Choosing between infinitives and gerunds

In general, infinitives tend to indicate intentions, desires, or expectations, and gerunds tend to indicate facts. Knowing whether to use an infinitive or a gerund in a sentence can be a challenge for many students.

INFINITIVES TO STATE INTENTIONS

Kumar expected to get a good job after graduation.

Last year, Fatima decided to change her major.

The strikers have refused to go back to work.

Verbs such as expect, decide, and refuse, which indicate intentions, must always be followed by an infinitive.

GERUNDS TO STATE FACTS

Jerzy enjoys going to the theater.

We resumed working after our coffee break.

Kim appreciated getting a card from Sean.

Verbs like enjoy, resume, and appreciate, which indicate that something has actually happened, can be followed only by gerunds, not by infinitives.

OTHER RULES AND GUIDELINES

A few verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund. With some, such as begin and continue, the choice doesn’t affect the meaning. With others, however, the difference is important.

Carlos was working as a medical technician, but he stopped to study English.

The infinitive shows that Carlos quit because he intended to study English.

When Carlos left the United States, he stopped studying English.

The gerund indicates that Carlos gave up his English studies when he left.

You can use only a gerund—never an infinitive—right after a preposition.

Consult a learner’s dictionary for more information on whether to follow a verb with an infinitive or a gerund.