GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

I am used to teaching grammar, so today we'll look at when to use an infinitive and a gerund.

 What's an infinitive?

A base form verb. For example

• eat
• need
• buy
• choose

What's a gerund?

A verb/word ending in "ING".

• telling
• electing
• approaching
• running

 Remember that gerunds come from verbs, but are not verbs. Gerunds function as nouns in many sentences.

GERUND or INFINITIVE after VERBS

 Of course, one of the best ways to learn these is to read, study, practice, and remember.  Thought Co has a great list of verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives.

BUT

Let's look at a few techniques you can also use to help you.

ADJECTIVES & VERBS

 

This is an example of how learning parts of speech can help you with grammar exercises and comprehension. Here, lets use USED TO to show when to use a gerund or an infinitive. Read the sentences below.

• I used to teach English in Japan.
• I'm used to teaching small children.

In the first sentence, used is a verb describing an action or situation in that happened during a specific period in the past (but is no longer true). The preposition to is part of the infinitive verb "to teach"

In the second sentence, used is an adjective meaning to be familiar with someone/something through experience. 

The phrase "I'm used" can also stand on its own, but, while grammatically correct is missing information. You'd ask, "Used to what?". It needs a second phrase that explains the first one. 

I'm used to teaching small children                       I used to teach English in Japan.
       ↑                  ↑↑↑↑↑                                                  ↑          ↑↑↑↑↑
adjective |  2nd Phrase                                              verb  |  2nd Phrase


Adjective phrases are followed by gerunds.


We're serious about starting our own business.
I'm interested in learning how to code.
The government is committed to cutting taxes.

Infinitive verb phrases are followed by infinitive verbs.

Bob refuses to go to the meeting.
The company won't agree to buy at that price.
Lezith plans to attend Concordia University. 

WHAT ABOUT "TO"?

🙋

 
 
The word "to" is a preposition but it's also part of infinitive verbs. In this case it's important to understand collocations - a group of words that usually go together (see the list above).

The phrasal verb look forward to is a good example of "to" being part of a set of words/collocation.

• We're all looking forward to meeting your new girlfriend.

In this case, to isn't from the verb to meet; it's part of a phrasal verb, so it's followed by a gerund.
It's also important to remember that gerunds function as nouns. For example,

• The butler admitted to killing the gardner ( or to the murder of the gardner)

Again, to isn't part of the verb to kill.

More examples

I confess to liking Katy Perry as a singer
Anne objects to working overtime.
  

GERUNDS AS NOUNS

Gerunds come from verbs, but in sentences they function as nouns. There are also gerund/noun phrases.

• Having children changed Ezra's life.

            ⇡                            ⇡             ⇡
           noun/subject        verb        object  

• Going to university is a good idea.
• Buying stocks is risky. 
• Walking twenty minutes a day is important.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. For more practice, try this exercise from Exam English | Grammar.

Gerunds & Infinitives

Englisch Hilfen: Gerunds After Verbs