopped to smoke. (He paused to have a cigarette)
Remember / Forget
- remember + gerund = recall a past action
I remember meeting him. (I recall the past event) - remember + infinitive = not forget to do something
Remember to call me. (Don't forget this future action) - forget + gerund = forget a past action
I'll never forget visiting Paris. - forget + infinitive = not remember to do something
I forgot to buy milk.
Try
- try + gerund = experiment with a method
Try drinking tea instead of coffee. (Test this method) - try + infinitive = attempt, make an effort
Try to understand. (Make an effort)
Regret
- regret + gerund = regret a past action
I regret saying that. (I'm sorry I said it) - regret + infinitive = be sorry to say (formal)
I regret to inform you... (Formal announcement)
4
Special Rules: Prepositions and Adjectives
After Prepositions - Always Use GERUND
When a verb comes after a preposition, it must be in the gerund form:
- interested in + gerund: interested in learning
- good at + gerund: good at cooking
- tired of + gerund: tired of waiting
- afraid of + gerund: afraid of losing
- before/after + gerund: before leaving, after eating
- without + gerund: without thinking
- by + gerund: by studying hard
After Adjectives - Use INFINITIVE
When describing something with an adjective, use the infinitive:
- It's easy to learn.
- It's difficult to understand.
- It's important to practice.
- It's nice to meet you.
- It's impossible to forget.
- It's necessary to study.
Practical Examples
See gerunds and infinitives in real-life sentences
Gerund Examples
- Swimming keeps you healthy.
- I enjoy reading novels.
- She finished writing the report.
- Avoid making the same mistake.
- He suggested going to the cinema.
- I'm good at cooking Italian food.
- Thank you for helping me.
- Before leaving, lock the door.
Infinitive Examples
- I want to travel the world.
- She decided to study medicine.
- We plan to move next year.
- He promised to call me back.
- It's easy to learn English.
- I came here to help you.
- She failed to notice the sign.
- Remember to bring your passport.
Verbs with Different Meanings
Stop
- He stopped smoking. (quit the habit)
- He stopped to smoke. (paused for a cigarette)
Remember
- I remember meeting her. (recall past)
- Remember to meet her. (don't forget)
Try
- Try drinking water. (experiment)
- Try to drink more. (make an effort)
Forget
- I'll never forget visiting Rome. (past memory)
- Don't forget to visit the museum. (future action)
Test Your Knowledge
Complete the quiz to check your understanding of gerunds and infinitives
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about gerunds and infinitives
A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun (swimming, reading). An infinitive is 'to' plus the base form of a verb (to swim, to read). Gerunds often describe activities or experiences, while infinitives often express purpose, intention, or future actions. The choice between them depends on the verb, adjective, or preposition that comes before them.
Unfortunately, there's no simple rule—you need to memorize which verbs take which form. Verbs like 'enjoy', 'finish', 'avoid', and 'suggest' take gerunds. Verbs like 'want', 'decide', 'plan', and 'hope' take infinitives. Some verbs like 'stop', 'remember', and 'try' can take both but with different meanings. Practice and exposure are the best ways to learn these patterns.
In English, when a verb follows a preposition (in, at, of, before, after, without, by, etc.), it must be in the gerund form because prepositions are followed by nouns or noun phrases, and gerunds function as nouns. For example: 'interested in learning', 'good at cooking', 'tired of waiting'. This is a fixed grammatical rule with no exceptions.
'Stop doing' means to quit or cease an action permanently: 'He stopped smoking' (he quit the habit). 'Stop to do' means to pause one action in order to do another: 'He stopped to smoke' (he paused what he was doing to have a cigarette). This is one of the most common areas of confusion, so pay careful attention to the meaning you want to express.
Yes! Some verbs like 'like', 'love', 'hate', 'prefer', 'begin', 'start', and 'continue' can take either a gerund or an infinitive with little or no change in meaning. For example: 'I like swimming' and 'I like to swim' mean essentially the same thing. However, verbs like 'stop', 'remember', 'forget', and 'try' change meaning depending on whether they're followed by a gerund or infinitive.
When we describe something with an adjective and then want to add a verb, we use the infinitive form. This pattern is especially common with 'it' as the subject: 'It's easy to learn', 'It's difficult to understand', 'It's important to practice'. The infinitive here explains or completes the meaning of the adjective. This is a standard English structure you'll see frequently in both speaking and writing.
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