The gerund is used

• As a subject

Swimming is one of the safest sport.

• After prepositions

You should think before saying something.

• As an object after some verbs*

I love singing.

The infinitive is used

• After adjectives

It is great to see you here!

• To explain the purpose of an action

I’ve come here to tell you the truth.

• After some verbs**

I plan to move house soon.

*Verbs followed by the gerund (verbs in bold can be used in some other structures)

Adore, avoid, can’t stand/bear, consider, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, hate, like, love, mind (= object to), miss, recommend, risk, start, suggest

**Verbs followed by the infinitive

Agree, ask, choose, decide, expect, fail, forget, help, hope, intend, learn, manage, need, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, want, wish

 

Verbs + Gerund/Infinitive

love/hate/can’t stand/like + Gerund/Infinitive

begin/start/continue + Gerund/Infinitive

 

Verbs normally followed by the gerund

1) Verbs of likes/dislikes (normally used with the gerund)

Like, dislike, hate, love, prefer, can’t stand/bear, (not) mind

Note: love/hate/can’t stand/like + Gerund/Infinitive

2)  Verbs of starting/finishing an action (normally used with the gerund)

Start, finish, go on, carry on, continue

Note: begin/start/continue + Gerund/Infinitive

3) Some phrasal verbs (normally used with the gerund)

E.g. give up, put off