Theory Gerund vs Infinitive

The -ing form is used:
1. As a noun in the function of the subject.
Exercising is a good for your health.

The -ing form is used:
2. After the verbs:
admit
appreciate
avoid
consider
continue
deny
fancy
go (for activities)
imagine
mind
miss
practise
prevent
quit
save
suggest
You should avoid eating junk food.

The -ing form is used:
3. After the verbs:
love
like
enjoy
prefer
dislike
hate
to express general preference.
Jane prefers living alone.
Jack enjoys playing his guitar.

The -ing form is used:
4. After expressions such as:
be busy
it’s no use
it’s no good
it’s (not) worth
what’s the use of
can’t help
there’s no point (in)
can’t stand
have difficulty (in)
have trouble
I have difficulty (in) understanding what he says.

The -ing form is used:
4. After the verbs:
spend
waste
lose
(time, money)
He spends hours reading every day.

The -ing form is used:
5. After the preposition to with verbs and expressions such as:
look forward to
be used to
in addition to
object to
prefer (doing sth to sth else)
She prefers walking to driving to work.

The -ing form is used:
6. After other prepositions.
I was thinking of calling John.
He apologised for being late.

7. After the verbs:
hear
listen to
notice
see
watch
feel
The -ing form is used:
BUT we use the infinitive without to with hear, listen to, notice, see, watch and feel to describe a completed action.
I saw Pam waiting for the bus. (I only saw part of the action.)
I didn’t see Pam get on the bus. (The action was completed.)

1. To express purpose.
The to-infinitive is used:
She went to the supermarket to buy some cheese.

2. After certain verbs that refer to the future:
The to-infinitive is used:
agree
appear
decide
expect
hope
plan
promise
refuse
want
I expect him to be here.
I want you to come.

3. After
The to-infinitive is used:
would like
would prefer
would love
to express a specific preference.
I would love to come to your party!

4. After adjectives which describe feelings/emotions (happy, glad, sad, etc), express willingness/unwillingness (eager, reluctant, willing, etc) or refer to a person person’s character, and the adjectives lucky and fortunate (clever, kind, etc)
The to-infinitive is used:
I was sad to hear you were not feeling well!

5. After
The to-infinitive is used:
too
enough
She’s old enough to watch the film.

6. With it + be + adjectives/noun
The to-infinitive is used:
It was moving to see him again after so many years.

7. After be + first/second/next/last etc.
The to-infinitive is used:
She was the first person to call me on my birthday.

8. After verbs and expressions such as
The to-infinitive is used:
ask
decide
explain
find out
learn
want
want to know
when they are followed by a question word.
She asked me when to get the tickets.

9. In the expressions
The to-infinitive is used:
To tell you the truth
To be honest
To sum up
To begin with
To sum up, the government needs to take measures to deal with unemployment more effectively.

10. After certain nouns.
The to-infinitive is used:
It’s my honour to take part in this festival.
11. With so + adjectives + as.
Would you be so kind as to help me with the door?

12. With ‘only’ expressing an unsatisfactory result.
The to-infinitive is used:
She drove all the way to the mall only to find it was closed.
It was very unusual for John to speak so rudely.
13. In the expressions
for + noun/pronoun + to-inf.

14. Dare expressing “having the courage to do something” is used with an infinitive with or without to.
The to-infinitive is used:
I don’t dare (to) tell him the truth.
Dare expressing a threat, a warning or anger, is used with an infinitive without to.
Don’t you dare talk to me like that.
Dare expressing a challenge is used with a to-infinitive.
I dare you to dive into the sea from the cliff.

1. After Modal verbs.
The infinitive without to
(also called bare infinitive)
Sally can speak Portuguese fluently
2. After the verbs let, make, see, hear and feel.
They let him travel on his own.

The infinitive without to
BUT
1. We use to-infinitive after be made, be heard, be seen, etc (passive form).
He was seen to steal goods from the greengrocer’s.
NOTE:
2. When see, hear and watch are followed by an –ing form, there is no change in the passive.
I heard her crying in her room.
She was heard crying in her room.

The infinitive without to
3. After had better and would rather.
You had better put a jacket on.
NOTE:
Help can be followed by either the
to-infinitive or the infinitive without to.
She helped me (to) carry the desk.

Verbs taking to-infinitive or –ing form without a change in meaning
1.
begin
continue
intend
start
She began talking/to talk.
She is beginning talking/to talk.

Verbs taking to-infinitive or –ing form without a change in meaning
2.
advise
allow
encourage
permit
require
+ object + to-inf
He advised me to stay indoors.

Verbs taking to-infinitive or –ing form without a change in meaning
3.
advise
allow
encourage
permit
require
+ -ing form
He advised taking two tablets.

Verbs taking to-infinitive or –ing form without a change in meaning
4.
be advised
be allowed
be encouraged
be permitted
be required
+ to-inf
I was advised to take two tablets.

Verbs taking to-infinitive or –ing form without a change in meaning
5.
need
require
want
+ to—inf / -ing form/passive inf
You need to mow the lawn.
The lawn needs mowing. The lawn needs to be mowed.

Expressing Preference
1. To express general preference we use:
I prefer + noun/-ing + to + noun/-ing
I prefer vegetables to meat.
I prefer painting to drawing.
I prefer + to-infinitive + rather than + bare infinitive
I prefer to go out rather than stay at home on a Saturday.

Expressing Preference
1. To express specific preference we use:
I’d prefer + to-infinitive (+ rather than + bare inf)
I’d prefer to go to a restaurant (rather than eat in).

Expressing Preference
2. To express specific preference we use:
I’d prefer + noun (+ rather than + noun)
Would you like some tea? – I’d prefer a glass of water, thank you.