Gerunds and infinitives are different forms of verbs. A gerund is formed by adding "-ing" to a verb, like "meeting" from "meet". An infinitive is formed by adding "to" before the base form of a verb, like "to meet". Gerunds are used after some verbs, in certain expressions, as subjects of sentences, and after prepositions. Infinitives are used after some verbs and adjectives/adverbs, and after the indirect object of some verbs. Some verbs like "stop", "remember", and "forget" have different meanings depending on whether they are used with a gerund or infinitive.

1. Gerunds and Infinitives
Form and Uses

2. Form
• Gerund: you add –ing to a
verb:
– ie. Meet > Meeting
• Infinitive: you add “to”
before the base form of a
verb:
– ie. Meet > To meet

3. Uses: the gerund
• We use the gerund:
– After some verbs:
• Suggest, recommend,
like/dislike/prefer, love/hate,
enjoy, finish, miss, continue,
– ie. I suggested going to the
cinema (Propuse ir al cine)

4. – In some expressions:
• Feel like (Tener ganas de)
• It´s no use (No merece la pena)
• Get used to / Be used to (Estar
acostumbrandose / Estar
acostumbrado)
• Can´t stand (No poder
soportar)
• Can´t help (No poder evitar)
• Don´t mind (no importar)
– ie. I don´t mind cleaning my
room

5. – As subject in a sentence
when we talk about general
actions
• ie. Finding solutions to some
problems is not easy (Encontrar
soluciones a algunos
problemas no es fácil)

6. – After prepositions
• ie. I´m interested in studying
maths

7. Uses: the infinitive
• After some verbs, such as:
– Want / wish / hope
– Agree
– Appear / seem
– Choose
– Decide
– Learn
– Plan
– Promise
– Refuse
ie. I want to travel around the
country next year

8. – After some adjectives and
adverbs
• Happy to
• Slowly to
– ie. I´m happy to be here / He
ran too slowly to win

9. – After the indirect object of
some verbs, such as: ADVISE,
INVITE, TELL, WARN, TEACH,
PERSUADE
• ie. He advised me to go to the
doctor (Me aconsejó que fuese
al médico)

10. Verbs with a change of meaning
• Stop gerund = dejar de
hacer algo
• Stop infinitive = interrumpir
una acción para hacer
otra cosa
– ie. He stopped going out
with Mary / He stopped to
have a coffee

11. • Remember gerund = se
refiere algo pasado
• Remember infinitive = se
refiere al futuro
– I remember meeting him at a
party / I remembered to
close the window

12. • Forget gerund = indica
que se nos ha olvidado
que ocurrió algo
• Forget infinitive = significa
olvidarse de hacer algo
– ie. I forgot seeing him at a
party / I forgot to close the
door