Home · C1 Advanced · Unit 06
Unit 06
Gerunds & Infinitives
verb patterns & usage
Gerund vs Infinitive — The Core Distinction
A gerund is the -ing form used as a noun; an infinitive is "to + base verb". Both can be subjects, objects, or complements. This unit is the consolidated C1 reference for which verbs take which form — and where the choice changes meaning.
I enjoy reading. (gerund) / I want to read. (infinitive)
Gerund — Functions
- Verbs + gerund: enjoy, avoid, finish, stop, mind, suggest, keep, admit, deny, miss, practise, dislike, risk, imagine, consider.
| Function | Example |
|---|---|
| Subject | Swimming is good for your health. |
| Object | I enjoy reading books. |
| After prepositions | She's interested in learning English. |
| After certain verbs | They stopped talking. |
Infinitive — Functions
- Verbs + infinitive: agree, decide, expect, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, promise, refuse, want, would like, manage, afford.
| Function | Example |
|---|---|
| Purpose | I came here to study. |
| After certain verbs | I want to learn Spanish. |
| After adjectives | It's easy to understand. |
| After question words | I don't know what to say. |
Same Verb, Different Meaning
| Verb | + Gerund | + Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember | recall a past action: I remember meeting her. | don't forget: Remember to call her. |
| stop | quit: He stopped smoking. | pause to do: He stopped to smoke. |
| try | experiment: Try adding salt. | make an effort: Try to finish it. |
| forget | forget a past event: I forgot meeting her. | forget a task: Don't forget to call. |
| regret | be sorry for: I regret saying that. | formal bad news: I regret to tell you... |
| go on | continue: She went on talking. | move to next: She went on to explain. |
Verb + Object + Infinitive (with / without "to")
| Pattern | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + object + to-inf | advise, ask, encourage, expect, invite, remind, tell, want, warn | She told me to stay. |
| + object + bare inf | let, make, see, hear, feel | They let me go early. / I saw him leave. |
| help (both) | help | She helped me (to) carry the bags. |
Fixed Expressions
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| It's worth + -ing | It's worth trying. |
| can't help + -ing | I can't help laughing. |
| look forward to + -ing | I look forward to seeing you. |
| be used to + -ing | I'm used to getting up early. |
| would rather + bare inf | I'd rather stay home. |
Perfect, Passive & Possessive Forms
| Form | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| having + pp (perfect gerund) | He denied having taken the money. | earlier action |
| to have + pp (perfect infinitive) | She seems to have forgotten. | earlier action |
| being + pp (passive gerund) | I hate being interrupted. | passive |
| to be + pp (passive infinitive) | He expects to be promoted. | passive |
| possessive / object + gerund | Do you mind my / me opening the window? | "my" is more formal |
| to as a preposition + -ing | object to, be committed to, be used to, when it comes to, in addition to | I'm committed to improving my English. |
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectSheverbsuggestedverbgoingobjectfor a walk.
↳ suggest + gerund (never "to").
subjectTheyverbletobjectmeverbleaveadverbearly.
↳ let + object + bare infinitive (no "to").
subjectHeverbstoppedto smoke.
↳ stop + infinitive = paused in order to smoke.
Common Mistakes
I enjoy to swim.
→
I enjoy swimming.
After "enjoy" → gerund.
I want going.
→
I want to go.
After "want" → infinitive.
She suggested to go.
→
She suggested going.
"Suggest" takes a gerund.
He told me go.
→
He told me to go.
"Tell" → object + to-infinitive.
They let us to leave early.
→
They let us leave early.
"Let" takes the bare infinitive.
I object to work on Sundays.
→
I object to working on Sundays.
"to" is a preposition → -ing.
He denied to have stolen it.
→
He denied having stolen it.
deny + (perfect) gerund.