B1 Plus Grammar Section Gerunds vs Infinitives: Verb Patterns

Gerunds vs Infinitives — verb patterns

-ing = activity/experience to + V = aim/decision bare inf = after modals, make/let/see/hear

Quick decision guide

Context	Form	Example
After a preposition	-ing	Thanks for coming.
After most adjectives	to + infinitive	It’s hard to concentrate.
After modals (can, must, should…)	bare infinitive	You should leave.
Purpose	to + infinitive	He called to apologise.
Spending time/money; no point, can’t help, have difficulty	-ing	We spent hours waiting.
Perception verbs	bare inf = complete act; -ing = in progress	I saw him fall. / I saw him falling.

Use to + infinitive

Purpose We went to the market to buy fruit.
After adjectives She’s eager to learn.
it + be + adj (+ of + object) It was kind of you to help.
Too/enough, a lot to, nothing to… too young to drive; nothing to do.
After ask/decide/expect/hope/learn/plan/promise/refuse/seem/want They decided to stay.
After question words Show me how to use it.
would like/love/prefer/hate I’d like to sit by the window.

Use bare infinitive

After modals She can swim.
let/make/help + object They made us wait. / Help me carry this. (help can also take to.)
Perception verbs I heard her sing (whole action).
had better / would rather / would sooner You’d better leave now.

Use -ing (gerund)

Pattern	Example
As subject / after prepositions	Cheating is not allowed. • I’m tired of waiting.
Fixed expressions	It’s no use arguing. • I can’t help laughing. • We had difficulty finding the place.
spend/waste + time/money	He spends hours reading.
After admit/avoid/deny/enjoy/finish/keep/mind/miss/practise/recommend/regret/suggest	She denied taking the bag.
No object vs object with allow/advise/permit/encourage	They don’t allow smoking. / They allowed us to leave.

Both forms (little/no change)

begin, start, continue It started to rain / raining.
like/love/hate/prefer I like swimming (general). • I like to swim before work (habit/choice).

Both forms (meaning changes)

Verb	to + V	-ing
remember	remember first, then do it — Remember to lock the door.	recall a memory — I remember locking it.
forget	fail to do — I forgot to call.	not forget a memory (usually with never) — I’ll never forget meeting you.
try	make an effort to achieve — Try to be on time.	experiment with a method — Try adding ginger.
stop	pause one action to do another — We stopped to rest.	finish/quit an activity — He stopped smoking.
go on	do something next — He went on to explain the rules.	continue the same activity — She went on talking.
regret	formal announcements about the future/present action — We regret to inform you…	feel sorry about a past action — She regrets shouting.
mean	intend/plan — I didn’t mean to upset you.	involve/entail — The job means traveling a lot.
need	it’s necessary for someone to do — I need to see you.	passive meaning — The car needs washing (= needs to be washed).

Verb + object patterns

Pattern	Typical verbs	Model
V + object + to + V	advise, allow, ask, encourage, expect, help, invite, need, remind, tell, want*	They reminded us to bring ID.
V + object + bare inf	let, make, have, help*	She made me apologise. / She helped me (to) pack.
V + -ing / V + object + -ing	imagine, keep, catch, find, leave	We caught them cheating.

If there is no object with allow/permit/advise/recommend, use -ing: The museum doesn’t allow photographing.

Mini reminders

Spelling lie → lying, travel → travelling (BrE).
Formality regret to say / be sorry to say are formal notifications.
Meaning cue -ing often names an activity; to + V often expresses an aim/decision.