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
  • Learning English takes time and practice.
  • Speaking every day helps you feel more confident.
AFTER A PREPOSITION
  • I’m interested in improving my pronunciation.
  • Thanks for explaining that! · Before starting, read the instructions.
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 enjoy watching short videos in English.
  • Our teacher suggested writing five sentences every day.
Negative gerund
  • She likes not using her phone during lessons.
🟥Use TO-INFINITIVE
PURPOSE / REASON
  • I listen to podcasts to learn new words.
  • I need more time to finish this exercise.
AFTER ADJECTIVES
  • It’s important to practise a little every day.
  • I’m happy to help you with this grammar.
AFTER QUESTION WORDS
  • I don’t know what to say in that situation.
  • Can you show me how to use this word?
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 check your spelling.
  • He decided to join an English class.
Negative infinitive
  • I promised not to be late for the lesson.
🟦Use BARE INFINITIVE
DO / DOES / DID
  • She didn’t understand the question. · Do you need more examples?
MODALS
  • You should repeat the sentence. · I can’t remember this word.
LET / MAKE / HELP
  • The teacher let us use dictionaries.
  • My friend made me speak English for ten minutes. (Passive → I was made to speak)
  • help can take both: She helped me (to) understand it.
🧩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 tutor told me to slow down when I speak.
  • They allowed us to use our notes in the test.
🔄Gerund or Infinitive? — Same verb, different meaning

stop

  • He stopped watching videos and started studying. (= finished the activity)
  • He stopped to check the dictionary. (= paused in order to do it)

try

  • try using flashcards. (= experiment)
  • try to use five new words today. (= make an effort)

go on

  • She went on talking even after the bell. (= continued)
  • She went on to explain the next rule. (= moved to the next topic)

remember / forget

  • I remember meeting our new teacher. (= memory of the past)
  • Remember to bring your notebook. (= don’t forget a future action)

regret

  • I regret saying that word. (= sorry about the past)
  • We regret to inform you that the class is cancelled. (= formal)

mean

  • Studying online means spending more time alone. (= involves)
  • I meant to reply to your message. (= intended)
✨Handy patterns with V-ing
  • go + V-ing for activities: go shopping, go walking.
  • be/get used to + V-ing: I’m used to speaking English in class.
  • look forward to + V-ing: I look forward to getting your feedback.
  • It’s no use / no good + V-ing: It’s no use guessing every answer.
  • have difficulty / trouble (in) + V-ing: I have trouble pronouncing “th”.
  • need + V-ing (BrE): This sentence needs fixing. (= needs to be fixed)
👀Perception verbs
  • see/hear/feel/watch/notice + object + bare inf (complete action): I heard her say “thank you”.
  • … + object + V-ing (ongoing action): I saw him writing notes during the lesson.
Start / Begin / Continue
  • We started to practise / practising after lunch. (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:
1
2
3

Infinitives and gerunds: Verb patterns

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

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

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.