Question 1

What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

Accepted Answer

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun: I enjoy swimming. An infinitive is the base form of the verb, usually with 'to': I want to swim. Both can follow certain verbs, but the choice depends on the specific verb — some always take a gerund, some always take an infinitive, and some can take either with a change in meaning.

Question 2

How do I know whether to use a gerund or an infinitive?

Accepted Answer

The most reliable approach is to learn which verbs take which form. Verbs expressing emotions, habits, or completed actions (enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, suggest, practise) tend to take gerunds. Verbs expressing intentions, decisions, or future-oriented actions (want, decide, hope, plan, promise, refuse) tend to take infinitives.

Question 3

Why does the meaning change with 'remember,' 'forget,' 'stop,' and 'try'?

Accepted Answer

With these verbs, the gerund refers to an action that is real, ongoing, or in the past — something that happened or is happening. The infinitive refers to an action that is intended, potential, or yet to happen. For example, 'remember doing' means I have a memory of the action; 'remember to do' means I need to make sure I do it in the future.

Question 4

Can a gerund come after a preposition?

Accepted Answer

Yes — after a preposition, you must always use a gerund, never an infinitive. This applies to prepositional phrases like 'interested in', 'good at', 'worried about', 'instead of', 'before', 'after', and many others. For example: She's good at playing chess. He left without saying goodbye.

Question 5

Are gerunds and infinitives tested in English proficiency exams?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is one of the most frequently tested grammar points in Cambridge B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), and other major English exams. It appears in multiple choice, gap fill, and sentence transformation tasks. Verbs that take both forms with a change in meaning (remember, forget, stop, try) are especially popular in transformation exercises at B2 and above.

Verb	Example
enjoy	I enjoy hiking* on weekends.*
avoid	Try to avoid eating* late at night.*
finish	Have you finished writing* the report?*
mind	Do you mind waiting* a moment?*
suggest	She suggested taking* a taxi.*
consider	Have you considered moving* abroad?*
keep	He keeps interrupting* me.*
practise	Practise speaking* every day.*

Verb	Example
want	I want to leave* early.*
hope	She hopes to visit* Paris.*
decide	He decided to quit.
promise	They promised to help.
need	You need to study* more.*
agree	We agreed to meet* at noon.*
refuse	She refused to answer.
plan	Are you planning to come?

Verb	+ Gerund	+ Infinitive
remember	I remember locking the door. (= I have a memory of doing it)	Remember to lock the door. (= Don't forget to do it)
forget	I'll never forget meeting her. (= a memory of a past event)	Don't forget to call me. (= a future task)
stop	He stopped smoking. (= he quit the habit)	He stopped to smoke. (= he paused in order to smoke)
try	Try adding more salt. (= experiment with it)	Try to be on time. (= make an effort)

Gerund or Infinitive? Exercises in English (All Levels)

Quick Grammar Review: Gerunds and Infinitives

What is a gerund?

What is an infinitive?

Verbs followed by a gerund

Verbs followed by an infinitive

Verbs that take both — with a difference in meaning

Common mistakes to avoid

All Gerund and Infinitive Exercises — Free & Interactive

Gerund or Infinitive?

Frequently Asked Questions About Gerunds and Infinitives