Gerund or Infinitive

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercises

These exercises focus on Gerund vs Infinitive

What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

• Gerund: The -ing form of a verb used as a noun.

Example: "Swimming is fun."

• Infinitive: The base form of a verb with to in front of it.

Example: "To swim is fun."

When to Use Gerunds

Gerunds function as nouns and are often used:

1. As the Subject of a Sentence

Example: "Running is good for health."

2. After Certain Verbs
   Some verbs are commonly followed by gerunds. These include enjoy, mind, avoid, finish, suggest, and consider.

Example: "He enjoys reading."

3. After Prepositions When a verb follows a preposition, it usually takes the gerund form.

Example: "She is interested in learning Spanish."

4. After Phrasal Verbs Phrasal verbs (verbs + prepositions) are typically followed by gerunds.

Example: "They gave up smoking."

When to Use Infinitives

Infinitives express purpose, intent, or potential actions and are often used:

1. After Certain Verbs
   Some verbs are typically followed by infinitives, such as want, need, hope, plan, decide, learn, and promise.

Example: "They want to visit Italy."

2. To Show Purpose
   When explaining the reason for an action, use the infinitive.

Example: "She went to the store to buy groceries."

3. After Adjectives
   When a verb follows an adjective, it usually takes the infinitive form.

Example: "It’s easy to learn Spanish."

4. After Certain Nouns and Pronouns Some nouns and pronouns are followed by infinitives to express an action.

Example: "I have a lot of work to do."

Verbs that Can Be Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning changes slightly depending on which form you use.

1. Stop

• Stop + Gerund: Stops an action entirely.

Example: "He stopped smoking." (He no longer smokes.)

• Stop + Infinitive: Stops one action to do something else.

Example: "He stopped to smoke." (He paused what he was doing to smoke.)

2. Remember

• Remember + Gerund: Refers to a memory of something done in the past.

Example: "I remember locking the door."

• Remember + Infinitive: Refers to remembering to do something in the future.

Example: "Remember to lock the door."

3. Try

• Try + Gerund: Experiment with an action to see what happens.

Example: "Try studying in the library."

• Try + Infinitive: Attempt to accomplish something difficult.

Example: "He tried to lift the box."

Common Mistakes with Gerunds and Infinitives

1. Using an Infinitive After a Preposition
   Verbs after prepositions should take the gerund form, not the infinitive.

• Incorrect: "I’m good at to play basketball."

• Correct: "I’m good at playing basketball."

2. Using the Wrong Form After Certain Verbs
   Some verbs are strictly followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

• Incorrect: "She suggested to go to the beach."

• Correct: "She suggested going to the beach."

FAQ

When should I use a gerund instead of an infinitive?

Use a gerund after prepositions, phrasal verbs, and certain verbs like enjoy and avoid. Use an infinitive after verbs like want, need, and decide.

Can some verbs be followed by both gerunds and infinitives?

Yes, verbs like stop, remember, and try can take both forms, but the meaning changes slightly.

Is there a rule for verbs that use only infinitives or gerunds?

Unfortunately, no single rule covers all cases. However, practicing with lists of common verbs that take gerunds or infinitives can help.

Do I always use a gerund after a preposition?

Yes, when a verb follows a preposition, it should be in the gerund form.

Are gerunds and infinitives interchangeable?