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❖ Unit 1 ❖ Youth: Potential and Challenges ❖ Grammar ❖

Gerund or Infinitive?

One of the most frequent points tested in the National English Exam. Choosing between the -ing form (gerund) and the to + verb form (to-infinitive) depends entirely on the word before: a verb, a preposition, an adjective or an expression. This lesson gives you all the patterns and the exceptions.

1

Three forms to distinguish

Every English verb has three forms that are easy to confuse. The choice between them is not free: it depends on the word that precedes.

Gerund

verb + ing

swimming, going, having, studying, being
Used as a noun in a sentence.

To-infinitive

to + verb

to swim, to go, to have, to study, to be
Often expresses purpose or intention.

Bare infinitive

verb (no "to")

swim, go, have, study, be
Used after modals and a few special verbs.

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When to use the gerund (V-ing)

Rule 1 — As subject of a sentence
V-ing + verb...
Dancing is fun.
Smoking destroys health.
Chatting wastes time.
Rule 2 — After prepositions
preposition (in, on, at, of, for, with, without, before, after, by, about) + V-ing
I am interested in understanding this lesson.
Instead of studying for her exam, she went out.
Rule 3 — After certain verbs
verb (enjoy, avoid, keep, mind, miss, practise, suggest, imagine, finish, waste, postpone, discuss, spend) + V-ing
I enjoy watching football on TV.
She suggested going to the beach.
Rule 4 — After certain expressions
expression + V-ing

It's no use / It's no good / It's not worth · can't help / can't stand / can't resist · look forward to / long for · be busy · be used to · feel like

I can't stand studying in a noisy place.
He is used to living alone.
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When to use the to-infinitive

Rule 1 — After adjectives
adjective (happy, good, bad, difficult, easy, nice, important, possible, dangerous) + to + verb
This lesson is easy to understand.
It is important to revise your lessons.
I'm happy to be here today.
Rule 2 — After certain verbs
verb (agree, appear/seem, decide, hope, learn, offer, plan/intend, tell, advise, ask, encourage, choose, expect, need/want, promise, refuse) + to + verb
They decided to buy a new house.
She agreed to marry him.
He wants to be an engineer.
Rule 3 — After certain expressions
expression (would like, can afford, how, what) + to + verb
I would like to visit New York one day.
I have only 30,000 DH, I can't afford to buy a new car.
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When to use the bare infinitive (verb)

Rule 1 — After modals
modal (can, could, will, shall, should, may, might, must, have to, has to, had to, needn't, had better, ought to) + verb (no to)
We must respect each other.
I may meet my friends this evening.
Rule 2 — After certain verbs & expressions
verb/expression (help, recommend, let's, let, would rather, used to) + verb (no to)
Let's go to the cinema next weekend.
I used to play football every day.
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Verbs that accept both forms (no change of meaning)

With the verbs below, you can use either the gerund or the to-infinitive with the same meaning: begin, start, like, love, prefer, hate, continue.

Both work — same meaning

She started studying English. = She started to study English.

I like watching films at the cinema. = I like to watch films at the cinema.

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Tricky pairs — meaning changes!

With stop, forget, remember and try, the choice between V-ing and to-infinitive changes the meaning. Be careful!

STOP + V-ing

= You stop doing the action.

Example: He stopped smoking.
(The man was a smoker before but now he isn't any more.)

STOP + to + verb

= You stop in order to do another action.

Example: He stopped to smoke.
(The man was doing something and he stopped it because he wanted to smoke.)

FORGET + to + verb

= Forget to do a future action.

Example: Don't forget to meet her tomorrow.
(You should meet her tomorrow.)

FORGET + V-ing

= Forget a past memory.

Example: I'll never forget meeting her for the first time.
(I'll never forget what happened.)

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Practice 1 — Choose the right form

Put the verbs between brackets in the correct form
  1. She has a bad stomach-ache. She had better (see) see a doctor. (after "had better" → bare infinitive)
  2. The teacher asked the student to be quiet, but he kept on (talk) talking. (after "keep on" → V-ing)
  3. We might (travel) travel somewhere next weekend. (after modal "might" → bare)
  4. They used to (live) live in Casablanca. Now they live in Marrakech. ("used to + bare infinitive")
  5. I think he would like (stay) to stay with us. (after "would like" → to-inf.)
  6. I started (collect) collecting / to collect stamps many years ago. (both forms OK)
  7. It's no good (explain) explaining a lesson again if all students understood it. (after "it's no good" → V-ing)
  8. My grandfather can't stand (live) living in a noisy area. (after "can't stand" → V-ing)
  9. They enjoy (spend) spending their holidays in Spain. (after "enjoy" → V-ing)
  10. Would you mind (be) being quiet? (after "mind" → V-ing)
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Practice 2 — More forms

Put the verbs between brackets in the correct form
  1. They decided (travel) to travel to Spain this summer.
  2. We must (give) give youths equal opportunities for education.
  3. My little brother is good at (play) playing computer games.
  4. This exercise is easy (do) to do.
  5. Yesterday I was driving home. When I saw the accident, I stopped (see) to see what was happening. (meaning: stopped in order to see)
  6. Nada must prepare for her exams. So, she stopped (chat) chatting with her friends. (meaning: she no longer chats)
  7. "Can you show me how (use) to use this mobile?" Karim asked his friend.
  8. (Read) Reading is my favourite hobby.
  9. Your computer is good. It's no use (buy) buying a new one.
  10. "Would you like (watch) to watch a movie with me?" Sara told her friend.
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Items from past National Exams

Choose the correct option
  1. Would you mind ___ the boss tomorrow. (call · calling · to call) — calling
  2. Oliver enjoys ___ to rap music. (to listen · listen · listening) — listening
  3. Stephanie stopped ___ when she realised that she had breathing problems. (smoke · smoking · smoked) — smoking
  4. Latifa will join us for dinner when she finishes ___ the baby. (feeding · feed · to feed) — feeding
  5. Do you enjoy ___ mysteries or science fiction books? (read · reading · to read) — reading
  6. Jamal ___ do part-time jobs when he was a student. (was used to · used to · used) — used to
  7. Hassan is looking forward to ___ the new car he has just ordered. (drive · driving · has driven) — driving
  8. You've lost too much weight, you'd better ___ a doctor. (see · seeing · to see) — see
  9. Try to avoid ___ food that contains too much fat. (to eat · eating · eat) — eating
  10. My aunt promised ___ me when she gets to Amsterdam. (calling · to call · call) — to call
  11. Don't forget ___ me a call when you get home. (to give · giving · give) — to give

❖ Key Takeaways ❖

① The rule depends on the WORD BEFORE

Always look at what comes before the missing verb: preposition? modal? adjective? specific verb? That word decides the form.

② Memorise the trigger words

The exam asks the same patterns again and again. Learn by heart: verbs that take V-ing (enjoy, avoid, mind, suggest…), verbs that take to-inf (decide, want, agree, promise…), and modals (+ bare).

③ Watch out for "stop / forget / remember"

With these verbs, the form changes the meaning. Stop + V-ing = quit; Stop + to-inf = pause to do something else.

❖ Exam tip

In the National Exam, gerund/infinitive items appear in almost every paper. They often hide in the "Correct the mistakes" exercise or in multiple choice. To never lose these marks, build a one-page sheet with the trigger lists (verbs taking V-ing vs. to-inf) and revise it the day before the exam.

❖ Unit 1 — Youth: Potential and Challenges — Grammar: Gerund or Infinitive ❖