Gerunds and Infinitives

Use the gerund (verb + ing
1. 3. After some verbs, eg hate, spend, don't mind.
  1. I don't mind getting up early.
2. 1. After prepositions and phrasal verbs.
  1. I'm very good at remembering names.
  2. She's given up smoking
3. 2. As the subject of a sentence.
  1. Eating out is quite cheap here.
4. Common verbs: enjoy, ate, finish, like, love, mind, practise, spend, stop, suggest.
Use the infinitive (+ to)
1. 3. after some verbs, eg want, need, learn
  1. She's never learnt to drive.
  2. Try not to make a noise.
2. 1. After adjectives.
  1. My flat is easy to find.
3. 2. to express a reason or purpose.
  1. He's saving money to buy a new car.
4. Common verbs: afford, agree, decide, expect forget, help, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, remember, seem, try, want, would like
Use the infinitive (without to)
1. 1. after most modal and auxiliary verbs.
  1. I can't drive. We must hurry.
2. after make and let
  1. She always makes me laugh.

Resource summary

	Created by Elisabeth Emmott over 9 years ago