Explanation
Exercises

🔀 Infinitives & Gerunds (Verb patterns)

Choosing between to + verb, verb-ing, and the bare infinitive depends on the role in the sentence and the governing verb.
Subject → V-ing After a preposition → V-ing Purpose / after adjectives → to-infinitive Modals / do-does-did → bare infinitive Object + to-inf / bare inf (let/make) Pairs with meaning change (stop/try/remember…)
🟩Use GERUND (V-ing)
SUBJECT
  • Reading on phones isn’t good for your eyes.
  • Cheating is not allowed.
AFTER A PREPOSITION
  • I’m tired of waiting. / He’s very good at painting.
  • Thanks for helping! · Before leaving, call me.
AFTER VERBS
Common ➜ avoid, admit, appreciate, consider, delay, deny, dislike, enjoy, escape, finish, imagine, involve, keep (on), mind, miss, postpone, practise, recommend, risk, suggest, stop, spend/waste time…
  • I don’t mind waiting.
  • She recommended visiting this museum.
Negative gerund
  • He enjoys not having to wake up early.
🟥Use TO-INFINITIVE
PURPOSE / REASON
  • I went to Madrid to visit family.
  • I need more time to study.
AFTER ADJECTIVES
  • It’s important to arrive early.
  • I’m glad to see you.
AFTER QUESTION WORDS
  • I don’t know what to eat.
  • She taught me how to play the guitar.
AFTER VERBS
Common ➜ agree, appear, arrange, ask, choose, decide, expect, fail, help, hope, learn, manage, need, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, remember, seem, tend, try, want, wish, would like/love/hate/prefer…
  • Don’t forget to call me.
  • She seems to be distracted.
Negative infinitive
  • She decided not to enter the competition.
🟦Use BARE INFINITIVE
DO / DOES / DID
  • He didn’t say anything. · Does Tim work with you?
MODALS
  • You should come with us. · I can’t play the guitar.
LET / MAKE / HELP
  • They let me leave early.
  • The coach made us run faster. (Passive → We were made to run)
  • help can take both: She helped me (to) finish.
🧩Object + to-infinitive
PATTERN verb + object + to-infinitive after: advise, allow, ask, cause, enable, encourage, expect, force, invite, need, order, persuade, remind, tell, teach, want, warn…
  • The teacher told us to revise.
  • They allowed me to park here.
🔄Gerund or Infinitive? — Same verb, different meaning

stop

  • He stopped smoking. (= quit the habit)
  • He stopped to smoke. (= paused in order to smoke)

try

  • try doing yoga. (= experiment)
  • try to do it. (= make an effort)

go on

  • He went on talking. (= continued)
  • He went on to talk about prices. (= moved to the next topic)

remember / forget

  • I remember meeting her. (= memory of a past action)
  • Remember to meet her at 6. (= don’t forget a future action)

regret

  • I regret saying that. (= sorry about the past)
  • We regret to inform you… (= formal announcement)

mean

  • Being a doctor means working long hours. (= involves)
  • I meant to call you. (= intended)
✨Handy patterns with V-ing
  • go + V-ing for activities: go swimming, go shopping.
  • be/get used to + V-ing: I’m used to getting up early.
  • look forward to + V-ing: We look forward to seeing you.
  • It’s no use / no good + V-ing: It’s no use arguing.
  • have difficulty / trouble (in) + V-ing: I have trouble sleeping.
  • need + V-ing (BrE): The car needs washing. (= needs to be washed)
👀Perception verbs
  • see/hear/feel/watch/notice + object + bare inf (complete action): I saw him cross the street.
  • … + object + V-ing (ongoing action): I saw him crossing the street.
Start / Begin / Continue
  • We started to laugh / laughing. (both OK, little difference)
🚫Common mistakes
  • After a preposition use V-ing: ❌ before to leave → ✅ before leaving.
  • Look forward to / be used to: the to is a preposition → V-ing.
  • Negative infinitive: prefer not to go (formal), not *to not go in exams.
  • Don’t double to: ❌ want to to go.
  • After modals & do/does/did → bare infinitive, not V-ing.
✅Quick checks
  • Subject or after a preposition? → V-ing
  • Reason/purpose or after an adjective? → to-inf
  • Modals / do-does-did / let-make? → bare inf
  • Verb requires object + to-inf? (tell/ask/allow/expect…) → use that pattern.
Recap: Use V-ing as a subject and after prepositions; use the to-infinitive for purpose, after adjectives, and with certain verbs; use the bare infinitive after modals and do/does/did. Be careful with verbs where the choice changes the meaning: stop, try, remember, forget, regret, mean, go on. 🌟
Exercises:
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2
3

Infinitives and gerunds: Verb patterns

Choose the correct infinitives and gerunds to complete the sentences below.
1
She refused me her laptop.
2
We look forward to you next week.
3
I stopped coffee last year.
4
He promised on time.
5
Do you mind the window?
6
My boss made me the report again.
7
I tried the laptop, but it still didn't work.
8
She suggested a taxi instead of walking.
9
Remember the lights before you leave.
10
They agreed the costs equally.

Infinitives and gerunds: Verb patterns

Choose the correct infinitives and gerunds to complete the following sentences.
1
She agreed ____ the contract after reading it carefully.
A.
B.
C.
2
I miss ____ tennis with my old team.
A.
B.
C.
3
My parents made me ____ my room before dinner.
A.
B.
C.
4
We can’t afford ____ a new car this year.
A.
B.
C.
5
He suggested ____ earlier to avoid traffic.
A.
B.
C.
6
Don’t forget ____ the lights when you leave.
A.
B.
C.
7
She’s looking forward to ____ you soon.
A.
B.
C.
8
I’d rather ____ at home tonight.
A.
B.
C.
9
It’s difficult ____ a new habit.
A.
B.
C.
10
He stopped ____ coffee because it kept him awake.
A.
B.
C.

Infinitives and gerunds: Verb patterns

Fill in the gaps with the correct infinitive (to + verb) or gerund (verb-ing) of a verb from the box.
Verb box: meet, cook, take, lock, call, travel, work, drive, try, remember, forget, decide, agree, keep, enjoy, plan

enjoy/keep → V-ing decide/agree/plan/want/offer → to + V remember/forget/stop/try = meaning change

1
The team finally agreed at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
2
I enjoy dinner at home on Fridays.
3
We decided the 6:30 train instead of the bus.
4
Please remember the door before you leave.
5
I remember Sam at last year’s conference.
6
She keeps late even when she’s tired.
7
They offered us to the airport.
8
He forgot me after the interview.
9
Feeling stressed? Try a short break.
10
We’re planning around South America next year.