Gerund vs InfinitiveB1

Edit on

Verbs followed by -ing, verbs followed by to + infinitive, and verbs that take both with a change of meaning. The verb before decides the form: I enjoy cooking, I want to cook.

No information at the current level. This view starts at B1: choose B1 or a higher level.

CheatsheetB1

Form	Rule	Example
verb + -ing	after enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest	I enjoy cooking.
verb + to + V	after want, decide, hope, plan, need	They decided to move.
want / need / would like + person + to + V	a person can come before to	I want you to come.
preposition + -ing	after a preposition: interested in, before, without	Wash your hands before eating.
-ing as the subject	the -ing form works as a noun	Swimming is good for you.
look forward to + -ing	to is a preposition here	I look forward to seeing you.
stop + -ing / to + V	-ing means he quit; to means he paused in order to smoke	He stopped smoking. / He stopped to smoke.
remember + -ing / to + V	-ing recalls the action; to means do not forget	I remember locking it. / Remember to lock it.
try + -ing / to + V	-ing tests it; to makes an effort	Try adding salt. / I tried to open it.
Either form	like, love, hate, prefer: almost the same meaning	I like swimming. / I like to swim.

Form: verb + -ingB1

Verb	Example
enjoy	I enjoy cooking.
finish	She finished reading the book.
mind	Do you mind waiting?
avoid	He avoids driving at night.
suggest	I suggest taking a taxi.
keep	She keeps asking questions.
practise, consider, can't stand	I can't stand waiting.

These verbs are followed by -ing: I enjoy cooking.

Form: verb + to + infinitiveB1

Verb	Example
want	I want to go home.
decide	They decided to move.
hope	We hope to see you soon.
plan	He plans to study abroad.
need	You need to rest.
would like / would love	I'd like to book a table.
learn, agree, promise, manage	She learned to swim.

These verbs are followed by to + base verb.
With want, need and would like, a person can come before to: I want you to come.

Form: after prepositions and as subjectB1

Position	Example
after a preposition	I'm interested in learning Spanish.
after a preposition	Wash your hands before eating.
after a preposition	She left without saying goodbye.
as the subject	Swimming is good for you.
after look forward to	I look forward to seeing you.

A verb after a preposition takes -ing.
In look forward to, to is a preposition, so -ing follows.
The -ing form works as a noun and can be the subject.

Verbs with both formsB1

Verb	+ -ing	+ to + infinitive
stop	He stopped smoking. (He quit.)	He stopped to smoke. (He paused in order to smoke.)
remember	I remember locking the door. (I recall the action.)	Remember to lock the door. (Do not forget.)
try	Try adding salt. (Test it.)	I tried to open it. (I made an effort.)

like, love, hate and prefer take either form, with almost the same meaning.
I like swimming. / I like to swim.

Typical errorsB1

✗	✓	Rule
I enjoy to cook.	I enjoy cooking.	enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep → -ing
She decided going home.	She decided to go home.	want, decide, hope, plan, need → to + infinitive
I'm interested in learn Spanish.	I'm interested in learning Spanish.	after a preposition → -ing
He suggested to go by train.	He suggested going by train.	suggest + -ing
I look forward to see you.	I look forward to seeing you.	to is a preposition here → -ing