B1 · Intermediate Chapter 4

Introduction to Gerunds and Infinitives

5 Total Rules
58 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of choosing between -ing forms and infinitives to speak with confidence.

  • Identify when to use Gerunds as subjects.
  • Distinguish between verbs followed by Gerunds and Infinitives.
  • Apply polite structures like 'would like to' in social settings.
Unlock the flow: Gerunds and Infinitives made simple.

What You'll Learn

Ready to make your English sound smoother? This chapter will help you confidently choose between saying

I enjoy *to read*
and I enjoy *reading*, and master polite requests like "I'd like *to go*." Soon, you'll communicate your ideas with much greater naturalness!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: confidently use -ing subjects and infinitive verb patterns in daily conversation.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Learning when to use a gerund (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun) or an infinitive (the 'to + verb' form) is a key step towards sounding more natural and confident in English. This introduction to gerunds and infinitives is perfect for B1 English grammar learners ready to refine their communication skills. Moving beyond basic sentence structures, understanding these forms allows you to express preferences, plans, and actions with much greater fluency.
Imagine being able to confidently say "I enjoy reading" instead of "I enjoy to read," or making a polite request like "I'd like to order a coffee" without hesitation. This chapter will unlock those possibilities. You'll learn how to use -ing words as subjects, which verbs demand a gerund or an infinitive, and even discover verbs that are happy with either! Mastering these patterns will significantly smooth out your English, making your conversations flow more effortlessly and professionally.

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of this grammar chapter is understanding how verbs can act differently in a sentence. Sometimes, an action itself becomes the subject of your sentence, like a noun. This is where the gerund comes in. For example, "Swimming is great exercise" – here, 'swimming' is the subject of the sentence, not an action being performed by someone. It’s an action turned into a concept.
Next, certain English verbs are followed by a gerund. These verbs often express feelings, preferences, or activities. Think of verbs like enjoy, finish, or avoid. You'll always use the -ing form directly after them: "I enjoy learning new things," or "He finished working late." Trying to use an infinitive here would sound unnatural.
On the other hand, many English verbs are followed by an infinitive. These verbs frequently convey plans, desires, intentions, or necessity. Common examples include want, need, decide, and plan. For instance, "She wants to travel next year," or "We need to leave soon." Here, the infinitive 'to travel' or 'to leave' clearly states the purpose or goal.
Some verbs are flexible! With verbs with gerund or infinitive where there's no meaning change, you can choose either. Verbs like start, begin, continue, and like fall into this category. You can say, "I like reading books" or "I like to read books," and both are perfectly correct and mean the same thing. This flexibility can make them seem less daunting.
Finally, for making polite requests, especially in formal or semi-formal situations, we use the specific structure 'would like' + infinitive. This is a crucial phrase for politeness and professionalism. Instead of "I want a drink," you would politely say, "I would like to have a drink," or "We would like to reserve a table." This small change makes a big difference in how your request is perceived.

Common Mistakes

Learning gerunds and infinitives can be tricky, but recognizing common errors will help you avoid them.
  1. 1✗ I enjoy to read books.
✓ I enjoy reading books.
*Explanation*: The verb 'enjoy' is always followed by a gerund (-ing form).
  1. 1✗ He wants go to the park.
✓ He wants to go to the park.
*Explanation*: Verbs like 'want' are followed by the infinitive, which always includes 'to'. Don't forget the 'to'!
  1. 1✗ We would like ordering a dessert.
✓ We would like to order a dessert.
*Explanation*: For polite requests with 'would like', you must use the infinitive form ('to' + verb).

Real Conversations

Here are some everyday exchanges using gerunds and infinitives naturally.

A

A

"What do you like doing on weekends?"
B

B

"Oh, I really enjoy gardening. And I sometimes like to go hiking too."
A

A

"I need to finish this report by noon."
B

B

"Me too! I keep procrastinating. Maybe we can decide to work together later?"
A

A

"Excuse me, I would like to ask about bus times."
B

B

"Certainly, which destination are you planning to visit?"

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

A gerund (verb + -ing) acts like a noun, often representing an activity or concept (e.g., "Running is healthy"). An infinitive ('to' + verb) often expresses purpose, intention, or a future action (e.g., "I want to learn").

Q

How can I remember which verbs take a gerund or an infinitive?

The best way is through practice and exposure. Start by learning the most common verbs that follow each pattern (like enjoy + gerund, want + infinitive). Over time, you'll start to recognize the patterns naturally. Pay attention when you read or listen to English.

Q

Are there any verbs that can take both gerunds and infinitives?

Yes! For verbs like start, begin, continue, and like, you can use either form, and the meaning typically doesn't change. For example, "It started raining" and "It started to rain" both mean the same thing.

Cultural Context

Using gerunds and infinitives correctly is not just about grammar rules; it's about sounding truly fluent and polite. Native English speakers naturally choose these forms, and mastering them helps you integrate more smoothly into conversations. Phrases like "would like to" are indispensable for showing respect in requests, making your English not just correct, but also culturally appropriate and genuinely communicative.

Key Examples (8)

1

**Reading** helps me relax after a long day.

Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)
2

**Learning** new languages opens up many opportunities.

Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)
3

I really enjoy `listening` to podcasts on my commute.

English Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)
4

Have you finished `writing` that essay yet?

English Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)
5

I really **want to order** sushi for dinner tonight.

English Verbs Followed by Infinitive (want to, need to)
6

We **need to finish** this group project by Friday.

English Verbs Followed by Infinitive (want to, need to)
7

I `love reading` fantasy novels on my commute.

Verbs with Gerund or Infinitive: No Meaning Change
8

She `started learning` French last year for her exchange program.

Verbs with Gerund or Infinitive: No Meaning Change

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'It' Test

If you can replace the first word(s) of your sentence with 'It' and the sentence still makes sense, you have a gerund subject.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)
💡

The Preposition Rule

If you see a preposition (in, at, of, for, about, with), the next verb MUST be a gerund. No exceptions!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: English Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)
💡

The 'Future' Hint

If the second action hasn't happened yet (it's a plan or desire), you probably need 'to'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: English Verbs Followed by Infinitive (want to, need to)
💡

The 'Double -ing' Rule

If you use a continuous tense (like 'is starting'), always use the infinitive ('to rain') to avoid sounding repetitive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbs with Gerund or Infinitive: No Meaning Change

Key Vocabulary (5)

Enjoy to find pleasure in Suggest to propose an idea Infinitive the base form of a verb with to Gerund a verb acting as a noun ending in -ing Request an act of asking politely

Real-World Preview

coffee

Ordering Coffee

Review Summary

  • -ing verb + verb
  • Verb + -ing
  • Verb + to + base verb
  • Verb + -ing OR to + base
  • Would like + to + base verb

Common Mistakes

The verb 'enjoy' must be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive. It's a common trap!

Wrong: I enjoy to read.
Correct: I enjoy reading.

Gerund subjects always take a singular verb. Remember to treat the action as one thing.

Wrong: Swimming are fun.
Correct: Swimming is fun.

The verb 'want' requires an infinitive. It never takes an -ing form.

Wrong: I want going home.
Correct: I want to go home.

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job today! Keep practicing these patterns, and you'll notice your English becoming smoother every single day.

Write a diary entry for 10 minutes

Continue to: Connecting Ideas with -ing and To

Quick Practice (10)

Select the correct option.

She avoided ___ him at the party.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: seeing
'Avoid' is a trigger verb for the gerund.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: English Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)

Complete the negative gerund subject.

___ ___ (not / study) will result in poor grades.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Not studying
The negative gerund is formed with 'not' + '-ing'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)

Identify the spelling mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Runing in the morning is very refreshing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Runing
The verb 'run' must double the 'n' before adding -ing: 'Running'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)

Fill in the missing word.

She needs ___ finish her homework.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to
The connector between 'needs' and 'finish' is 'to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: English Verbs Followed by Infinitive (want to, need to)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'eat'.

I would like ___ a pizza tonight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to eat
'Would like' always requires the infinitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbs with Gerund or Infinitive: No Meaning Change

Which sentence is the most polite?

You are in a restaurant.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'd like to have a pizza.
'I'd like to' is the standard polite form for ordering.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Requests: 'Would Like' + Infinitive

Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence.

Eating many vegetables ___ good for your health.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
Gerund subjects are always singular, regardless of the noun that follows them.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)

Choose the correct form to complete the sentence.

I love ___ to music while I work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: both are correct
'Love' is a flexible verb that accepts both gerunds and infinitives.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbs with Gerund or Infinitive: No Meaning Change

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

I enjoy ___ (listen) to music while I work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: listening
The verb 'enjoy' is always followed by a gerund.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: English Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)

Find the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

To learn a new language take a lot of time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: take
The verb should be 'takes' to agree with the singular subject 'To learn' (or better, 'Learning').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using -ing words as subjects (Gerunds)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, but it sounds very formal or poetic. In daily life, always use '-ing'.
Because the subject is the *act* of eating (one thing), not the apples themselves.
It depends on the main verb. Some verbs like enjoy just naturally take the gerund because it treats the action as a noun/concept.
Yes, like is one of the few verbs that can take both with almost no change in meaning.
No, in English we say I want you to go. We don't use 'that' after 'want'.
Only if it's a very casual email to a close friend. In business or formal writing, always use want to.
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Connecting Ideas with -ing and To
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