Infinitive and Gerund
There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund. If you are not sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.
Infinitive
Use
Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’.
Use and Word Lists
Example

as the subject of a clause
To know you is to love you.

after certain expressions (without ‘to’)
Why not go to the cinema?

after certain verbs (without ‘to’)
I can swim.

after certain verbs (with ‘to’)
He wants to swim.

after certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive constructions)
They don’t know how to swim.

after certain verbs with objects (without ‘to’)
He made her swim.

after certain verbs with objects (with ‘to’)
They wanted him to swim.

after certain adjectives and their comparisons
It’s easier to swim downstream.

after nouns deriving from the verbs mentioned above
We made a promise to swim. (derived from the verb ‘to promise’)

Gerund
Form
ing form of the verb
Exceptions in Spelling
Use
Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.
Use and Word Lists
Example

as the subject of a clause
Cycling is good for your health.

after certain adjectives
He’s afraid of going by plane.

after certain prepositions
Before going to bed he turned off the lights.

after certain verbs
I enjoy cooking.

after certain verbs with prepositions
I am looking forward to seeing you again.

after certain nouns
We had problems finding our way back home.

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form
Use and Word Lists
Example

same meaning
I started to read. / I started reading.

same meaning but different use
She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking.

different meaning
He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking.

infinitive or present participle
I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs.



Test on Infinitive and Gerund
with or without to
Decide whether to use the infinitive with or without to.
I want
you.
You must
up.
They learn
.
I can
along some packages of crisps.
Do you
English?
Fill in the correct form of the verbs (infinitive with/without to).
I will (go)
now.
You should (do)
your homework.
She has (write)
a letter.
Amelie may (come)
to our party.
I`d like (watch)
the film.

Test on Infinitive and Gerund

Write down the ing-form (Gerund) of the following verbs.
work -

leave -

run -

look -

call -

Complete the sentences using infinitive constructions.
She didn`t tell me (do / what)

We asked a man (get / to the station / how)

We didn`t know (go / this way or that way / whether)

She found out (queue / for the tickets / where)

I learnt (juggle / with three balls / how)

Fill in the gerund as the subject of the sentence.
(smoke)
causes cancer.
(play)
football is not allowed here.
(walk)
in New York`s Central Park at night can be dangerous.
(spend)
your summer holidays watching TV is a waste of time.
(sleep)
in is what we usually do on a Sunday.
Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund.
Jenny is afraid of
.
Bob wants
to Japan.
I cannot
you the bike.
Carla enjoys
.
Garth is good at
jokes.