Gerund vs Infinitive in English

English grammar can be a tricky subject and one of the trickiest things to master is the use of gerunds and infinitives. If you’re looking to improve your English in this area, you’ve come to the right place.

In this reference, we’ll be discussing the differences between gerunds and infinitives, their uses, common mistakes, and some rules for using them correctly. Let’s start learning!

What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Gerunds and infinitives are two of the most common verb forms in English. A gerund is a verb which ends in -ing and is used as a noun. An infinitive is a verb which is preceded by “to” and is used as a verb. For example, the gerund “running” and the infinitive “to run” are both forms of the verb “run.”

Difference Between Gerund and Infinitive

The difference between gerunds and infinitives is that we use a gerund as a noun, while an infinitive is used as a verb. For example, the gerund “running” can be used as a noun, while the infinitive “to run” is used as a verb. Other differences include how they are used in a sentence and how they are formed. 
 
 

Uses of Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives can be used in a variety of ways in a sentence. A gerund can be either the object or the subject of your sentence, while an infinitive can be used as the main verb in a sentence. For example, the gerund “running” can be used as the subject of the sentence “Running is my favorite exercise,” and the infinitive “to run” can be used as the main verb in the sentence “I like to run every morning.”

Gerunds and infinitives can also be used after certain verbs or adjectives. For example, the verb “enjoy” is usually followed by a gerund, as in “I enjoy running,” and the adjective “hard” is usually followed by an infinitive, as in “It’s hard to run.”

Verbs Followed by Gerunds Only

Certain verbs are always followed by a gerund. These include verbs of feeling and emotion, such as “enjoy” and “hate,” as well as verbs of perception, such as “hear” and “see.”

For example, “I enjoy running” and “I heard her singing.”

You can also build more complex sentences like “I hate running in the rain” or “I saw him eating a sandwich.”

Verbs Followed by Infinitives Only

Certain verbs are always followed by an infinitive. These include verbs of obligation, such as “need” and “must,” as well as verbs of influence, such as “help” and “encourage.” For example, “I need to run” and “She encouraged me to sing.”

You can also try making more complex sentences like “She helped me to understand the lesson.”

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Verbs Followed by Both Gerunds and Infinitives

Finally, certain verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. These include verbs of preference, such as “want” and “like,” as well as verbs of choice, such as “choose” and “decide.” For example, “I want to run” and “I like running.”

In addition, you can also make more complex sentences like “I decided to go for a walk” or “She chose to stay at home.”

Common Mistakes with Gerunds and Infinitives

One of the most common mistakes with gerunds and infinitives is using the wrong form. For example, using the wrong verb form after a verb of preference or a verb of influence can change the meaning of a sentence. For example, “I enjoyed to run” is incorrect, as the correct form should be “I enjoyed running.”

Another common mistake is using the wrong verb form after a verb of perception or a verb of emotion. For example, using the wrong form after the verb “see” can change the meaning of the sentence. For example, “I saw him to run” is incorrect, as the correct form should be “I saw him running.”

Rules for Using Gerunds and Infinitives

There are a few rules to help you remember when to use a gerund or an infinitive.

• Verbs of feeling and emotion are usually followed by a gerund, while verbs of obligation and influence are usually followed by an infinitive.
• Verbs of preference and choice can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, depending on the meaning you want to express.
• Verbs of perception and emotion are usually followed by an infinitive. For example, “I heard her sing” and “I saw him run.”

Examples of Gerunds and Infinitives

Here are some examples of gerunds and infinitives in use:

• I need to go shopping. (Infinitive)
• She loves swimming. (Gerund)
• He decided to take a break. (Infinitive)
• I like reading books. (Gerund)
• He helped me (to) understand the lesson. (Infinitive)

Summary

We use gerunds as a noun, while an infinitive is used as a verb. They both can help your speech in a variety of ways in a sentence, depending on the verb or adjective in the sentence.

With practice and a bit of patience, you can master the use of these parts of grammar and improve your English!