This document provides an overview of the uses of gerunds and infinitives in English. Gerunds, which are verb forms ending in "-ing", can be used as the subject or object of a sentence, after certain verbs like "enjoy" and "avoid", and after prepositions. Infinitives, which use the word "to" before the base verb form, can be used after verbs like "decide" and "want", after adjectives like "difficult", after question words, and to indicate purpose or reason. The document concludes by providing a link to an online exercise for practicing distinguishing between gerund and infinitive uses.

1. GERUND
OR
INFINITIVE
HOW TO USE

2. GERUND
USES EXAMPLES
1. AS THE SUBJECT OR OBJECT OF A
SENTENCE (AS A NOUN)
Swimming is na excelente sport to get
healthier.
Knowledge is keeping good friends
everywhere you go.
2. AFTER SOME VERBS:
avoid - enjoy – finish – go on – hate – like –
love – (don’t) mind – miss – recommend -
spend (time) – stop – feel like
Today, I don’t feel like doing anything. I just
want to lay in my bed.
He avoided talking to her because he was very
nervous.
3. AFTER PREPOSITIONS :
about, after, against, at, before, behind, by,
during, for, from, in, in front (of), in spite of, of
/ off, on, outside, over, through, till, to, toward
(s), under, underneath, until, up
I have breakfast before leaving for work in the
morning.
You cannot make an
omelette without breaking eggs.

3. INFINITIVE
USES EXAMPLES
1. AFTER SOME VERBS:
decide, forget, help, hope, learn, need, offer,
plan, pretend, promise, remember, try, want,
would like
*start* can be infinitive or gerund
Sorry, I forgot to call you yesterday.
They’re pretending to be satisfied.
2. AFTER ADJECTIVES:
difficult, easy, complicated, hard ...
I know, it’s complicated to wake up early.
She thought it hard to get the Money.
3. AFTER QUESTION WORDS:
WHO – WHAT – HOW – WHEN – WHERE ...
You told me where to go on vacation.
Liz taught us how to prepare the cake.
4. TO SAY WHY ( THE REASON)
YOU DO SOMETHING
We’re having breakfast now to catch the train
earlier. (reason)

4. LET’S PRACTICE!!!
 Click on the link, you’ll have on-line exercises:
 Practice it!
 https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/gerunds-and-infinitives-
exercise-1.html