Introduction

If we use two verbs together in a sentence, for example to describe an opinion or intention about an action, the second verb takes either the gerund form or the infinitive form with "to".

A gerund is the "–ing" form of a verb.

Some verbs can only be followed with a gerund, some can only be followed with the infinitive with "to" and both forms can follow some verbs.

Examples:

gerund only:

• I fancy going to the cinema.

infinitive with "to" only:

• I want to go to the cinema.

gerund or infinitive with "to":

• I like going to the cinema.
• I like to go to the cinema.
  In these examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Form

There are no clear rules about when to use the gerund or infinitive form after the main verb; the correct forms must be learnt.

Here are some examples (the simple present of the main verb is shown here, but the same forms of the second verb apply when using other tenses).

• These verbs can only be followed with a gerund:
  
  

  Subject	Main verb	gerund
  I (with the correct form of the main verb for "You" / "We" / "They" / "He" / "She" / "It")	allow avoid detest enjoy fancy	walking	in the countryside.

  
   
• These verbs can only be followed with the infinitive with "to":
  
  

  Subject	Main verb	infinitive with "to"
  I (with the correct form of the main verb for "You" / "We" / "They" / "He" / "She" / "It")	decide expect hope manage offer plan promise refuse want wish	to walk	in the countryside.

  
   
• These verbs can be followed with a gerund or the infinitive with to with no difference in meaning:
  
  

  Subject	Main verb	gerund / infinitive with "to"
  I (with the correct form of the main verb for "You" / "We" / "They" / "He" / "She" / "It")	begin hate like love prefer	to walk walking	in the countryside.

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Practice

Choose the option with the greatest number of correct answers:
.

1)

She loves ____ lots of books when she goes on holiday.
 

taking / to take

to taking

to take

taking

 

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2)

We want ____ to Brazil in December.
 

going

to go

to go / going

goes

 

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3)

He didn't begin ____ on the project until this morning.
 

working

to work / working

to works

to work

 

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4)

Did they prefer ____ the food themselves?
 

cooking / to cook

cooking

to cooking

to cook

 

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Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit

Further practice

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct answer from a, b, c or d:
.

1)

She ____ early in the morning.
 

likes getting up

like to getting up

like to get up

like getting up

 

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2)

He ____ the project before the deadline.
 

managed to finish

manage to finish

manage finishing

managed to finishing

 

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3)

They ____ in the race next year.
 

hope to compete

hope competing

hoping to compete

hope to competing

 

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4)

I have promised ____ dinner tonight.
 

cooking

cook

to cooking

to cook

 

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5)

Did they ____ in a hotel near the beach?
 

expect staying

expect stay

expect to staying

expect to stay

 

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6)

He didn't ____ in the city.
 

enjoy to working

enjoy working

enjoy to work

enjoys working

 

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Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit

Additional grammar points

Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or the infinitive, but they produce different meanings:

• I remember to close the windows.
  remember to close: "remember" happens before "to close" – I close the windows because I remember to do it
   
• I remember closing the windows.
  remember closing: "remember" happens after "closing" – I closed the windows in the past and I remember it later
  

• I tried to take the bus this morning but it was too crowded.
  tried to take: It wasn’t possible to take the bus ("I tried" = "I attempted and failed")
   
• I tried taking the bus this morning. It was very crowded.
  tried taking: I don’t usually take the bus but today I did ("I tried" = "I tested")