Gerund vs Infinitive: Common Verbs

One of the trickiest aspects of English grammar is knowing whether to use a gerund (verb + -ing) or an infinitive (to + verb) after certain verbs. Many common verbs in English are followed by only one of these forms, and using the wrong one can sound unnatural or even change the meaning of your sentence.

Some verbs are always followed by a gerund. For example: "I enjoy reading books," "She avoids eating fast food," and "They finished working on the project." Other verbs require an infinitive: "I want to learn Spanish," "He decided to leave early," and "We hope to visit Paris someday."

Learning which verbs take gerunds and which take infinitives is largely a matter of memorization and practice. Common verbs that take gerunds include: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, and consider. Common verbs that take infinitives include: want, need, decide, hope, plan, and agree. With regular practice, choosing the correct form will become second nature!

Try the quiz to check your knowledge!