Gerund vs Infinitive
Side-by-side comparison of Gerund (verb + -ing) and Infinitive (to + base verb).
A gerund is the -ing form used as a noun (reading, swimming). An infinitive is 'to' + base verb (to read, to swim). The choice usually depends on the verb that comes before — some take only gerunds, some take only infinitives, and a few take either with the same or a different meaning.
Gerund vs Infinitive: At a Glance
| Question | Gerund (verb + -ing) | Infinitive (to + base verb) |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Base verb + -ing: reading, swimming, working, studying. | to + base verb: to read, to swim, to work, to study. |
| Verbs that always take it | enjoy, finish, avoid, suggest, mind, keep, consider, practise, deny, admit, miss. | want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree, refuse, learn, promise, offer, manage. |
| After prepositions | Always gerund: 'interested in learning', 'good at swimming', 'tired of waiting'. | Never used directly after a preposition. 'Interested to learn' is wrong. |
| As the subject of a sentence | Common and natural: 'Swimming is great exercise.' | Possible but more formal: 'To swim every day is great exercise' (most speakers prefer the gerund here). |
| Verbs that take both with the same meaning | After like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue: 'I like reading' = 'I like to read'. | Same group; either form is fine and the meaning is unchanged. |
| Verbs that take both with different meanings | stop + gerund = quit doing something. remember + gerund = recall a past action. try + gerund = experiment. | stop + infinitive = pause in order to do something. remember + infinitive = don't forget. try + infinitive = make an attempt. |
Examples Side by Side
Gerund (verb + -ing)
I enjoy reading before bed.
Infinitive (to + base verb)
I want to read before bed.
'Enjoy' takes a gerund; 'want' takes an infinitive. The verb in front decides the form.
Gerund (verb + -ing)
She's good at swimming.
Infinitive (to + base verb)
She wants to swim every morning.
After a preposition (at), use the gerund. After 'want', use the infinitive.
Gerund (verb + -ing)
He stopped smoking last year.
Infinitive (to + base verb)
He stopped to smoke a cigarette outside.
Same verb, different meaning. 'Stop + gerund' = quit. 'Stop + infinitive' = pause in order to do something else.
Gerund (verb + -ing)
I remember locking the door this morning.
Infinitive (to + base verb)
Remember to lock the door when you leave.
'Remember + gerund' = recall a past action. 'Remember + infinitive' = don't forget to do something in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions: Gerund vs Infinitive
What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun (reading, swimming). An infinitive is 'to' + base verb (to read, to swim). Both can act as the subject or object of a sentence, but the verb in front of them usually dictates which one to use.
How do I know which to use after a verb?
Memorise the patterns. Common gerund-only verbs: enjoy, finish, avoid, suggest, mind, keep, consider, practise. Common infinitive-only verbs: want, need, decide, plan, hope, agree, refuse, learn. Verbs of liking (like, love, hate, prefer) accept either with no change in meaning.
Why is 'I enjoy to read' wrong?
Because 'enjoy' belongs to the group that requires a gerund. Say 'I enjoy reading'. There's no rule of logic — it's a fixed pattern that you have to learn alongside the verb itself.
What happens after prepositions?
Always use a gerund after a preposition: 'interested in learning', 'good at swimming', 'tired of waiting', 'thanks for helping'. 'Interested to learn' is incorrect. The only exception is the fixed phrase 'about to' + base verb, where 'to' is part of the structure itself.
Do 'stop', 'remember', and 'try' really change meaning?
Yes. 'I stopped smoking' = I quit. 'I stopped to smoke' = I paused to have a cigarette. 'I remember meeting her' = I recall the past meeting. 'Remember to meet her' = don't forget the future meeting. 'Try opening the window' = experiment with that. 'Try to open the window' = make an effort. The form genuinely changes the meaning.
Are 'I like reading' and 'I like to read' the same?
In modern English, yes — they mean essentially the same thing. The same applies to love, hate, prefer, start, begin, and continue. Some teachers say the gerund implies the activity in general while the infinitive implies a specific occasion, but in practice native speakers use them interchangeably.