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Frequent learner mistakes involving infinitives and gerunds.
Practice: build the sentences →The choice between a to-infinitive and a gerund depends on the grammatical pattern required by the preceding word or construction.
There is no single rule that determines the choice in every case. Verbs, adjectives, nouns, and prepositions select particular complement patterns.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy takes a gerund.
I want to read.
Я хочу читать.
Want takes a to-infinitive.
She is interested in learning.
Она заинтересована в обучении.
Preposition + gerund.
A verb following a preposition normally takes the gerund form rather than the to-infinitive.
For example, She is interested in learning and He left without saying goodbye.
She is interested in learning English.
Она заинтересована в изучении английского.
In + gerund.
He left without saying goodbye.
Он ушёл, не попрощавшись.
Without + gerund.
They talked about moving abroad.
Они говорили о переезде за границу.
About + gerund.
When to functions as a preposition rather than an infinitive marker, it is followed by a gerund.
For example, I look forward to seeing you and She is used to getting up early.
I look forward to seeing you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Look forward to + gerund.
She is used to getting up early.
Она привыкла рано вставать.
Used to + gerund.
Avoid is followed by a gerund, not a to-infinitive.
Use avoid doing, for example, Try to avoid making mistakes.
Try to avoid making mistakes.
Старайся избегать ошибок.
Avoid + gerund.
She avoids driving at night.
Она избегает вождения ночью.
Avoid + gerund.
Enjoy is followed by a gerund.
Use enjoy doing, not enjoy to do.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
She enjoys working with children.
Она любит работать с детьми.
Enjoy + gerund.
Want is normally followed by a to-infinitive or by an object plus a to-infinitive.
For example, I want to leave and I want him to leave.
I want to leave.
Я хочу уйти.
Want + to-infinitive.
I want him to leave.
Я хочу, чтобы он ушёл.
Want + object + to-infinitive.
Suggest is normally followed by a gerund, a that-clause, or another appropriate pattern, but not object + to-infinitive in standard English.
Use She suggested going or She suggested that we go, not She suggested us to go.
She suggested going by train.
Она предложила поехать на поезде.
Suggest + gerund.
She suggested that we go by train.
Она предложила, чтобы мы поехали на поезде.
Suggest + that-clause.
Recommend can be followed by a gerund or a that-clause, but normally not by object + to-infinitive.
For example, I recommend booking early and I recommend that you book early.
I recommend booking early.
Я рекомендую бронировать заранее.
Recommend + gerund.
I recommend that you book early.
Я рекомендую вам бронировать заранее.
Recommend + that-clause.
Make and let are followed by an object and the bare infinitive in their active constructions.
Use They made him leave and They let her go, not They made him to leave or They let her to go.
They made him leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
They let her go.
Они позволили ей уйти.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
Core modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive.
Use can go, must leave, and should wait, not can to go, must to leave, or should to wait.
She can go.
Она может пойти.
Can + bare infinitive.
You must leave.
Ты должен уйти.
Must + bare infinitive.
We should wait.
Нам следует подождать.
Should + bare infinitive.
Help can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive.
Both She helped me to carry the bags and She helped me carry the bags are standard.
She helped me to carry the bags.
Она помогла мне нести сумки.
Help + object + to-infinitive.
She helped me carry the bags.
Она помогла мне нести сумки.
Help + object + bare infinitive.
Remember + to-infinitive refers to remembering a required action, while remember + gerund refers to remembering a past experience.
Compare Remember to call her with I remember calling her.
Remember to call her.
Не забудь позвонить ей.
Remember + to-infinitive: future task.
I remember calling her.
Я помню, как звонил ей.
Remember + gerund: past memory.
Forget + to-infinitive refers to failing to perform a remembered action, while forget + gerund refers to losing a memory of a past experience.
Compare I forgot to call him with I will never forget meeting her.
I forgot to call him.
Я забыл позвонить ему.
Forget + to-infinitive: task not done.
I will never forget meeting her.
Я никогда не забуду, как встретил её.
Forget + gerund: past memory.
Stop + gerund means end an activity, while stop + to-infinitive means pause one activity in order to perform another.
Compare She stopped smoking with She stopped to answer the phone.
She stopped smoking.
Она бросила курить.
Stop + gerund: end activity.
She stopped to answer the phone.
Она остановилась, чтобы ответить на звонок.
Stop + to-infinitive: pause to do something else.
Try + to-infinitive means make an effort, while try + gerund means experiment with a possible solution.
Compare Try to open the door with Try turning the key the other way.
Try to open the door.
Попытайся открыть дверь.
Try + to-infinitive: make an effort.
Try turning the key the other way.
Попробуй повернуть ключ в другую сторону.
Try + gerund: experiment with a solution.
Mean + to-infinitive expresses intention, while mean + gerund expresses that something involves or results in another action.
Compare I meant to call you with This job means working late.
I meant to call you.
Я собирался позвонить тебе.
Mean + to-infinitive: intention.
This job means working late.
Эта работа означает работу допоздна.
Mean + gerund: involve.
Go on + gerund means continue the same activity, while go on + to-infinitive means move to another activity or stage.
Compare He went on talking with He went on to explain the next point.
He went on talking.
Он продолжал говорить.
Go on + gerund: continue same activity.
He went on to explain the next point.
Затем он перешёл к объяснению следующего пункта.
Go on + to-infinitive: move to new activity.
Regret + to-infinitive is commonly used when reporting unpleasant information, while regret + gerund refers to regret about a past action.
Compare We regret to inform you with I regret saying that.
We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
С сожалением сообщаем, что ваша заявка отклонена.
Regret + to-infinitive: formal announcement.
I regret saying that.
Я сожалею, что сказал это.
Regret + gerund: past regret.
Need + gerund can express a passive meaning similar to need + to be + past participle.
For example, The car needs washing and The car needs to be washed.
The car needs washing.
Машину нужно помыть.
Need + gerund: passive meaning.
The car needs to be washed.
Машину нужно помыть.
Need + to be + past participle.
Question words such as what, where, how, and when can be followed by to-infinitives in certain constructions.
For example, I do not know what to do and She explained how to use the machine.
I do not know what to do.
Я не знаю, что делать.
What + to-infinitive.
She explained how to use the machine.
Она объяснила, как пользоваться машиной.
How + to-infinitive.
When an explicit subject is needed for an infinitive clause, use for + noun or pronoun + to-infinitive where appropriate.
For example, It is important for students to understand the rule.
It is important for students to understand the rule.
Важно, чтобы студенты понимали правило.
For + object + to-infinitive.
It is difficult for me to explain.
Мне сложно объяснить.
For me + to-infinitive.
Use a passive infinitive when the subject receives the action rather than performing it.
Compare She expects to win with She expects to be invited.
She expects to win.
Она ожидает победы.
Active infinitive: subject performs.
She expects to be invited.
Она ожидает, что её пригласят.
Passive infinitive: subject receives.
The perfect infinitive normally refers to an action that happened before the time of the main verb.
For example, He seems to have forgotten the appointment.
He seems to have forgotten the appointment.
Кажется, он забыл о встрече.
Perfect infinitive: earlier action.
She appears to have left.
Кажется, она ушла.
To have + past participle.
The perfect gerund can emphasize that the gerund action happened before the main clause event or state.
For example, She denied having seen him before.
She denied having seen him before.
Она отрицала, что видела его раньше.
Perfect gerund: earlier action.
He admitted having made a mistake.
Он признал, что совершил ошибку.
Having + past participle.
Not every -ing form is a gerund; the same form can function as part of a progressive verb phrase or as a participle.
For example, Swimming is enjoyable contains a gerund, while She is swimming contains a present participle as part of the progressive verb.
Swimming is enjoyable.
Плавание приятно.
Gerund as noun.
She is swimming.
Она плавает.
Present participle in progressive.
A to-infinitive can express either purpose or an unexpected result depending on context.
Compare She went to the shop to buy bread with She arrived home to find the door open.
She went to the shop to buy bread.
Она пошла в магазин, чтобы купить хлеба.
Infinitive of purpose.
She arrived home to find the door open.
Она пришла домой и обнаружила дверь открытой.
Infinitive of result.
A split infinitive is not inherently ungrammatical and can sometimes provide the clearest or most natural wording.
For example, to carefully consider the evidence is a standard construction. Avoiding a split infinitive is a style preference in some contexts, not a universal grammar rule.
She decided to carefully consider the evidence.
Она решила тщательно рассмотреть доказательства.
Split infinitive is acceptable.
He wants to quickly finish the report.
Он хочет быстро закончить отчёт.
Split infinitive.
Too and enough have specific positions and meanings when followed by infinitives.
Compare too difficult to understand, easy enough to understand, and enough time to finish.
The problem is too difficult to understand.
Проблема слишком сложна, чтобы её понять.
Too + adjective + to-infinitive.
The problem is easy enough to understand.
Проблема достаточно проста, чтобы её понять.
Adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
We have enough time to finish.
У нас достаточно времени, чтобы закончить.
Enough + noun + to-infinitive.
Verb patterns must be learned with the individual verb because similar meanings do not guarantee the same complement structure.
For example, enjoy doing, decide to do, suggest doing, and persuade someone to do require different patterns.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
I decided to leave.
Я решил уйти.
Decide + to-infinitive.
She suggested going.
Она предложила пойти.
Suggest + gerund.
She persuaded him to apply.
Она убедила его подать заявку.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive.
Accurate use of infinitives and gerunds requires control of complement patterns, meaning differences, prepositions, non-finite forms, and special constructions.
Before choosing a form, identify the preceding word or structure, determine whether a preposition is present, and check whether the meaning changes with the alternative form.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Correct: enjoy + gerund.
I enjoy to read.
Я люблю читать.
Incorrect: enjoy takes gerund.
I look forward to seeing you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Correct: preposition + gerund.
I look forward to see you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Incorrect: to is a preposition here, so gerund needed.
They made him leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Correct: make + object + bare infinitive.
They made him to leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Incorrect: no "to" after "make" in active.
The car needs washing.
Машину нужно помыть.
Correct: need + gerund with passive meaning.
The car needs to wash.
Машину нужно помыть.
Incorrect: passive meaning requires "to be washed" or gerund.