Gerunds and infinitives

Gerunds and to-infinitives are forms of verbs that cause a lot of confusion for students because direct equivalents often do not exist in other languages. Sometimes, the confusion comes because students don’t know whether to use a gerund or infinitive, and other times, where these forms can appear or how they behave in a sentence. This guide explains what gerunds and to-infinitives are, the characteristics they retain from verbs, and the different functions they can perform in a sentence.

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What are gerunds and to-infinitives?

Gerunds and to-infinitives are two non-finite verb forms. They are both a kind of verbal, which is a word that is formed from a verb but performs the function of another part of speech in a sentence.

Gerunds take the -ing verb form and function as nouns or as the head of a noun phrase. Specifically, they name activities, which is why many sports, hobbies and pastimes in English take this form. For example, running, swimming, surfing, cooking, and reading. Gerunds often present an activity as a general concept or as something that is real, experienced or actually happens.

To-infinitives are formed by placing the particle to before the base form of a verb. To-infinitives can head a non-finite clause, such as to visit France. To-infinitive clauses can perform noun-like or adverbial functions, or modify nouns and adjectives. As nouns, they often represent the abstract, unreal or hypothetical nature of an activity.

The table below summarises the difference between gerunds and infinitives:

How do gerunds and to-infinitives behave like verbs?

Although gerunds and to-infinitives are non-finite verb forms and do not function as finite verbs, they retain several characteristics of verbs. They can take objects, be modified by adverbials and be made negative with not.

1. Gerunds and to-infinitives with objects

Both gerunds and to-infinitives can take objects:

• She loves eating chocolate.
• I want to buy a car.
• My brother enjoys playing his guitar.
• They need to learn English.

In these examples, chocolate, a car, his guitar and English are the objects of the gerund or to-infinitive verb.

2. Gerunds and to-infinitives modified by adverbials

Both gerunds and to-infinitives can be modified by adverbials:

• Running quickly will help you burn more calories.
• I try to play music quietly, so I don’t annoy the neighbours.
• We like to jog at the weekend.
• Using your phone before you go to bed will keep you awake.

Certain adverbs can naturally appear between to and the base form of the verb. This is known as a split infinitive:

• To boldly go where no man has gone before.
• I want to quickly finish this report.
• They need to carefully decide what to do next.

Just remember not to split a to-infinitive with an adverb that is intended to modify the main verb or entire clause:

• ❌ He agreed to reluctantly help. (an adverb in this position would tell you how he will help)
• ✅ He reluctantly agreed to help. (now the adverb refers to his reluctance to agree)
• ❌ She decided to gradually leave the organisation. (an adverb placed here suggests her exit will be gradual)
• ✅ She gradually decided to leave the organisation. (now the adverb tells you the decision was a gradual process)

3. Negative gerunds and to-infinitives

Gerunds can be made negative by placing not before them:

• I love not working at the weekend.
• Not studying is why you failed your exam.
• She hates not knowing the answer.

To-infinitives can also be made negative by placing not before them:

• She has tried not to eat so much chocolate.
• Not to invest now would be a mistake.
• We decided not to buy that house.

However, not can also appear between to and the base form to create a split infinitive:

• She has tried to not eat so much chocolate
• To not invest now would be a mistake.
• We decided to not buy that house.

Both orders are grammatical. Not to is the usual default order, while to not may place greater emphasis on deliberately avoiding the activity.

How are gerunds and to-infinitives used in English?

Gerunds and to-infinitives can perform a number of functions in a sentence. However, they are generally not interchangeable, even when either form would be grammatically possible. Sometimes, a gerund is required, while at other times a to-infinitive is required. When both forms are possible, the choice may change the meaning or emphasis of the sentence. Below, we will look at the most common uses of gerunds and to-infinitives.

1. Gerunds and to-infinitives as subjects of verbs

Both gerunds and to-infinitives can be used in the subject position in a sentence.

Gerunds are generally more common as subjects and usually present an activity or situation as the topic of the sentence:

• Eating too much will make you fat.
• Reading helps you learn grammar structures.
• Being invisible for a day would be so much fun.

To-infinitives as subjects are less common and usually sound more formal or emphatic. They are especially common when a possible, proposed or hypothetical action is being considered or evaluated:

• To refuse the offer now would be a mistake.
• To climb Mount Everest with your injury would not be a good idea.
• To discover the truth shocked us all.

Because a to-infinitive in the subject position can sound formal, it is often moved to the end of the sentence and replaced in the subject position by the pronoun it. The meaning remains the same, but this structure is usually more natural in everyday English:

• It would be a mistake to refuse the offer now.
• It would not be a good idea to climb Mount Everest with your injury.
• It shocked us all to discover the truth.

2. Gerunds and to-infinitives as subject complements after be

Both gerunds and to-infinitives can be used as the subject complement of the verb be.

Use the gerund when the complement identifies an activity, process or experience:

• Her favourite hobby is painting landscapes.
• The worst part of the journey was waiting at the airport.
• My job is teaching English.

Use the to-infinitive when the complement refers to an aim, plan, intention, duty, purpose, solution or action yet to be performed:

• Our aim is to reduce costs.
• Her ambition is to become a doctor.
• The plan is to leave early.

Sometimes, both forms are possible, but the focus changes:

• My job is teaching English. (Teaching English is the activity of my job)
• My job is to teach English. (Teaching English is my duty or purpose)

3. Verbs followed by gerunds and to-infinitives

Both gerunds and to-infinitives can appear in the object position after the main verb in a sentence. However, whether you use the gerund or to-infinitive depends on the main verb.

Verbs followed by a gerund or to-infinitive with little difference in meaning

Verbs such as like, prefer, love, hate, start, begin, continue or can’t stand can be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive with little or no difference in meaning:

• He likes reading. / He likes to read.
• We started praying. / We started to pray.
• I hate working late. / I hate to work late.

Verbs followed by a gerund

Verbs such as enjoy, dislike, avoid, keep, admit, deny, suggest or don’t mind are followed by a gerund:

• She really enjoys baking cookies.
• They suggested taking an earlier train.
• I don’t mind working late today.

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive

Verbs such as want, need, hope, plan, decide or promise are followed by a to-infinitive:

• She wants to visit Berlin.
• You promised to help me.
• My boss decided to quit.

Verbs followed by either a gerund or to-infinitive with a change in meaning

Verbs such as remember, forget, regret, stop, quit or try can be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive, but the meaning changes. The exact difference depends on the verb.

With remember and forget, the gerund refers to a previous event, while the to-infinitive refers to an action that must be performed next:

• Remember to lock the door. (A future necessity)
• I remember drinking champagne in Paris. (A memory of a previous experience)

With stop, the gerund identifies the activity that ends, while the to-infinitive explains the purpose of stopping another activity:

• My brother stopped smoking. (The activity that ended)
• We stopped to have lunch. (Another activity ended so that we could have lunch)

With try, the to-infinitive refers to making an effort to perform an action, while the gerund refers to testing a possible method:

• I tried to open the window, but it was stuck. (A difficult action)
• I tried opening the window, but the room was still too hot. (Testing a possible way)

4. Verb + object + to-infinitive

The to-infinitive can be used in the Subject + Verb + Object + Verb structure where the second verb expresses an action performed by the object:

• She wants Ben to help her.
• We asked the shop to deliver the package on Tuesday.
• They forced him to do it.

This structure is common after verbs expressing desires, expectations, requests, orders, permission, encouragement or necessity.

Note that we do not usually use a that-clause in this structure in everyday English. Using a that-clause can sound unnatural or overly formal:

• ❌ She wants that Ben helps her. (unnatural)
• ❌ They forced that he did it. (incorrect)

Some verbs, such as ask and request, can be followed by a more formal that-clause, particularly in American English. In this structure, the verb usually takes the base form:

• We asked that the shop deliver the package on Tuesday. (formal)

5. Gerunds after prepositions

When a verb appears after a preposition, the verb can only take the gerund form:

• He got into trouble for shouting in class.
• Don’t click send without checking everything first.
• We’re thinking of moving house.

Don’t make the mistake of using an infinitive verb after to when it functions as a preposition rather than as part of a to-infinitive:

• ✅ She’s looking forward to meeting you. (❌ to meet)
• ✅ I’m used to getting up early. (❌ to get up)
• ✅ They objected to paying the additional fee. (❌ to pay)

6. Possessive gerunds

A gerund can be used after a possessive determiner (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) or a possessive case noun (e.g., Mark’s, the dog’s, the workers’) to show who or what performs the activity of the gerund:

• His failing the exam made his parents angry.
• My neighbours didn’t appreciate my playing music until 4am.
• The dog’s barking kept me up all night.

This structure is particularly common in formal English. In informal English, an object pronoun or a regular noun is often used instead:

• Him failing the exam made her parents angry.
• My neighbours didn’t appreciate me playing music until 4am.
• The dog barking kept me up all night.

7. Gerunds and to-infinitives for purpose and function

A to-infinitive clause can be used as an adverbial of purpose, explaining why the verb in a main clause happens or happened:

• He studied medicine to become a doctor. (Why did he study?)
• She quit her job to start her own business. (Why did she quit?)
• John saved his money to buy a new car. (Why did John save?)

The structure for + gerund can describe the general function or intended use of an object. It may be placed after the object it describes or used as a subject complement after be:

• I need a knife for cutting vegetables.
• These display apples are not for eating.
• Schools are for educating young people.

8. To-infinitives after adjectives

To-infinitives can be used after adjectives to complete their meaning. They may express a reaction or feeling, a willingness or desire, or an evaluation of an action:

• Sandwiches are easy to make.
• It was great to see you.
• He’s eager to start his new job.

To-infinitives can also be used after too + adjective or after adjective + enough to explain why something is excessive or sufficient:

• This coffee is too hot to drink.
• This box is light enough to carry.
• You’re too small to go on this ride.

9. To-infinitives after nouns

To-infinitives can be used after certain nouns to complete their meaning or make them more specific. They often tell us what an idea, plan, opportunity, need or ability involves:

• She made a decision to leave the company. (What did the decision involve?)
• I have an opportunity to study abroad. (What does the opportunity involve?)
• He has the ability to score from anywhere on the pitch. (What does the ability involve?)

To-infinitives can also identify something that a person can, should or needs to do with an object. In this case, the to-infinitive is usually placed after the object:

• My mum needs a chair to sit on.
• The weary travellers looked for a place to stay.
• Can you pass me a cloth to clean my glasses with?

10. To-infinitives after question words

A to-infinitive can be used after certain question words, also known as interrogative words or wh-words: who, what, which, when, where and how.

Together, the question word and to-infinitive form a compact non-finite clause that often performs a noun-like function, such as functioning as the object or complement of another verb.

These clauses commonly appear after verbs such as know, decide, ask, tell, show, explain, understand, remember, forget, choose, learn, teach, wonder and find out:

• He doesn’t know what to do.
• She taught me how to swim.
• The policeman advised us which route to take.

This structure is also common inside polite questions (also known as indirect or embedded questions) after expressions such as Can you tell me…?. Would you mind telling me…? and Could you let me know…?. For example:

• Can you tell me when to arrive?
• Would you mind telling me how to get to the bank?
• Could you let me know what to buy?

Gerunds and to-infinitives FAQs

What is a gerund in English?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used in a noun-like function. Gerunds can act as subjects, objects, complements, or objects of prepositions, as in Swimming is good exercise or She enjoys reading.

What is a to-infinitive in English?

A to-infinitive is formed with to + the base form of a verb, as in to eat, to work, or to travel. To-infinitives can perform noun-like or adverbial functions, or modify nouns and adjectives.

What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

A gerund uses the -ing form of a verb, while a to-infinitive uses to + the base form. Both are non-finite verb forms, but they are used differently depending on their function and the grammatical structure in which they appear.

How do you know whether to use a gerund or infinitive?

Whether you use a gerund or to-infinitive depends on the structure of the sentence and, in many cases, the word that comes before it. Some verbs are followed by gerunds, some by to-infinitives, some allow both, and with certain verbs the choice changes the meaning.

Which verbs are followed by gerunds and which by infinitives?

Verbs such as enjoy, avoid, suggest, admit, deny, keep and don’t mind are followed by gerunds, while verbs such as want, need, hope, plan, decide and promise are followed by to-infinitives. Some verbs, including like, love, hate, start and begin, can be followed by either form with little or no change in meaning.

Do you use a gerund after a preposition?

Yes. When a verb follows a preposition, it takes the gerund form, as in without checking, thinking of moving, and looking forward to meeting you. This also applies when to is a preposition rather than part of a to-infinitive.

Can an infinitive be split?

Yes. A to-infinitive can be split by placing an adverb between to and the base form of the verb, as in to carefully decide. Split infinitives are grammatical, but the position of the adverb should make its intended meaning clear.

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