General use

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)

Admit, adore, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, can’t stand/bear, carry on, can’t help, consider, delay, deny, discuss, detest, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, fancy, feel like, finish, give up, imagine, involve, justify, keep (on), look forward to, mention, mind (= object to), miss, postpone, practice, prevent, put off, quit, recommend, resent, resist, risk, suggest, tolerate

Verbs followed by the infinitive

(verbs in bold can be used in some other structures)

Afford, agree, aim, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, care, choose, consent, dare (+V1/to V1 but dare not/daren’t + V1), decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, fight, forget, guarantee, happen, help, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, long, manage, need, neglect, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, propose, prove, refuse, seem, swear, tend, threaten, turn out, undertake, volunteer, vow, want, wish, yearn

Verbs normally followed by the gerund

Verbs followed by the gerund and the infinitive with a difference in meaning

Exercises