Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #114 of 305

Gerund vs Infinitive

Some verbs take -ing, some to, some both with change in meaning.

Examples

  • enjoy swimming
  • decide to go
  • stop smoking vs stop to smoke

Key rules

  • Some verbs take only gerunds (enjoy), some only infinitives (decide)
  • Some change meaning: stop, remember, try
  • Remember to do = do it, remember doing = recall it
  • Like, love, hate, start can take both with little change

Common mistakes

  • I enjoy to read → I enjoy reading
  • I stopped to smoke (meaning I quit) → I stopped smoking
💡 Tip: Learn common verbs in lists, because there is no simple rule.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
← Whose in Relative ClausesVerbs Followed by -ing →

Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate grammar lessons →

Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.