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Frequent learner mistakes involving infinitives and gerunds.
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.
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.
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.
Avoid is followed by a gerund, not a to-infinitive.
Use avoid doing, for example, Try to avoid making mistakes.
Enjoy is followed by a gerund.
Use enjoy doing, not enjoy to do.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.