INFINITIVE vs GERUND

I. We use infinitive after verbs like: used, agree, ask, decide,

fail, manage, hope, learn, offer, plan, prepare, promise, refuse,
seem, want and phrases: be about, turn out, can’t afford, do
(my) best.

We also use infinitive after verbs like: ask, forbid, learn, teach,
tell, want, show if before the infinitive there is a question word
like how, where, etc. For example: She learnt how to make
soup, or personal pronoun: me, him etc. (or noun): She taught
me to dance; Mother taught her how to make soup.

II. We use infinitive without “to” (bare infinitive) after:

- auxiliary verbs: do (did), can (could), dare, may

(might), must, need, shall (should), will (would),

- verbs: feel, hear, see, watch, let, make, help along with
personal pronoun

- phrases: would rather, had better.

I. We use gerund after phrases: can’t stand, can’t help,

feel like, there is no point, and verbs: consider, suggest,
prevent, deny, admit, avoid, practise, keep, stop,
finish, forgive, and also after: enjoy, like*, love*, hate*,
prefer* - but only when we talk about general attitude, for
example:

I prefer going by train to driving, I like swimming – general

opinion

but:

I’d prefer to go by bus, I’d like to swim – in this given

moment, in this situation, right now.

We have to use gerund after prepositions: after eating ,

before sleeping.
IV. In some cases we can use both infinitive and gerund, but
we have to be careful because in some cases we can completely
change the meaning of the sentence. For example:

● begin, start, continue – these are the verbs after which

we can use both infinitive and gerund

● advise, allow, recommend – if we add personal pronoun

then we have to use infinitive form, but if not, then we use
gerund:

He advised her to sell the car.

He advised selling the car.

● regret, remember, forget – if the activity after those

verbs happened earlier, we use gerund, but it’s only about to
happened then we use infinitive, for example (numbers
indicate the order of activities):

Remember1 to buy2 butter.

I don’t remember2 borrowing1 any money from you.

She regretted2 telling1 him about it.

We regret1 to inform2 you that you haven’t passed the exam.

We change the meaning with these verbs:

● mean:

1. In a sense “indicate” or “suggest” – GERUND

          It means waiting long hours

2. In a sense “intend”, “plan” - INFINITIVE

          I didn’t mean to hurt you.

● try:

1. Try to do something– INFINITIVE

           He tried to open the box.

2. Try something out (as a method) – GERUND

          He tried steaming the chicken.