Rules for Using Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerund
the “-ing” form of a verb which works as a noun is known as a gerund.
Indeed a gerund is a noun made from a verb. To make a gerund, you add “-ing” to the verb.
You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
 Reading helps you learn English. (Subject of sentence)
 My favourite hobby is reading. (Complement of sentence)
 I enjoy reading. (Object of sentence)
Infinitive
To + 1st form of the verb is called infinitive or an infinitive is the basic form of the verb + “to”.
 I want to swim.
 They asked us to leave.
 The goal is to win.
Using gerunds and infinitives
(A) Using gerund
1. Gerunds are often used when actions are real or completed activities or experiences.

 I like eating ice-cream. ( This is an actual action you are doing everyday)
 He stopped smoking. (This is a completed action or experience)
2. Gerunds are used after verbs that express likes/ dislikes. Such as: (Like, love, enjoy,
dislike and hate)
 I like reading books, but I hate writing.
3. Gerunds are used after verbs such as:
(Admit, advise, allow, anticipate, avoid, appreciate, complete, consider, delay, deny, fancy,
finish, go, imagine, involve, keep, mention, mind, miss, permit, postpone, practice, reject, resist,
risk, suggest, waste).
 They admitted losing the match.
 They don’t permit smoking here.
 Don’t waste my time postponing the task.
4. Use gerunds after preposition in a sentence.
(Aim at, keep on, interested, in, good at, instead of, after)
 We decided to buy a house instead of by buying a new car.
5. Use gerunds after some expressions such as:
(It’s not use…it’s not good… He can’t help… I don’t mind)
 She doesn’t mind cleaning the house.
  It’s not good telling lie to parents.
(B) Using Infinitives
1. We often Infinitives when actions are unreal, general, or future. Or using an infinitive
suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences.
 I like to eat ice-cream (may be you are on a diet and you don’t usually eat ice-cream or you
are talking about potential action)
More examples:
 I refused to go.
 You seem to be disappointed.
 I want to eat.
 We need to get up early.
2. Often we use the infinitive for actions that follow the action of the main verb.
 I decided to visit my uncle. (Visiting my uncle was an action of my decision)
 I want to go out. (What I want now to go out (after or future))
3. Use infinitives that generally refer to a future event.
(Afford, agree, aim, arrange, attempt, choose, consent, decide, deserve, expect, demand,
fail, happen, help, hope, intend, Manage, need, offer, plan, pretend, process, promise,
refuse, seem, swear, threaten, want, would love, would like etc).

 I would like to be an anchor in the function.

 They refused to take the test.
 We decided to migrate to Pakistan.
4. Use infinitive after adjectives.
(Be determined, be disappointed, be glad, be happy, and be pleased...)
 I am pleased to see you here.
 They are happy to have you as their teacher.
Note: Some certain verbs can come after gerund or infinitive.
(Begin, Dread, Forget, keep, need, regret, remember, Start, Stop and try)
 They started to play.
 They started playing.
Using gerunds and infinitives in a proper way is very important if you want to speak natural
English. Hope the rules mentioned above will help you and you will use gerunds and infinitives
accurately in your speaking so on.
 Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund
We concentrated on doing well.

admit to depend on plan on

approve of disapprove of prevent (someone)
argue about discourage from
believe in from refrain from
care about dream about succeed in
Verbs Followed by a Gerund complain feel like talk about
They enjoyed working on the boat. about forget about think about
concentrate insist on worry about
admit delay finish permit resist on object to
advise deny forbid postpone resume confess to
appreciate detest get practice risk
avoid dislike through quit spend
Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive
can't help enjoy have recall (time)
Everyone expected her to win.
complete escape imagine report suggest
consider excuse mind resent tolerate advise choose have love remind
miss waste allow command hire motivate require
(time) ask dare instruct order send
beg direct invite pay teach
bring encourage lead permit tell
build expect leave persuade urge
buy forbid let prepare want
challenge force like promise warn

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

She agreed to speak before the game.

agree consent have offer shoot

aim continue hesitate ought start
appear dare hope plan stop
arrange decide hurry prefer strive
ask deserve intend prepare swear
attempt detest leap proceed threaten
be able dislike leave promise try
beg expect like propose use
begin fail long refuse wait
care forget love remember want
choose get mean say wish
condescend happen neglect