RULES OF GERUND AND INFINITIVE
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| 1. A "gerund" acts as a noun. | "Swimming" is good for health, |
| 2. An "infinitive" is the base form of a verb, usually with "to," | I like "to read." |
| 3. Use a "gerund" after prepositions. | She is good at "singing." |
| 4. Use an "infinitive" after adjectives. | I'm happy "to help." |
| 5. IJse a "gerund" after certain. verbs like enjoy, avoid, and suggest, | enjoy Q reading." |
| 6. Use an "infinitive'* after certain verbs like decide, plan, and hope. | I decided "to go," |
| 7. Use a "gerund" after phrasal verbs. | He gave up "smoking." |
| 8. The "subject" of a sentence can be a gerund. | "Running" makes me happy. |
| 9. After "be used to", use a gerund. | I'm used to "getting up" early. |
| 10. After "used to", use the base infinitive, | I used to "play" football. |
| 11. After "look forward to", use a gerund. | I look forward to "meeting" you. |
| 12. After "can't help", use a gerund. | I can't help "laughing." |
| 13. After "can't afford", use an infi nitive. | I can't afford "to buy" a car. |
| 14. Some verbs can take both, but with "different meanings." | I stopped "smoking" (quit) vs. I stopped "to smoke" (paused to do it). |
| 15. After"mind", use a gerund | Do you mind "closing" the door? |
| 16. After "pretend", use an i nfi nitive. | He pretended "to sleep." |
| IZ After "deny", use a gerund. | She denied "taking" the money. |
| 18. After "want", use an infinitive. | I want "to learn." |
| 19. After "recommend", use a gerund. | He recommended "reading" this book. |
| 20. After ''agree", use an infinitive. | They agreed "to meet." |
| 21, After "suggest", use a gerund. | She suggested "going" out. |
| 22. After "plan", use an infinitive. | We plan "to travel." |
| 23, After "admit", use a gerund. | He admitted "stealing" the wallet. |
| 24. After "promise", use an infi nitive- | He promised "to call." |
| 25. After"avoid", use a gerundi | I avoid "talking" too much, |
| 26. After "hope'", use an infinitive. | She hopes 'Cto pass." |
| 27. After "keep", use a gerund. | Keep "smiling." |
| 28. After "learn how", use an infinitive. | She learned "to drive." |
| 29. After "miss" use a gerund. | I miss "seeing" you. |
| 30. After "need", use an infinitive. | I need "to study." |
| 31, After "finish", use a gerund. | We finished "eating," |
| 32. After "offer", use an infi nitive. | He offered "to help." |
| 33. After"'avoid", use a gerund. | She avoids "arguing." |
| 34. After "decide", use an infinitive. | He decided "to leave." |
| 35. After "enjoy", use a gerund. | She enjoys "painting." |
| 36. After "expect", use an i nfi nitive. | I expect "to see" you soon. |
| 37. After "admit", use a gerund. | He admitted "cheating." |
| 38. After "intend", use an infi nitive. | She intends "to move." |
| 39. After "consider", use a gerund. | They considered "moving." |
| 40. After "refuse", use an infinitive. | He refused "to cooperate." |
| 41. After frisk", use a gerund. | He risked "losing" his job. |
| 42. After "seem", use an infinitive. | She seems uto understand." |
| 43, After "suggest", use a gerund. | I suggested "leaving" early. |
| 44. After "would like", use infi nitive. | I'd like "to visit" London. |
| 45. After "admit", use a gerund. | She admitted "being" late. |
| 46. After f tend", use an infinitive. | He tends "to forget." |
| 47. After "appreciate", use a gerund. | I appreciate "helping." |
| 48. After "ask", use an infinitive. | He asked "to leave." |
| 49. After "avoid", use a gerund. | Avoid "touching" it. |
| 50. After "wish", use an infinitive. | I wish "to speak." |
| 51. After "begin", both gerund and infinitive can be used with no change in meaning. | It began "raining." / It began "to rain." |
| 52. After "start", use either a gerund or infinitive. | He started "to write" / "writing." |
| 53. After "continue", both forms are possible. | She continued "working" / "to work." |
| 54. After "love", both are possible, but gerund is more common for general statements. | I love "reading." |
| 55. After "would love", always use an infinitive, | I'd love "to meet" you. |
| 56. After "hate", use either depending on meaning. | I hate "waiting." / I hate "to wait." |
| 57. After "like", both can be used, but gerund sounds natu ral. | I like "playing" chess. |
| 58. After "prefer", both forms are correct, but infinitive is formal. | I prefer "to stay" home. |
| 59. After "try", use a gerund for experimenting and infinitive for effort. | Try "pressing" the button, / Try "to study" harder. |
| 60. After "remember", use gerund for past and infinitive for future actions. | I remember "locking" the door. / Remember "to lock" the door, |
| 61. After "forget", same rule as remember. | I forgot "meeting" her. / Don't forget "to call." |
| 62. After Uregret", use gerund for past, infinitive for polite statements. | I regret "saying" that. / I regret "to inform" you that... |
| 63. After "stop", use gerund to quit and infinitive to pauses | He stopped "smoking." / He stopped "to smoke." |
| 64. After "mean", gerund = involve, infinitive = intend. | Being late means "missing" the bus. / I mean "to call" her, |
| 65. After "go on", gerund = continue, infinitive move to next thing. | He went on "talking." / He went on "to discuss" the plan. |
| 66. After "need", gerund means passive sense. | The car needs "washing." (= needs to be washed) |
| 67. After "help", use infinitive (with or without "to"). | She helped me (to) cook. |
| 68. Use "infinitive" to show purpose, | I went out "to buy" milk. |
| 69. Use "gerund" after possessive nouns or pronouns, | I appreciate your 'Chelping." |
| 70. Use "infinitive" after question words except "why." | I don't know "how to swim." |
| 71. Use "bare infinitive" after modal verbs. | You must "go." |
| 72. Use "bare infinitive" after let and make. | She made me "cry." |
| 73. After "help", either bare or full infinitive is fine. | He helped me "(to) move." |
| 74. Use "infinitive" after too/enough structu res- | He's too young "to drive." |
| 75. Use "infinitive" after only. | I came only "to help." |
| 76. Use "infinitive" after be the fi rst/last/next. | She was the first "to arrive." |
| 77, Use "gerund" after certain nouns. | I have a habit of "reading." |
| 78. Use "infinitive" after certain nouns expressing intention, | I made a decision "to leave." |
| 79. Use "gerund" after possessive forms. | I don't like his "smoking." |
| 80, Use "infinitive" after be + adjective. | It's easy "to learn." |
| 81. Use "gerund" after verbs of imagination when the action is real. | I remember "meeting" her. |
| 82. Use "infinitive" after verbs of imagination for unreal action. | I'd love "to meet" her. |
| 83. Use "infinitive" after certain passive constructions. | He was asked "to join." |
| 84. Use "gerund" after certain fixed phrases. | It's no use "crying." |
| 85. Use "infinitive" to express reason. | She came "to help." |
| 86. IJse "gerund" after expressions with "can't stand/bear." | I can't stand "waiting!' |
| 87. use "infinitive" after be about. | He is about �to leave." |
| 88. Use "gerund" after "be busy." | She's busy "studying." |
| 89. Use "infinitive" after be eager/anxious/readyu | She's eager "to win." |
| 90. Use "gerund" after spend/waste time or money. | He spent hours "cleaning." |
| 91. Use a "gerund" after expressions like "It's worth." | It's worth "trying," |
| 92. Use a "gerund" after "can't resist! | I can't resist "eating" chocolate, |
| 93. Use an Uinfinitive" after "ask," "tell," or "want" + object. | She told me "to wait." |
| 94. Use a "gerund" after "discuss." | We discussed "moving" abroad. |
| 95. Use an "infinitive" after"hope; "expect," or "promise." | I promise "to call." |
| 96. Use a "gerund" after "consider | I'm considering "changing'* jobs. |
| 97. Use an "infinitive" after "decide" or "plan." | We decided "to travel." |
| 98. Use a "gerund" after "avoid," | Avoid "making" noise. |
| 99. Use an "infinitive" after "manage." | He managed "to escape," |
| 100. Use a "gerund" after "imagine" | Can you imagine "living" there? |
| 101. Use an "infinitive" after "appear." | She appears "to know" him. |
| 102. Use a "gerund" after "delay." | He delayed "replying." |
| 103. Use an "infinitive" after "learn." | She learned "to cook." |
| 104. Use a "gerund" after "escape." | He escaped "being" caught. |
| 105. Use an "infinitive" after "wish." | I wish "to speak" to the manager. |
| 106. Use a "gerund" after "finish:" | We finished "packing." |
| 107. Use an "infinitive" after "attempt." | He attempted "to climb." |
| 108. Use a *'gerund" after "deny." | She denied "cheating." |
| 109. Use an "infinitive" after "agree." | He agreed "to come." |
| 110. Use a "gerund" after "risk." | She risked "losing" her job. |
| 111, Use an "infinitive" after "fail." | He failed "to finish." |
| 101. Use an "infinitive" after "appear." | She appears "to know" him. |
| 112. Use a "gerund" after "admit." | He admitted "lying." |
| 113. Use an "infinitive" after "offer." | He offered "to help," |
| 114. Use a "gerund" after "postpone." | They postponed "going." |
| 115. Use an Cinfinitive" after "refuse." | She refused "to answer." |
| 116. Use a "gerund" after "suggest?' | I suggest "waiting." |
| 117. Use an "infinitive" after "seem." | He seems "to understand." |
| 118. Use a "gerund" after "practice." | Keep "practicing" daily. |
| 119. Use an "infinitive" after "pretend." | He pretended "to be" asleep. |
| 120. Use a "gerund" after "enjoy." | I enjoy "reading:" |
| 121. Remember: 'Gerunds" act as nouns, while "infinitives" often express purpose or intention. | "Swimming" is fun. / I want "to swim." |