The grammar of a foreign language always seems to be something complicated and incomprehensible. Therefore, very often those who study English are faced with the problem of using the infinitive and gerund.
When should you use one or the other? What is the difference between gerund and infinitive in English? A table with words and grammatical forms cannot always help. Unfortunately, there is no clear ground rule. However, here you can find the necessary clues.
Gerund for beginners
What kind of design is this, you ask? A gerund is a noun-like form of a verb that is formed by adding the ending -ing. For example, the word read in the gerund will sound like reading. This form of the verb can act as a subject or object in a sentence.
For example:
- Reading helps you study - subject.
- She likes reading - addition.
This form of the verb can also be in a negative form, if you add to itnot.
Some verbs require a gerund after their use (see below for a complete list of these verbs).
For example:
She suggested eating at a cafe
Nancy keeps complaining about her issues
Infinitive for beginners
The infinitive is the initial form of the verb with the particle to added. So the word learn in the infinitive will sound like to learn.
Like the gerund, the infinitive can act as a subject or object.
For example:
- To learn is important - subject
- The most valuable thing is to learn - addition
The infinitive can also take a negative form when adding the particle not.
As in the case of the gerund, after a certain group of verbs, the initial form of the verb should be placed (see the full list below).
For example:
- She wants to visit her Grandma.
- Lucy needs to cool down.
When to choose this or that design?
Both the infinitive and the gerund can be used as the subject or object in a sentence in English. However, the second in this case sounds like regular spoken English. The infinitive, on the other hand, seems a bit abstract.
That is, the gerund sounds more natural and is more common in colloquial speech. The infinitive, on the other hand, emphasizes the possibility or potential of something and sounds likephilosophically. If this explanation confused you, then just remember that in 90% of cases the gerund acts as the subject and object in the sentence.
For example:
- Learning is important.
- To learn is important.
- The main thing is learning.
- The main thing is to learn.
It can be difficult to know whether to choose the -ing form or the infinitive as the subject. In such cases, both constructs are not mutually interchangeable. Usually the predicate determines what is needed in the sentence.
For example:
- She enjoys singing.
- She wants to sing.
Enjoy requires a gerund after itself, and want requires an infinitive.
For more advanced students
Now it's time to move on to complicated cases where you need a gerund and an infinitive in English. The explanation table below will help you figure it out.
| Gerund | Infinitive |
|
Often used with possessive pronouns and word forms. Thus, the performer of the action becomes clear:
|
After certain verbs, you need to use a combination of nouns. + the initial form of the verb. Sometimes it is optional, other times it is not necessary without a noun:
|
|
After a certain list of verbs, you need a gerund, but you can also put a noun + infinitive. In the second case, the subject performing the action usually changes:
|
|
Now you should be more clear about how to use the gerund and the infinitive in English. The example table only shows common cases.
Particular examples of the form -ing
When describing a sport, the following combination is often used: go + v-ing:
I go jogging every morning
This form is also used after prepositions. All words are difficult to remember, but the main thing is not to forget the "verb + preposition" structure. Usually it is in this case that the gerund comes next.
For example:
- My brother made up for forgetting my birthday.
- She is thinking about moving abroad.
In cases of "adjective/noun + preposition" the gerund should also be used. If you do not know the lists of such structures - do not worry. Just remember that after the preposition comes the gerund:
- She is scared of sleeping in the dark - adjective + preposition.
- Hisdesire of becoming an actor was well known - noun + preposition.
More advanced use cases
Sometimes both the gerund and the infinitive can be used, but the meaning in each variant will be different:
- Lucy remembered writing down the address. - Lucy has memories of writing down the address.
- Scott remembered to take umbrella with him. - Scott didn't forget to bring an umbrella.
Sometimes the infinitive and gerund in English after verbs can have a slight difference in translation:
- She likes dancing. - She likes dancing.
- She likes to dance. - She likes to dance.
Although in this case the result is almost identical in meaning, there is still a difference. The gerund suggests that you are talking about actual actions and experiences. The infinitive, on the other hand, indicates that you are talking about potential or opportunities. It is precisely because of this small difference in meaning that it is not always possible to interchange the gerund and the infinitive in English. Table - help! Contact her for help! It contains the following examples:
Many be + adjective combinations are used before the infinitive:
- He wasanxious to start.
- She was happy to get such good critiques.
There are also nouns after which it is usually used:
- It was a wonderful decision to start anew.
- Hana's desire to work amazed me.
Some verbs before the gerund
There is a separate list of words for each case. It should be noted that sometimes you can alternate between a gerund and an infinitive in English. The table contains words suitable for one and the other cases. Therefore, be careful. Sometimes the meaning does not change with such a replacement, in other cases the use of one form or another can completely change the translation of the sentence. Also note that it is not always necessary to translate words in -ing form into Russian as a noun. Look for equivalents that are more suitable for our speech in sentences where the gerund and infinitive are used in English. The translation table you see below lists the main ones.
| admit |
She admitted being wrong. She admitted she was wrong. |
| advise |
The lawyer advised keeping silence for a while. Lawyer advised temporary silence. |
| allow |
This bar doesn't allow smoking. This bar is non-smoking. |
| anticipate |
I anticipated going to the concert. I was looking forward to going to the concert. |
| appreciate |
I appreciated him being concerned about me. It was dear to me that he was worried about me. |
| avoid |
She avoided getting in trouble. She kept out of trouble. |
| begin |
I began studying chemistry. I started studying chemistry. |
| can't help |
She can't help worrying about exams. She can't stop worrying about exams. |
| can't stand |
He can't stand her yelling for nothing. He can't stand it when she screams for no reason. |
| complete |
Angy completed writing her novel. Angie finished writing her novel. |
| consider |
He considered accepting the offer. He considered accepting the offer. |
| continue |
She continued hoping. She kept hoping. |
| delay |
Sarah delayed applying for a job. Sarah delayed applying for a job. |
| deny |
She denied being married. She denied her marriage. |
| discuss |
They discussed going to the party. They discussed going to a party. |
| don't mind |
We don't mind giving you shelter. We don't mind taking you in. |
| enjoy |
I enjoy snowboarding. I enjoy snowboarding. |
| forget |
She forgot telling you the address. She forgot to tell you the address. |
| hate |
I hate watching TV-show. I hate watching TV shows. |
| imagine |
He imagines dating that girl. He imagines dating that girl. |
| keep |
I kept explaining the problem. Did I keep explaining? what's the problem. |
| like/love |
We love swimming. We love to swim. |
| mention |
She mentioned passing the exam. She mentioned that she passed the exam. |
| miss |
He missed going fishing with his father. He misses going fishing with his father. |
| need |
The cat needs feeding. The cat needs to be fed. |
| practice |
He practiced playing the piano. He practiced playing the piano. |
| prefer |
She prefers eating at home. She prefers to eat at home. |
| quit |
He quit smoking last week. He quit smoking last week. |
| recommend |
I recommend going by bus. I recommend taking the bus. |
| regret |
He regretted fighting with her. He regretted quarreling with her. |
| remember |
Judy remembered putting the keys in her pocket. Judy remembered putting her keys in her pocket. |
| risk |
She risked losing her reputation. She risked losing her reputation. |
| start |
He started learning Japanese. He started learning Japanese. |
| stop |
The clock stopped working days ago. The watch stopped working a few days ago. |
| suggest |
Mary suggested staring anew. Mary suggested starting over. |
| try |
I tried knocking on the door. I tried to knock on the door. |
| understand |
We understand her quitting. We understand why she quit. |
Does the table help to understand the rules for gerund and infinitive in English? You can always take a photo of the information on the blackboard at school.
However, this way the material is poorly remembered, it is best to write it down in a notebook by hand.
When is the best time to use the initial form?
Among these words, there can also be a gerund and an infinitive in English. The verb table is not limited to this list, only an abbreviated version is presented here.
| Agree |
I agreed to show the way. I agreed to show the way. |
| ask |
He asked to get some help. He asked for help. |
| begin |
She began to tell the tale. She started to tell the story. |
| can't stand |
Igrit can't stand to stay home alone. Igrit hates being home alone. |
| care |
She cares to call every day. She makes sure to call every day. |
| choose |
We chose to stay. We decided to stay. |
| continue |
She continued to talk. She continued talking. |
| decide |
He decided to propose to her. He decided to propose to her. |
| expect |
They expect to arrive early. They expected to arrive early. |
| forget |
She always forgets to bring her homework. She always forgets to bring homework. |
| happen |
Helen happened to be at the bank when it was robbed. Elena was accidentally at the bank when it was robbed. |
| hate |
She hates to go to the summer camp. She hates going to summer camp. |
| hesitate |
Sonya hesitated to tell me the problem. Sonya hesitated to tell me what the problem was. |
| hope |
We hope to graduate this year. We hope to release this year. |
| learn |
He learned to sing at the music school. He learned to sing at a music school. |
| like/ love |
Jessica likes to dance. Jessica loves to dance. |
| manage |
She managed to pass the test. She passed the test. |
| need |
You need to work out more. You need to exercise more. |
| offer |
Jack offered to give us a lift home. Jack offered to drive us home. |
| plan |
I plan to go abroad this summer. I am planning to go abroad this summer. |
| prefer |
She prefers to listen rather than talk. She prefers to listen rather than talk. |
| pretend |
Anna pretended to care about him. Anna pretended to care about him. |
| promise |
He promised to come back later. He promised to come back later. |
| refuse |
The criminal refused to admit his guilt. The offender refused to acknowledge his guilt. |
| regret |
We regret to tell you that your letter was lost. We are sorry to inform you that your letter has been lost. |
| start |
Joane started to run really fast. Janna started to run very fast. |
| threaten |
She threatened to call the police. She threatened to call the police. |
| try |
Hiyori tried to talk to the person in charge. Hiyori tried to talk to the person in charge. |
| want/wish |
I want to travel around the world. I want to travel the world. |
What are gerunds and infinitives in English? The verb table will help even a beginner understand the construction.
Of course, here are only the main verbs, but they will be enough for you for the first time.
