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.'
Key terms
| Pattern | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + to-infinitive | want, decide, hope, would like, promise, agree, plan, learn, need, offer, refuse | They decided to buy a new house. |
| Verb + gerund (-ing) | enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep, practise, can't help, miss | She enjoys reading books. |
| Verb + bare infinitive | make, let (and after modal verbs) | My parents let me go out. |
| Verb + either form | like, love, hate, start, begin | She likes reading / She likes to read. |
| Situation | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| After a preposition | Use the gerund (-ing), never the to-infinitive | She is good at swimming. |
| After 'after', 'before', 'without', 'instead of' | These are prepositions, so use the gerund | Before leaving the house, she locked the door. |
| As the subject of a sentence | Use the gerund, never 'to' + verb | Walking is good for your health. |
- 1Find the first verb: The first verb is 'finish'. The form of the second verb depends on this verb.
- 2Check the pattern: 'finish' is in the gerund group (enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep, practise, can't help, miss).
- 3Apply the rule: After 'finish' we use the -ing form, not 'to do'.
- 4Answer: I have finished doing my homework.
- 1Find the first verb: The first verb is 'agree', which decides the form that follows.
- 2Check the pattern: 'agree' is in the to-infinitive group (want, decide, hope, would like, promise, agree, plan, learn, need, offer, refuse).
- 3Apply the rule: After 'agree' we use 'to + verb', not the gerund 'signing'.
- 4Answer: They agreed to sign the contract.
Do not use the to-infinitive after enjoy, finish, avoid, suggest, keep, mind or miss. Say 'enjoy reading' and 'avoid eating', not 'enjoy to read' or 'avoid to eat'.
Do not use the gerund after want, decide, hope, plan, agree, promise or offer. Say 'want to learn' and 'decide to buy', not 'want learning' or 'decide buying'.
After a preposition (at, in, of, about, before, after, without, instead of) always use the -ing form. Say 'good at swimming' and 'before leaving', never 'good at to swim' or 'before to leave'.
After make and let, and after modal verbs, drop the 'to'. Say 'She let him go' and 'The teacher made us wait', not 'let him to go' or 'made us to wait'.
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
15 easy · 15 medium · 15 hard
10 random questions per test