There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or

gerund. If you are not sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out
our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.

Infinitive

Use

Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause To know you is to love you.

after certain expressions (without ‘to’) Why not go to the cinema?

after certain verbs (without ‘to’) I can swim.

after certain verbs (with ‘to’) He wants to swim.

after certain verbs with interrogatives They don’t know how to swim.

(infinitive constructions)

after certain verbs with objects He made her swim.

(without ‘to’)

after certain verbs with objects (with  ‘to’) They wanted him to swim.

after certain adjectives and their It’s easier to swim downstream.

comparisons

after nouns deriving from the verbs We made a promise to swim. (derived from
mentioned above the verb ‘to promise’)
Words used with infinitive
Infinitive as the subject of a clause (followed by the verbs below)

Ex: To follow his advice seemed logical.

.be

.seem

.appear

Infinitive after certain expressions (without “to”)

Ex:I would rather stay at home

.had better .why not

.would rather .why should I/you [not]

.would sooner

Infinitive after certain verbs (without to)

Ex: We must stay at home

.can .must

.dare(also with do). .need(also with do)

.do .shall

.help(also with do) .should

.let .will

.may
Gerund

Form

ing form of the verb

Exceptions in Spelling

See → Present Progressive – Exceptions

Use

Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause Cycling is good for your health.

after certain adjectives He’s afraid of going by plane.

after certain prepositions Before going to bed he turned off the lights.

after certain verbs I enjoy cooking.

after certain verbs with I am looking forward to seeing you again.

prepositions

after certain nouns We had problems finding our way back

home.

*Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Use and Word Lists Example

same meaning I started to read. / I started reading.

same meaning but different She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking.
use

different meaning He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking.

infinitive or present participle I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the
stairs.

Words with the same meaning

Ex: I started to read/ I started reading.

.attempt .cease .love

.begin .continue . prefer

.bother .hate .start

.cannot bear .intend

Words with the same meaning but different use

Word Infinitive - with an object Gerund – without an object

advise I advise you to go by bus. I advise going by bus.

allow / He allowed her to take the car. He allowed taking the car.
permit

forbid She forbids us to smoke. She forbids smoking.

Words with a different meaning

Word Infinitive meaning Gerund meaning

forget / with regard to the future with regard to the past

remember
Remember to switch off the Do you remember switching off
 lights. the lights?

go on start something new continue with the same action

Go on to read. Go on reading.

regret with regard to the future with regard to the past

I regret to say that. I regret saying that.

stop interrupt another action terminate

I stopped to smoke. I stopped smoking.

try do something complicated do it and see what happens

Try to solve this riddle. Try talking to him.

Infinitive or Present Participle

Gerund and present participle are not exactly the same. As this chapter is
about when to use the infinitive and when to use the ing-form, however, we
have also listed words here that can be used either with the infinitive or the
present participle. (for more information on the present participle
see participles)

Words Infinitive meaning Gerund meaning

feel Emphasises that the action is Action can be completed, but not
hear completed. necessarily.
see
Example: I saw him go up the Example: I saw him going up
stairs.  the stairs. 

go expresses a purpose in connection with activities

come
Example: She is coming to show Example: Let’s go shopping /
us the pictures. dancing.