Verbs followed by a gerund (-ing)
- enjoy
- finish
- avoid
- mind
- suggest
- keep
- practise
- miss
- imagine
- consider
- can’t stand
- give up
- look forward to
- it’s worth
- don’t mind
I enjoy cooking for friends.
Would you mind closing the door?
She suggested going to the cinema.
I’m looking forward to seeing you.
to is a preposition here
Verbs followed by an infinitive (to + verb)
- want
- decide
- hope
- plan
- agree
- refuse
- promise
- learn
- manage
- afford
- offer
- need
- would like
- seem
- expect
We decided to stay at home.
I can’t afford to buy a new car.
He promised not to be late.
After modal verbs (can, must, should) and after make and let, use the infinitive without to: She made me laugh. Let me help. More in modal verbs.
Verbs followed by both
After like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue the meaning hardly changes. But with would, use only the infinitive: I’d like to go.
It started raining / to rain.
Stop, remember, forget, try: the meaning changes
| Verb | + V-ing | + to V1 |
|---|---|---|
| stop | I stopped smoking. | I stopped to smoke. |
| remember | I remember meeting her. | Remember to call her! |
| forget | I’ll never forget seeing the sea. | Don’t forget to buy milk. |
| try | Try restarting the laptop. | I tried to open the door. |
| regret | I regret saying that. | We regret to inform you… |
| Verb | + V-ing | + to V1 |
|---|---|---|
| stop | quit doing it | stop in order to do it |
| remember | remember something done before | not forget a task |
| forget | forget a past experience | forget a task |
| try | do it as an experiment | make an effort |
| regret | be sorry about the past | be sorry to say (formal) |
After prepositions — always a gerund
After in, on, at, of, about, for, without, before, after and other prepositions, the verb takes -ing. This includes be used to doing: see used to.
She’s good at drawing.
Thank you for helping me.
He left without saying goodbye.
I’m interested in learning Italian.
Infinitive of purpose and after adjectives
I went to the shop to buy bread.
not “for buy”
It’s easy to learn.
I’m happy to see you.
Common mistakes
What learners of English often say. On the left — the mistake, on the right — the correct version.
Wrong:
I enjoy to read.Right: I enjoy reading.
Enjoy takes a gerund.
Wrong:
I want going home.Right: I want to go home.
Want takes an infinitive.
Wrong:
I look forward to see you.Right: I look forward to seeing you.
To is a preposition here: use -ing.
Wrong:
I came here for learn English.Right: I came here to learn English.
Purpose: to + verb.
Wrong:
She is good at sing.Right: She is good at singing.
After a preposition use -ing.
Wrong:
He made me to wait.Right: He made me wait.
No to after make and let.
Check yourself
Quiz: Gerund or infinitive
12 questions with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up.
enjoy doing · want to do