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Choosing between the infinitive and the gerund after verbs, adjectives and nouns.
Practice: build the sentences →The choice between a to-infinitive and a gerund depends on the grammatical pattern required by the preceding verb, adjective, noun, or expression.
Some words select an infinitive, some select a gerund, some allow both, and some allow both but with a change in meaning.
I want to go.
Я хочу пойти.
Infinitive after "want".
I enjoy going.
Я люблю ходить.
Gerund after "enjoy".
She decided to leave.
Она решила уйти.
Infinitive after "decide".
She avoided leaving.
Она избежала ухода.
Gerund after "avoid".
Some verbs are normally followed by a to-infinitive.
Common examples include want to, hope to, decide to, plan to, agree to, promise to, and refuse to.
I want to travel.
Я хочу путешествовать.
Want + to-infinitive.
She hopes to win.
Она надеется победить.
Hope + to-infinitive.
They decided to stay.
Они решили остаться.
Decide + to-infinitive.
Some verbs are normally followed by a gerund.
Common examples include enjoy doing, avoid doing, finish doing, suggest doing, consider doing, and mind doing.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
She avoids driving.
Она избегает вождения.
Avoid + gerund.
He finished working.
Он закончил работать.
Finish + gerund.
Some verbs are followed by an object and then a to-infinitive.
Common examples include want someone to do, expect someone to do, ask someone to do, tell someone to do, and advise someone to do.
I want you to come.
Я хочу, чтобы ты пришёл.
Want + object + to-infinitive.
She expected him to help.
Она ожидала, что он поможет.
Expect + object + to-infinitive.
They asked us to wait.
Они попросили нас подождать.
Ask + object + to-infinitive.
Some verbs can be followed by an object and a gerund when the object is associated with the activity.
Examples include stop someone doing something and prevent someone from doing something, depending on the verb pattern.
The rain stopped us from going out.
Дождь помешал нам выйти.
Stop + object + from + gerund.
She prevented him from leaving.
Она помешала ему уйти.
Prevent + object + from + gerund.
I cannot stop him from smoking.
Я не могу заставить его бросить курить.
Stop + object + from + gerund.
Some verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund with little or no significant change in meaning.
Examples include begin to work and begin working, and continue to work and continue working.
It began to rain.
Начался дождь.
Begin + to-infinitive.
It began raining.
Начался дождь.
Begin + gerund.
She continued to work.
Она продолжила работать.
Continue + to-infinitive.
She continued working.
Она продолжила работать.
Continue + gerund.
Begin and start can normally be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund.
For example, It began to rain and It began raining.
It began to rain.
Начался дождь.
Begin + to-infinitive.
It began raining.
Начался дождь.
Begin + gerund.
She started to cry.
Она начала плакать.
Start + to-infinitive.
She started crying.
Она начала плакать.
Start + gerund.
Continue can normally be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund with little difference in meaning.
For example, She continued to work and She continued working.
She continued to work.
Она продолжила работать.
Continue + to-infinitive.
She continued working.
Она продолжила работать.
Continue + gerund.
Prefer can occur with gerunds when comparing activities, while would prefer commonly takes a to-infinitive.
For example, I prefer walking to driving, but I would prefer to walk home today.
I prefer walking to driving.
Я предпочитаю ходить пешком, а не ездить.
Prefer + gerund when comparing activities.
I would prefer to walk home today.
Сегодня я предпочёл бы пойти домой пешком.
Would prefer + to-infinitive.
She prefers to stay home.
Она предпочитает остаться дома.
Prefer + to-infinitive.
Like and love can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund, although the choice can sometimes reflect differences in meaning or style.
For example, I like swimming describes a general enjoyment, while I like to check my email in the morning can describe a preferred habit.
I like swimming.
Я люблю плавать.
Like + gerund: general enjoyment.
I like to check my email in the morning.
Я люблю проверять почту по утрам.
Like + to-infinitive: preferred habit.
She loves dancing.
Она обожает танцевать.
Love + gerund.
Hate can take either a to-infinitive or a gerund, while can't stand is normally followed by a gerund.
For example, I hate waiting and I hate to wait, but I cannot stand waiting.
I hate waiting.
Я ненавижу ждать.
Hate + gerund.
I hate to wait.
Я не люблю ждать.
Hate + to-infinitive.
I cannot stand waiting.
Я не выношу ожидания.
Can't stand + gerund.
Remember takes a to-infinitive when referring to something that needs to be done and a gerund when referring to a remembered past event.
Compare Remember to lock the door with I remember locking the door.
Remember to lock the door.
Не забудь запереть дверь.
Remember + to-infinitive: future obligation.
I remember locking the door.
Я помню, как запирал дверь.
Remember + gerund: past memory.
Forget takes a to-infinitive when referring to something that should be done and can take a gerund when referring to a past event that has been forgotten.
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: something not done.
I will never forget meeting her.
Я никогда не забуду, как встретил её.
Forget + gerund: past memory.
Regret + gerund refers to regretting a past action, while regret + to-infinitive is used in formal expressions when announcing unpleasant information.
Compare I regret saying that with I regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
I regret saying that.
Я сожалею, что сказал это.
Regret + gerund: past action.
I regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
С сожалением сообщаю, что ваша заявка отклонена.
Regret + to-infinitive: formal announcement.
Stop + gerund means to end an activity, while stop + to-infinitive means to interrupt one activity in order to perform another.
Compare He stopped smoking with He stopped to smoke.
He stopped smoking.
Он бросил курить.
Stop + gerund: end the activity.
He stopped to smoke.
Он остановился, чтобы покурить.
Stop + to-infinitive: pause to do something.
Try + to-infinitive means make an effort to do something, while try + gerund means experiment with an action as a possible solution.
Compare Try to restart the computer with Try restarting the computer.
Try to restart the computer.
Попробуй перезагрузить компьютер.
Try + to-infinitive: make an effort.
Try restarting the computer.
Попробуй перезагрузить компьютер (как возможное решение).
Try + gerund: experiment with a solution.
Mean + to-infinitive expresses intention, while mean + gerund expresses that one thing involves or results in another.
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/result in.
Go on + gerund means continue the same activity, while go on + to-infinitive means move to a different activity or topic.
Compare She went on talking with She went on to explain the next point.
She went on talking.
Она продолжала говорить.
Go on + gerund: continue the same activity.
She went on to explain the next point.
Затем она перешла к объяснению следующего пункта.
Go on + to-infinitive: move to a new activity.
Need can take different forms depending on whether the subject performs the action or the action is required on the subject.
Compare I need to clean the car with The car needs cleaning, where the second structure has passive meaning.
I need to clean the car.
Мне нужно помыть машину.
Need + to-infinitive: subject performs action.
The car needs cleaning.
Машину нужно помыть.
Need + gerund: passive meaning.
Allow and permit commonly take an object + to-infinitive or a gerund/prepositional pattern depending on the construction.
For example, They allowed him to leave and They do not permit smoking.
They allowed him to leave.
Они позволили ему уйти.
Allow + object + to-infinitive.
They do not permit smoking.
Они не разрешают курить.
Permit + gerund.
Advise and recommend can take different complement patterns, including a to-infinitive with an object and a gerund.
For example, I advised him to wait and I advised waiting. Recommend is normally followed by a gerund or a that-clause rather than object + to-infinitive.
I advised him to wait.
Я посоветовал ему подождать.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
I advised waiting.
Я посоветовал подождать.
Advise + gerund.
I recommend reading this book.
Я рекомендую прочитать эту книгу.
Recommend + gerund.
Suggest is normally followed by a gerund, a that-clause, or another structure, but not by object + to-infinitive in standard English.
For example, She suggested going by train and She suggested that we go by train. Avoid 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.
When a verb follows a preposition, it normally appears in the -ing form rather than as a to-infinitive.
For example, She left without saying goodbye and They talked about moving abroad.
She left without saying goodbye.
Она ушла, не попрощавшись.
Without + gerund.
They talked about moving abroad.
Они говорили о переезде за границу.
About + gerund.
In expressions where to is 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.
Some adjectives allow a to-infinitive, while adjective + preposition combinations normally require a gerund.
Compare happy to help with interested in learning and afraid of making mistakes.
I am happy to help.
Я рад помочь.
Adjective + to-infinitive.
She is interested in learning.
Она заинтересована в обучении.
Adjective + preposition + gerund.
He is afraid of making mistakes.
Он боится совершать ошибки.
Afraid of + gerund.
Some nouns are followed by a to-infinitive while others commonly take a preposition + gerund structure.
For example, a decision to leave but difficulty in understanding the instructions.
He made a decision to leave.
Он принял решение уйти.
Decision + to-infinitive.
She had difficulty in understanding the instructions.
Ей было трудно понять инструкции.
Difficulty + in + gerund.
The choice between infinitive and gerund is sometimes determined by the verb's lexical pattern rather than a general meaning rule.
Learners often need to learn verb patterns such as avoid doing, decide to do, and hope to do as individual constructions.
She avoids driving at night.
Она избегает вождения ночью.
Avoid + gerund.
He decided to stay.
Он решил остаться.
Decide + to-infinitive.
When a verb can have more than one complement pattern, dictionary information and context can help determine the appropriate construction.
This is particularly important for verbs such as remember, stop, try, regret, mean, and go on.
Remember to lock the door.
Не забудь запереть дверь.
Remember + to-infinitive.
I remember locking the door.
Я помню, как запирал дверь.
Remember + gerund.
He stopped smoking.
Он бросил курить.
Stop + gerund.
He stopped to smoke.
Он остановился, чтобы покурить.
Stop + to-infinitive.
Choose the complement form required by the preceding verb, adjective, noun, or preposition and consider whether changing the form changes the meaning.
Common mistakes include using an infinitive after a preposition, confusing to-infinitive and gerund patterns, using object + to-infinitive after suggest, and overlooking meaning changes after verbs such as remember, stop, try, and regret.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Correct: enjoy + gerund.
I enjoy to read.
Я люблю читать.
Incorrect: enjoy takes gerund.
She suggested going.
Она предложила пойти.
Correct: suggest + gerund.
She suggested us to go.
Она предложила нам пойти.
Incorrect: suggest not followed by object + to-infinitive.
I look forward to seeing you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Correct: look forward to + gerund.
I look forward to see you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Incorrect: to is preposition here, so gerund needed.