The document provides information on when to use infinitives and gerunds in English. It explains that infinitives are used to express purpose or intent, and are commonly used after certain verbs and adjectives. Gerunds are used as subjects or objects, after prepositions, and after verbs expressing likes/dislikes. Some verbs like remember, forget, regret can take either an infinitive or gerund depending on whether they refer to past or future actions. The document concludes with examples practicing the use of infinitives versus gerunds.

2. When can we use…?
Infinitive Gerund

3. INFINITIVE

4.  to express purpose
(answering the question WHY?)
 I’m saving up to buy a present for my sister.
 She’s going to the gym to lose weight.

5. INFINITIVE with to is used…
 after some adjectives
surprised, delighted, disappointed, easy,
happy, important, lucky, necessary, normal,
possible
 I was delighted to hear she finally got the job.
 It is normal to feel nervous before an exam.
 It is easy to find a parking spot at this time of the day.

6. INFINITIVE with to is used…
 after certain verbs
agree, afford, appear, arrange, ask, choose,
decide, deserve, expect, help, hesitate, hope,
learn, manage, need, offer, prepare,
pretend, promise, refuse, seem, want
 He decided to stay for some more days.
 She refused to go to the new dentist.
 They deserve to win the competition
 She seems to be happy today.

7. INFINITIVE with TOO and
ENOUGH
 too + adjective + infinitive
She is too young to vote.
 Adjective + enough + infinitive
They are old enough to vote.

8. Use the INFINITIVE without TO…
(bare infinitive)
■ After modal verbs
She may be clever but she is mot very friendly
■ With some other verbs like make and let
Javier made Pablo cry
Let me know if you don’t understand

9. GERUND

10. GERUND is used…
 as the subject or complement of
a clause or sentence
• Smoking makes me feel dizzy.
• My favourite sport is swimming.

11. GERUND is used…
 after prepositions
 She’s not interested in getting married.
 I’m not very good at driving.

12. GERUND is used…
 verbs expressing likes and dislikes:
Like, love, adore, hate, detest,
dislike, enjoy, prefer
and after certain verbs:
Admit, advise, suggest, finish,
imagine, involve, mind, stop,
be worth

13. GERUND is used…
■ Be used to
■ Get used to
■ Can’t help
■ Can’t stand
■ Adapt to
■ Feel like
■ It’s no use
■ Keep on
■ Look forward to
…after these common expressions

14. Verbs followed by
either the gerund
or the infinitive

15. Verbs followed by either the
gerund or the infinitive
 Like, love, hate, prefer are usually followed by
the gerund. However, the infinitive is also
possible.
I love sunbathing.
I like to sunbathe when the weather is warm
enough.
general
specific

16. Verbs followed by either the
gerund or the infinitive
 Begin, start, continue, intend are followed by
the gerund or infinitve with no change in
meaning:
When I arrived it started to rain/raining.

17. Verbs followed by either the gerund or
the infinitive with a change of
meaning:
forget
remember
regret
stop

18. Remember and forget
I still remember buying my first bike.
I’ll never forget meeting the Queen.
What’s their
meaning?

19. Remember and forget
I still remember buying my first bike.
I’ll never forget meeting the Queen.
They look back
at the past, at
things we once
did.

20. I still remember when I bought my first
bike
Or in other words…

21. I’ll never forget when I met the Queen
Or in other words…

22.  You must remember to pick up Mrs Lewis
from the station.
 Don’t forget to buy some milk.

23.  You must remember to pick up Mrs Lewis
from the station.
 Don’t forget to buy some milk.
They look forward
in time, at things
one still has to do

24. You must remember that you have to pick
up Mrs Lewis from the station.
Or in other words…

25. Don’t forget that you have to buy some milk
Or in other words…

26. A. I remember feeding the cat.
B. I must remember to feed the cat.
A B

27. I remember
feeding the cat
(after school, when we
still lived in the
countryside).
I must
remember to
feed the cat
(before we leave.)

28. 1. I’ll never forget seeing U2 in concert.
2. Don’t forget to phone me if you need any help.
• Which form is used “to recall a previous action”?
• Which form is used “to remember what you
have to do”?

29. 1. I’ll never forget seeing U2 in concert.
2. Don’t forget to phone me if you need any help.
 Which form is used “to recall a previous action”?
 the gerund
 Which form is used “to remember what you have
to do”?
 the infinitive

30.  I regret leaving school at 14 – It was a great
mistake.

31.  I regret leaving school at 14 – It was a great
mistake.
It looks back at the past, at something you
are sorry that you did
= I wish I hadn’t left school

32. ■We regret to inform passengers that the
14.50 train is one hour late.

33. ■We regret to inform
passengers that the
14.50 train is one hour
late.
It is used in
announcements of bad
news

34. 1. I regret seeing that film, it was so boring!
2. We regret to inform you that we are unable
to repair your car.
• Which sentence means that «you are sorry for
what you are going to say»?
• Which sentence means “to be sorry for a
previous action”?

35. 1. I regret seeing that film, it was so boring!
2. We regret to inform you that we are unable
to repair your car.
Which sentence means that “you are sorry for
what you are going to say?
 Number 2 = to infinitive
Which sentence means “to be sorry for a previous
action”?
 Number 1 = gerund

36. 1. I’ve stopped smoking.
2. I stopped to smoke.
A B

37. I’ve stopped smoking.
I stopped to smoke.

38. Let’s practise!
■ It's often hard to remember
………… vitamin pills. (TAKE)

39. Let’s practise!
■ It's often hard to remember ………… vitamin pills.
(TAKE)
■ It's often hard to remember to take vitamin pills.

40. Let’s practise!
■I’ll never forget
…………..Halloween with my
grandparents when I was a
child. (CELEBRATE)

41. Let’s practise!
■I’ll never forget …………..Halloween with my
grandparents when I was a child.
(CELEBRATE)
■I’ll never forget celebrating Halloween with
my grandparents when I was a child.

42. Let’s practise!
■I have always regretted ………. up my
piano lessons.(GIVE)

43. Let’s practise!
■I have always regretted ………. up my piano
lessons.(GIVE)
■I have always regretted giving up my piano
lessons

44. Let’s practise!
■The management regrets ………. you that your
contract will not be renewed next month.
(INFORM)

45. Let’s practise!
■The management regrets
……….you that your contract
will not be renewed next
month. (INFORM)
■The management regrets to
inform you that your contract
will not be renewed next
month.

46. ■He was accused of murdering / to
murder his boss

47. ■He was accused of murdering his boss

48. The thieves managed escaping/ to
escape.

49. The thieves managed to escape.

50. Kidnap / Kidnapping is a serious crime

51. Kidnapping is a serious crime.

52. It’s difficult to learn / learning a
language.

53. It’s difficult to learn a language.

54. I don’t mind to pay / paying for the
damage.

55. I don’t mind paying for the damage.

56. A Why did she leave the party early?
B Catching / To catch the last train.

57. A Why did she leave the party early?
B To catch the last train.

58. Let’s work a bit further!

59. 1 I ENJOY TO SWIM
Which is correct ?
2 I enjoy swimming.

60. 1 I ENJOY TO SWIM
Which is correct ?
2 I enjoy swimming. 

61. 1 I WANT TO
STUDY
Which is correct ?
2 I want studying

62. 1 I WANT TO STUDY
Which is correct ?
2 I want studying


63. 1 I FINISHED
EATING
Which is correct ?
2 I finished to eat

64. 1 I FINISHED
EATING
Which is correct ?
2 I finished to eat


65. 1 I NEED TO GO
SHOPPING
Which is correct ?
2 I need going shopping

66. 1 I NEED TO GO
SHOPPING
Which is correct ?
2 I need going shopping


67. 1 I HOPE SEEING YOU
SOON
Which is correct ?
2 I hope to see you soon

68. 1 I HOPE SEEING YOU
SOON
Which is correct ?
2 I hope to see you soon

69. 1 I STOPPED TO
SMOKE
Which is correct ?
2 I stopped smoking

70. 1 I STOPPED TO
SMOKE
Which is correct ?
2 I stopped smoking



71. 1 THE CITY IS PLANNING TO INCREASE
THE BUDGET.
Which is correct ?
2 The city is planning increasing the budget.

72. 1 THE CITY IS PLANNING TO INCREASE
THE BUDGET.
Which is correct ?
2 The city is planning increasing the budget.


73. 1 THE DOCTOR ADVISED HIS PATIENT TO
DO MORE EXERCISE
Which is correct ?
2 The doctor advised his patient doing more
exercise

74. 1 THE DOCTOR ADVISED HIS PATIENT TO
DO MORE EXERCISE
Which is correct ?
2 The doctor advised his patient doing more
exercise


75. 1 THEY WERE SURPRISED TO FIND
THEIR SON STILL IN BED
Which is correct ?
2 They were surprised finding their son still in
bed

76. 1 THEY WERE SURPRISED TO FIND
THEIR SON STILL IN BED
Which is correct ?
2 They were surprised finding their son still in
bed


77. Which is correct ?
2 The teacher suggested to read books
regularly
1 The teacher suggested reading books
regularly

78. Which is correct ?
2 The teacher suggested to read books
regularly
1 The teacher suggested reading books
regularly


79. Which is correct ?
2 We are getting used to living in our new house
1 We are getting used to live in our new house

80. Which is correct ?
2 We are getting used to living in our new
house
1 We are getting used to live in our new house


81. ___ TO GO ____ GO ___ GOING
choose can
decide
enjoy
expect
hatelet (me)
lovemake (me)
manage may
might
(don’t) mind
must
need
plan
promise
refuse should
stop
want
would like

82. ________ on your own can be dangerous
late at night (walk)

83. ________ on your own can be dangerous
late at night (walk)
Walking

84. He can’t afford _________ the fine (pay)

85. He can’t afford _________ the fine (pay)
to pay

86. After_________ in prison for 20 years he found it
very hard to adapt to _________ in the real world.
(be, live)

87. After in prison for 20 years he
found it very hard to adapt to _________ in the
real world (be, live)
being
living

88. The police accused me of_____________
at a red light. (not stop)

89. The police accused me of
at a red light. (not stop)
not stopping

90. I went to the library ___________ a
book. (borrow)

91. I went to the library ___________ a
book. (borrow)
to borrow

92. It’s definitely worth ___________ your
bike. (insure)

93. It’s definitely worth ___________ your
bike. (insure) insuring

94. It’s important _________ your doors and
windows before you go on holiday. (lock)

95. It’s important _________ your doors and
windows before you go on holiday. (lock)
to lock

96. Psychologists think that _________ violent videos
makes some children become interested in
____________ crimes. (watch, commit)

97. Psychologists think that _________ violent videos
makes some children become interested in
____________ crimes. (watch, commit)
watching
committing

98. You shouldn’t _______ her the truth. (tell)

99. You shouldn’t _______ her the truth. (tell)tell

100. He’s looking forward to __________ out of
prison. (come)

101. He’s looking forward to __________ out of
prison. (come)
coming