Theme: Gerunds and infinitives

2. Gerunds and infinitives can both be the object of a sentence

When it comes to the object of a sentence, both gerunds and infinitives can do the job: 

• 
  Gerund form: She enjoys dancing to hip hop music. 
  
• 
  Infinitive form: They decided to dance at the club.
  

Wondering why the main verbs are different in the two sentences above (‘enjoys’ vs. ‘decided’)?
We’ll cover that in rule #3 – keep reading!

3. Some verbs only work with gerunds as the object

Depending on the main verb in your sentence, you may or may not use a gerund as the object of the sentence. That’s because not all verbs work with gerunds, as shown below:

• 
  Correct: I miss seeing my friends every weekend.
  
• 
  Incorrect: I want seeing my friends every weekend.
  

The verb ‘miss’ works in a sentence with gerunds, whereas the verb ‘want’ does not. 

Here’s a list of some common verbs that are used with gerunds: 

allow	appreciate	avoid	can’t help
celebrate	consider	delay	discuss
dislike	enjoy	escape	explain
fear	feel like	finish	give up
keep/keep on	mention	mind	miss
permit	practice	recommend	risk
suggest	support	tolerate	understand

• 
  I appreciate getting advice from you. 
  
• 
  I can’t help crying when I see that advert.
  
• 
  They’ve finally finished building their dream home!
  
• 
  You should study – don’t risk failing the test!
  
• 
  Don’t delay getting the vaccine!
  

4. Some verbs only work with infinitives as the object

You probably saw this one coming. While some verbs are only used with gerunds, others are only used with infinitives. 
Let’s flip the example from above to illustrate:

• 
  Correct: I want to see my friends every weekend. 
  

• 
  Incorrect: I miss to see my friends every weekend.
  

In this case, the verb ‘want’ is the correct one to use with an infinitive as the object. The verb ‘miss’ does not work with an infinitive form. 

These are a few of the verbs that are used with infinitives:

agree	appear	ask	attempt
can/can’t afford	can/can’t wait	choose	decide
deserve	expect	fail	get
grow up	hope	learn	manage
mean	need	offer	plan
prepare	pretend	promise	refuse
request	seem	wait	want

• 
  We can’t wait to go on holiday again!
  
• 
  She decided to get a dragon tattoo.
  
• 
  I think he’ll grow up to be a basketball player.
  
• 
  He promised to call me tomorrow evening.
  
• 
  That child refuses to eat any green vegetables. 
  

5. Some verbs work with both gerunds and infinitives

We’ve seen above that there are many situations in which you have to choose between either a gerund or an infinitive depending on the main verb. But some verbs that can take both gerunds and infinitives and the meaning of the sentence won’t change. 
Here are some of the most common ones:

begin	can’t stand	continue	hate
like	love	prefer	start

• 
  Every morning, I begin working at 8:30. 
  
• 
  Every morning, I begin to work at 8:30. 
  

• 
  I hate going grocery shopping on Saturdays.
  
• 
  I hate to go grocery shopping on Saturdays. 
  

• 
  She prefers eating salad for dinner.
  
• 
  She prefers to eat salad for dinner. 
  

6. Infinitives are often used after adjectives

We’ve talked a lot about verbs, but now we’re shifting to adjectives. It’s very common for an adjective to be paired with an infinitive in a sentence:

• 
  It’s very difficult to quit drinking coffee. 
  
• 
  My mom thinks it’s fun to bake fancy cakes.
  

7. Infinitives are used with ‘too’ and ‘enough’

Another place you’ll see infinitives is in a sentence that uses the words ‘too’ or ‘enough’:

• 
  It’s too cold to eat outside today. 
  
• 
  I’m not brave enough to ride that roller coaster. 
  

8. Infinitives are used after indirect objects

In a sentence with an indirect object, you’ll use an infinitive after that object, whether it’s a noun or pronoun:

• 
  I told them to stop fighting. 
  
• 
  He advised my mom to pay her taxes immediately.
  

9. Gerunds are used after most prepositions

Got a preposition in your sentence? Follow it with a gerund! Nearly all prepositions take a gerund rather than an infinitive:

• 
  Have you heard of sand surfing?
  
• 
  She told me about working in Germany. 
  

10. Infinitives are used to explain purpose

To explain a reason or a purpose for doing something, use an infinitive. They more or less answer the question ‘Why’?

• 
  I’m learning English to get more job opportunities. 
  → Answers the question ‘Why are you learning English?’
  

• 
  I’ve taken up running to increase my fitness level.
  → Answers the question ‘Why have you taken up running?’