Basic Rules for Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives can replace a noun in a sentence.

Gerund = the present participle (-ing) form of the verb, e.g., singing,
dancing, running.

Infinitive = to + the base form of the verb, e.g., to sing, to dance, to run.

Whether you use a gerund or an infinitive depends on the main verb in

the sentence.

I expect to have the results of the operation soon. (Infinitive)

I anticipate having the research completed eventually. (Gerund)

Gerunds can be used after certain verbs including enjoy, fancy, discuss,
dislike, finish, mind, suggest, recommend, keep, and avoid.

1. After prepositions of place and time.

I made dinner before getting home.
He looked unhappy after seeing his work schedule.
2. To replace the subject or object of a sentence
Lachlan likes eating coconut oil.
Jumping off a cliff is dangerous, but a real thrill.

Infinitives can be used after certain verbs including agree, ask, decide,
help, plan, hope, learn, want, would like, and promise.

1. After many adjectives:

It is hard to make dinner this late.
I find it difficult to describe my feelings about writing research essays.
2. To show purpose:
I left for Russia to study Russian.
I came to the office to solve the mystery of the missing keys.

Gerund and Infinitive: What’s the Difference?

Knowing the difference between gerund and infinitive can
save you from making costly grammar mistakes when
writing. In a nutshell, a word formed from a verb acting as
a noun and ending in ing is a gerund. Infinitive phrases –
normally referred to as infinitives – are formed with the
word to in front of a verb. Both gerunds and infinitives can
be subjects in sentences, and both gerunds and infinitives
can serve as the object of a verb.
Now that you know how these two elements can work in
similar ways, it’s time to note an important difference in the
gerund/infinitive equation: A gerund can be the object of a
preposition; an infinitive cannot.
Gerund & Infinitive Examples
Examples of gerunds
Gerunds are formed with the letters “ing”. For example:
• Thinking
• Acting
• Walking
• Talking
• Fishing
• Caring
• Writing
• Listening
Examples of infinitives
Infinitives are prefaced with the word “to”. For example:
• To think
• To act
• To walk
• To talk
• To fish
• To care
• To write
• To listen
Both Gerunds and Infinitives can act as the subject of a
sentence:
Thinking is something that comes naturally.
To think is something that comes naturally.

You can use a gerund or an infinitive as the object of a

verb:
I like fishing.
I like to fish.

Only a gerund can be the object of a preposition. An

infinitive cannot:
We are thinking about walking in the woods.

Gerund & Infinitive Usage

At first glance, it may seem difficult to know when to use
an infinitive and when to use a gerund. You will find the
following guidelines for gerund/infinitive usage helpful.
Gerunds
Gerunds are best for use in sentences about actions that
are real or complete, or that have been completed.
 • I stopped worrying about the future.
In this example, the worrying was real and it happened
until I stopped.

• We really enjoy climbing mountains.

In this example, the climbing is real and it’s something we
like to do.
Infinitives
Infinitives are best for use in sentences about actions that
are unreal or abstract, or that will occur in the future.
• I’d like you to think about something.
In this example, I’m asking you to think about something,
but the thinking hasn’t happened yet.

• Can we take a walk without you stopping to smoke?

In this example, we’re talking about taking a walk and
the smoking hasn’t happened yet.
What are Gerunds?
A gerund is a verb in its ing (present participle) form that
functions as a noun that names an activity rather than a person
or thing. Any action verb can be made into a gerund.

Spelling Tip
Verbing (Present Participle)
 Add ing to most verbs. Ex. play > playing, cry > crying, bark >
barking
 For verbs that end in e, remove the e and add ing. Ex: slide >
sliding, ride > riding
 For verbs that end in ie, change the ie to y and add ing. Ex: die
> dying, tie > tying
 For a verb whose last syllable is written with a consonant-
vowel-consonant and is stressed, double the last letter before
adding ing. Ex: beg > begging, begin > beginning. However:
enter > entering (last syllable is not stressed)
Gerund Examples
Gerunds can appear at the beginning of a sentence when used
as a subject:

1. Jogging is a hobby of mine.

Gerunds can act as an object following the verb:

1. Daniel quit smoking a year ago.

Gerunds can serve as an object after a preposition:

1. I look forward to helping you paint the house.

Note: The same spelling rules that apply to the progressive
tenses also apply to gerunds.
Some verbs and verb phrases are directly followed a gerund:

1. Paul avoids using chemicals on the vegetables he grows.

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive without
causing a change in meaning:

1. Some people prefer getting up early in the morning.

2. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning
Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a
change in meaning:

1. He remembered sending the fax. (He remembered the act of

send the fax)
2. He remembered to send the fax. (He remembered the fax and
sent it.)
What are Infinitives?
 An infinitive is a verb form that acts as other parts of speech in
a sentence. It is formed with to + base form of the verb. Ex: to
buy, to work.

Infinitive Examples
Infinitives can be used as:
an object following the verb:

1. Jim always forgets to eat

a subject at the beginning of a sentence:

1. To travel around the world requires a lot of time and money.

an adverb modifying a verb:

1. You promised to buy me a diamond ring.

an adjective modifying a noun:

1. Tara has the ability to succeed.

Some verbs are directly followed by an infinitive:

1. Do you want to call your family now?

Some verbs are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and
then by an infinitive:

1. I convinced Catherine to become vegetarian.

2. He advised me to sell all my shares of stock.
Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund without
causing a change in meaning:

1. Will you continue working after you give birth?

2. Will you continue to work after you give birth?
Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund but
with a change in meaning:

1. He stopped drinking coffee. (He never drank coffee again.)

2. He stopped to drink coffee. (He stopped what he was doing
and drank some coffee.)