Gerund or Infinitive? 4 Rules for Everyday English Speech

Priya Sharma

Priya Sharma writes English learning guides for ESL students. Pune-based language enthusiast.

Visual representation of the voice · not a photographic portrait

Quick answer: Some verbs are followed by the -ing form (enjoy cooking), some by to + verb (want to cook), and a few change meaning depending on which you use (stop smoking vs. stop to smoke). After a preposition, always use -ing. Learn the most common verbs in each group and you will cover most daily conversations.↗ Share on X

To use gerunds and infinitives correctly, remember four rules. Some verbs take the -ing form (*I enjoy cooking*). Some verbs take "to" + verb (*I want to cook*). A few verbs change meaning depending on which one you pick (*I stopped smoking* vs. *I stopped to smoke*). And after a preposition, always use -ing (*I'm good at cooking*). Learn the short lists below and you will get it right in most daily conversations.

First, two quick definitions:

• A gerund is a verb with -ing that works like a noun: *swimming*, *reading*, *waiting*.
• An infinitive is to + the base verb: *to swim*, *to read*, *to wait*.

Both can follow another verb. The problem is that English does not let you choose freely. The first verb decides.

Rule 1: Which everyday verbs are followed by -ing?

READ ALSO10 English Grammar Rules to Check Before You Hit Send →Adjectives or Adverbs? The Rule That Fixes Most Mistakes →In, On or At: Time Prepositions You Stop Getting Wrong →

These verbs come up all the time in conversation. After them, use the -ing form.

A typical mistake: *"I enjoy to cook."* It sounds wrong to native speakers. Say *"I enjoy cooking."*

Another one: *"Do you mind to wait?"* The correct form is *"Do you mind waiting?"*

Rule 2: Which everyday verbs are followed by "to" + verb?

After these verbs, use the infinitive.

A typical mistake: *"I want going home."* Say *"I want to go home."*

Here is a helpful pattern, though not a perfect rule: many of these verbs talk about the future, a plan or a wish. You want, plan, hope or decide to do something that has not happened yet. Many -ing verbs, in contrast, talk about an activity you are already doing or have done: you enjoy it, finish it, keep doing it.

Rule 3: Which verbs work with both forms?

READ ALSOStop Making These 7 Common English Grammar Mistakes →Polite Requests in English: Which Modal Verb Do You Use? →Affect vs Effect: A Simple Test That Ends the Confusion →

Some verbs accept both, and the meaning stays almost the same:

• like — *I like swimming.* / *I like to swim.*
• love — *She loves reading.* / *She loves to read.*
• hate — *I hate waiting.* / *I hate to wait.*
• prefer — *I prefer walking.* / *I prefer to walk.*
• start / begin — *It started raining.* / *It started to rain.*
• continue — *He continued talking.* / *He continued to talk.*

With these verbs, you can relax. Both are correct.

One small exception: after would like, would love, would prefer, would hate, use the infinitive. *I would like to go* — not *I would like going.*

Which verbs change meaning? (the tricky ones)

This is where even advanced learners make mistakes. With these verbs, the form you choose changes what you are saying.

A simple way to remember stop, remember and forget:

• -ing looks back — at something that already happened.
• to + verb looks forward — at something that still needs to happen.

So *"Remember to buy bread"* is a task for later. *"I remember buying bread"* is a memory.

Rule 4: Why do we always use -ing after a preposition?

A preposition is a small linking word like at, in, on, of, about, for, without, before, after. After a preposition, English uses the -ing form. No exceptions here.

• I'm good at drawing.
• She's interested in learning French.
• Thanks for helping me.
• He left without saying goodbye.
• Wash your hands before eating.
• I'm thinking about changing jobs.

Now the trap. Some expressions end with the word "to", but here "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. So they take -ing:

• I look forward to seeing you. (not *to see*)
• I'm used to waking up early. (not *to wake*)
• She got used to living alone.
• I object to paying extra fees.

How can you tell? Try putting a noun after "to." If a noun fits (*I look forward to the weekend*), then "to" is a preposition, and you need -ing.

Careful: used to + verb (no "be" or "get") is different. *I used to smoke* means "I smoked in the past, but not now." That one takes the base verb.

What about a gerund as the subject of a sentence?

When an activity is the subject — the thing the sentence is about — native speakers usually use -ing:

• Swimming is good exercise.
• Learning a language takes time.
• Waiting in line makes me tired.

You can say *"To learn a language takes time,"* but it sounds formal and a little old-fashioned in daily talk. In conversation, use -ing.

What are the 8 mistakes to stop making today?

1. ❌ *I enjoy to travel.* → ✅ *I enjoy traveling.*

2. ❌ *I want going out.* → ✅ *I want to go out.*

3. ❌ *I look forward to hear from you.* → ✅ *I look forward to hearing from you.*

4. ❌ *Do you mind to help me?* → ✅ *Do you mind helping me?*

5. ❌ *She suggested to take a taxi.* → ✅ *She suggested taking a taxi.*

6. ❌ *I'm used to wake up at 6.* → ✅ *I'm used to waking up at 6.*

7. ❌ *Thanks for help me.* → ✅ *Thanks for helping me.*

8. ❌ *I'd like going with you.* → ✅ *I'd like to go with you.*

Read the correct versions out loud. Hearing yourself say the right form helps it stick much more than just reading.

How can you practice so it becomes automatic?

You do not need to memorize hundreds of verbs. In daily conversation, about 20 verbs show up again and again. Focus on those.

1. Make your own sentences. Take five verbs from the tables above and write one true sentence about your life with each. *"I keep forgetting my password."* Personal sentences are easier to remember.

2. Say them out loud three times. Your mouth needs practice too, not only your eyes.

3. Listen for them. In a podcast, series or video, notice when people say *enjoy*, *want*, *stop*, *remember*. Write down the full phrase you hear.

4. Use the "look back / look forward" test every time you use stop, remember or forget.

5. Check prepositions. When you write a message in English, look for words like *at, in, about, for, without*. Is the next verb in -ing?

Your next step

Pick the three verbs from this article that you use most — maybe *want*, *enjoy* and *look forward to*. Write one sentence about your own week with each, say them out loud, and use at least one of them in a real conversation or message today. Tomorrow, add three more verbs. In two weeks, you will have covered the verbs that appear in most everyday English.

FAQ

Is there a rule that tells me which verbs take -ing?

Not a perfect one. A loose tip: verbs about the future or plans (want, plan, hope, decide) often take to + verb, while verbs about experience or things already happening (enjoy, mind, finish, keep) often take -ing. But you still need to learn the common verbs one by one.

Why do people say 'I look forward to seeing you' and not 'to see you'?

Because the 'to' in 'look forward to' is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. After a preposition, English uses the -ing form. The same is true for 'be used to' and 'get used to'.

Can I say 'I like to swim' and 'I like swimming'?

Yes. With like, love, hate and prefer, both forms are correct and the meaning is almost the same. In American English, both are very common in everyday speech.