Gerunds & Infinitives

Verb + -ing

Some verbs are normally followed by an -ing form.

Examples: enjoy reading, avoid repeating, consider changing, suggest waiting.

The -ing form is often called a gerund when it functions in a noun-like way.

Verb + to + infinitive

Other verbs are normally followed by to + the base form.

Examples: decide to leave, hope to improve, plan to apply, want to understand.

Verb + object + infinitive

Some verbs need an object before the infinitive.

Examples: She advised me to wait. They asked us to explain the result. The teacher encouraged them to revise the draft.

Bare infinitive

After modal verbs, English normally uses the base form without to.

Correct: You should revise the conclusion.

Not: You should to revise the conclusion.

When both forms are possible

Some verbs allow both patterns with little difference: It started raining / It started to rain.

Other verbs change meaning.

• remember doing = remember a past event
• remember to do = remember a task that still needs to be done
• stop doing = end an activity
• stop to do = pause one activity in order to do another
• try doing = test a possible solution
• try to do = make an effort to achieve something

I remembered locking the door.

Meaning: I have a memory of the earlier action.

I remembered to lock the door.

Meaning: I did not forget the task.

The grammar is similar, but the meaning changes.

1. Identify the first verb in the verb pattern.
2. Check whether that verb is normally followed by -ing, to + infinitive or object + infinitive.
3. After a modal verb, use the bare infinitive.
4. If both -ing and infinitive are possible, check whether the meaning changes.
5. Learn common verb patterns as phrases rather than as isolated vocabulary.
6. When editing, look for direct translations from Swedish that may use the wrong verb pattern.

Mistake: I enjoy to read.

Better: I enjoy reading.

Mistake: She suggested to leave early.

Better: She suggested leaving early.

Mistake: They want that we apply.

Better: They want us to apply.

Mistake: You must to finish today.

Better: You must finish today.

Which sentence correctly means that Maya did not forget the task?

• A. Maya remembered sending the email.
• B. Maya remembered to send the email.
• C. Maya remembered send the email.
• D. Maya remembered to sending the email.

Answer: B. Remember to do refers to remembering a task; remember doing refers to remembering an earlier event.

• Some verbs take -ing, others take to + infinitive.
• Some patterns require an object before the infinitive.
• Modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive.
• A few verbs allow both forms but change meaning.
• Learn frequent verb patterns as complete chunks.
• Check verb patterns when editing for grammatical accuracy.