Gerund vs Infinitive: The Ultimate Guide for English Learners

1. As the subject of a sentence:

When the action itself is the topic of the sentence, we use the gerund.

• "Learning English is a rewarding journey."
• "Smoking is prohibited in this building."
• "Running every morning keeps you healthy and energized."
• "Traveling broadens the mind and introduces you to new cultures."

2. After prepositions:

This is a golden rule in English. If a verb follows a preposition (in, at, on, about, of, for, with, without, etc.), it must be a gerund.

• "She is good at drawing realistic portraits."
• "They are interested in buying a new house in the suburbs."
• "We talked about moving to another city for better job opportunities."
• "He left the room without saying a word to anyone."

3. After certain verbs:

Many verbs specifically require a gerund as their object.

• "I enjoy listening to jazz music in the evening."
• "He suggested going to the cinema to see the latest blockbuster."
• "They finished working on the project just before the deadline."

1. To show purpose (why we do something):

This is often called the "infinitive of purpose."

• "I went to the store to buy some fresh bread for breakfast."
• "She studied hard to pass the exam with flying colors."
• "He called me to ask for advice regarding his career change."
• "We use this tool to measure the temperature of the water."

2. After adjectives:

Infinitives are frequently used to describe feelings or opinions about an action.

• "It is difficult to understand this complex grammar rule."
• "I am happy to meet you after all this time."
• "It was important to arrive on time for the interview."
• "She was surprised to see her old friend at the airport."

3. After certain verbs:

Just like gerunds, many verbs are followed only by an infinitive.

• "I want to visit London during the summer holidays."
• "She decided to quit her job and start her own business."
• "They hope to see us soon at the family reunion."

1. Enjoy

We use "enjoy" to talk about activities that give us pleasure.

"I enjoy reading historical novels during my commute."

"Do you enjoy traveling to new countries and trying local food?"

2. Avoid

When you make an effort not to do something.

"He avoids driving during rush hour to save time."

"She tried to avoid answering the difficult question from the reporter."

3. Finish

Used when an action is completed or brought to an end.

"I will call you when I finish cooking dinner for the family."

"Have you finished writing the final chapter of your book yet?"

4. Suggest

When you propose an idea or a plan to someone.

"My teacher suggested practicing English for fifteen minutes every day."

"They suggested taking a taxi to the airport instead of the bus."

5. Mind

Often used in questions or negative sentences about being bothered by an action.

"I don't mind waiting for a few minutes if you are busy."

"Would you mind closing the window? It is getting cold in here."

6. Keep (or Keep On)

Use this for actions that continue over a period of time.

"Please keep working on your assignments until the bell rings."

"He kept on talking even though it was clear nobody was listening."

7. Consider

When you are thinking about a possibility or a future plan.

"We are considering moving to Spain next year for the weather."

"Have you considered applying for that management position?"

8. Risk

When an action might lead to a negative or dangerous result.

"You risk losing your hard-earned money if you invest in that company."

"I didn't want to risk missing my flight, so I left early."

9. Practice

Used specifically for training or improving a particular skill.

"You need to practice speaking English with native speakers to improve."

"She practices playing the violin for two hours every afternoon."

10. Admit

When you confess or acknowledge that you did something.

"The young boy admitted breaking the neighbor's window."

"She admitted feeling quite nervous before her big presentation."

11. Imagine

When you form a mental picture of an action.

"Can you imagine living on a tropical island for the rest of your life?"

"I can't imagine working in such a noisy environment every day."

12. Deny

When you say that you did not do something.

"The suspect denied stealing the expensive watch from the store."

"She denied knowing anything about the surprise party."

13. Postpone

When you decide to do something at a later time.

"They decided to postpone moving house until the summer."

"We had to postpone having the meeting because the boss was ill."

14. Miss

When you feel sad because you can no longer do something.

"I really miss living near the ocean and hearing the waves."

"He misses playing football with his friends every weekend."

15. Resist

When you try to stop yourself from doing something you want to do.

"I couldn't resist buying those beautiful shoes even though they were expensive."

"She is trying to resist eating chocolate while she is on a diet."