Infinitive and gerund
When to use the -ing form and when to use to + verb
When one verb is followed by another, the second verb appears either as a gerund (the -ing form) or as an infinitive (to + verb), and the first verb decides which one. We use the gerund after certain verbs such as enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep, practise and miss, and always after a preposition (good at swimming, interested in learning, after leaving). A gerund can also act as the subject of a sentence (Swimming is good for you). We use the to-infinitive after verbs such as want, decide, hope, would like, promise, agree, plan, learn, need, offer and refuse, after many adjectives (happy to help, easy to do), and to express purpose (I went out to buy milk). After modal verbs and after make and let we use the bare infinitive with no 'to' (She let him go). Verbs like like, love, hate, start and begin can take either form with little change in meaning. For example: 'She enjoys reading, but today she wants to watch a film.'
Rules
- 1Use the gerund (-ing) after these verbs: enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep, practise, can't help, miss.
- 2Always use the gerund after a preposition (good at drawing, interested in cooking, before going) and when the verb is the subject (Swimming is healthy).
- 3Use the to-infinitive after these verbs: want, decide, hope, would like, promise, agree, plan, learn, need, offer, refuse, and after adjectives (happy to help).
- 4Use the to-infinitive to show purpose ('why?'): I went to the shop to buy milk.
- 5Use the bare infinitive (no 'to') after modal verbs and after make/let: She let him go; the teacher made us wait.
Practice
10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard