Understanding Gerunds and Infinitives

In English grammar, verbs can sometimes change their form and act like nouns. Two common verb forms used this way are gerunds and infinitives. Understanding when to use each form helps learners create more accurate and natural English sentences.

What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun in a sentence. Although it comes from a verb, it describes an activity or idea.

Examples:

Swimming is good exercise.
I enjoy reading.
She likes cooking.

Common Uses of Gerunds

Use	Example
As the subject of a sentence	Learning English takes time.
After certain verbs	I enjoy listening to music.
After prepositions	She is interested in learning languages.

What Is an Infinitive?

An infinitive is the basic form of a verb usually used with to. It can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

Examples:

I want to learn English.
She decided to travel.
He needs to study.

Common Uses of Infinitives

Use	Example
After certain verbs	They hope to win.
To express purpose	I went to the store to buy food.
After adjectives	It is difficult to understand.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Some verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.

enjoy → I enjoy reading.
avoid → She avoids eating fast food.
finish → He finished working.
suggest → They suggested going early.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Some verbs are commonly followed by infinitives.

want → I want to learn.
need → She needs to leave.
decide → They decided to move.
hope → We hope to see you soon.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives

Some verbs can be followed by both forms with little or no change in meaning.

Verb	Examples
like	I like reading. / I like to read.
love	She loves cooking. / She loves to cook.
begin	It began raining. / It began to rain.

Gerund vs Infinitive: Meaning Changes

Some verbs have different meanings depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or an infinitive.

Verb	Gerund Meaning	Infinitive Meaning
stop	Stop doing an activity	Stop in order to do something
remember	Remember a past action	Remember to do something

Common Mistakes With Gerunds and Infinitives

Incorrect	Correct
I enjoy to read books.	I enjoy reading books.
She wants learning English.	She wants to learn English.
He is interested to learn.	He is interested in learning.

Exercises and Practice

Choose the correct form:

I enjoy _____ books. (reading / to read)
She wants _____ a new language. (learning / to learn)
They decided _____ early. (leaving / to leave)
He finished _____ his homework. (doing / to do)

Understanding gerunds and infinitives helps learners use verbs correctly and express actions, plans, interests, and purposes more naturally in English.