GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES VERBS FOLLOWED BY “TO” OR “-ING”

GERUND (VERB + -ING) We use the gerund after prepositions and phrasal verbs. E.g.: I’m very good at remembering names. / She’s given up smoking. As the subject of a sentence. E.g.: Eating out is quite cheap here. After some verbs: enjoy, hate, spend, don’t mind, finish, like love, practice, stop, suggest,…E.g.: I don’t mind getting up early.

INFINITIVE (+ TO) We use infinitive after adjectives. E.g.: My flat is easy to find. To express reason or purpose.E.g.: He’s saving money to buy a new car. After some verbs: (can’t) afford, agree, want, need, learn, decide, expect, forget, help, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, pretend, promise, seem, want, would like,… E.g.: She’s never learnt to drive. / I hope to see you soon.

INFINITVE (without to) Use the infinitive ( without to) after modal verbs, e.g.: can may, might, must, should, had better, would rather, and after the verbs make and let. Examples: They made me eat that horrible food. Don’t let me go.

WARNINGS Gerunds and infinitives form the negative form with NOT. E.g.: not to be, not being In the passive, make is followed by the infinitive with to. Compare: My boss make us work hard. At school we were made to wear uniform. Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or infinitive (with to) with no change of meaning. E.g.: begin, start, continue. Like, love, hate and prefer can also be used with either, but the gerund is more common when you are talking generally, and the infinitive when you talk about a specific occasion. Compare: I like skiing (in general) I like to go skiing in February or March (specific).

VERBS THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED BY EITHER GERUND OR INFINITIVE (WITH TO) WITH A CHANGE OF MEANING

REMEMBER Remember+infinitive = you remember first, then you do something. Example: Remember to lock the door when you go out. Remember+gerund = you do something then you remember it. Example: I remember going to a rock concert as a child.

TRY Try + infinitive = make an effort to do something. Example: I tried to listen to her but I didn’t understand. Try + gerund = experiment to see if something works. Example: Try doing yoga, this will be good for your back.

FORGET Forget+infinitive = you didn’t remember to do something. Example: Sorry I forgot to do the homework. Forget + gerund = you did something and you won’t forget it. It is more common in the negative. Example: I’ve never forgotten being in the Twin Towers.