Which comes next: infinitive or gerund?

In English, verb forms often “change” according to other words (other verbs, adjectives or nouns) around them.

For example, after the verb “like”, the next verb usually takes the -ing form, so:

I like eating cookies.

So we know that after preference verbs, such as like, love, hate and don’t mind, the action we’re describing should be a gerund (eating, going, walking, etc).

But after modal verbs like should or can, we can’t use -ing form verbs at all:

I shouldn’t going

Instead, we need to use short infinitive forms instead:

I should go

Sometimes knowing whether to choose the infinitive or “-ing” form can be confusing.

Verb patterns

When we put two verbs together in the same clause, the first verb affects or determines the form of the verb that comes next. This forms a kind of chain.

For example, in a phrase or sentence, if we say the word decide first, then the action that comes after it will always be the “infinitive” form ( or “to” form):

We decided to eat something.

Infinitive, base form or “ing”?

Altogether, there are three basic verb forms that English verbs can take when they come after other verbs as part of verb patterns:

• The infinitive or TO form: I decided to eat
• The short infinitive form (the base form): I can’t eat mushrooms
• The gerund form (sometimes called the ING form): I love eating caviar.

Modals + base form

In English we always use the base form (short infinitive) after modal verbs (can, could, should, would, will, might, must, may).

Example:

Jake: I can’t hear you. Can you speak up please?
Lyn: I’ll try.
Jake: Could you try a bit harder please?
Lyn: Look, I’m sorry, but my volume won’t go any higher.

We NEVER say: I can’t hearing you / I couldn’t to hear you

Sense verbs + base form / infinitive

We can also make a verb pattern with short infinitives after verbs like see, hear, feel, etc.

I saw Ali enter the building

When we use this verb pattern, we are saying that we experienced something happening from start to finish.

So for example, if I say:

I saw John leave

This means I noticed that John came out of his house, got into his car and then drove away.

If I saw John beginning to leave, but I wasn’t sure if he left or not, I would need to say:

I saw John leaving

This means that you saw part of – but NOT the whole – action.

Help, let and make + short verb form

We can also see verb patterns with short infinitives after verbs like help, let and make in some situations:

Please help me lift this suitcase!
We all helped do the washing up.
Let me go!  
I dropped a packet of cookies, so my mum made me clear up the mess.  

Verbs that come before infinitives

We need to use the long infinitive (or TO form) after verbs like promise, decide, expect, etc:

Promise – I promise to do my best

Expect – I expect to be with you by 6pm at the latest

Decide – We have decided to get married

Try  – Please try to get your work done

Need – I really need to know

Learn – I’m learning to drive (also how to drive)

Want – I really want to help you

Seem – I seem to feel a bit better now, Doctor

Manage –I managed to finish my report

Agree – She has agreed to work with our team

Infinitives after adjectives

We also use the long infinitive or TO form after some adjectives or adjective phrases:

• Adjectives of emotion

It’s so nice to see you!

I’m sorry to hear you failed the exam!

It’s great to know you’re still in London.

• Quality adjective phrases (too / enough)

I was too tired to go.

My hands are too small to play bass.

She wasn’t old enough to drive.

You’re big enough to know better.

And we can also use long verb infinitives after question word object clauses

I’m not sure when to leave.

I’m just wondering where to put these plates.

I’m not sure how to fix this light.

Can you tell me how to do it, please?

In these examples, the infinitive to + … means “I should”.

Infinitives for purpose or reason

We can also use infinitives in verb patterns to express purpose – or things that we want to do:

I went out to buy some eggs.

I bought a gun to protect myself from wild animals.

When we use infinitives to indicate purpose, the infinitive introduces a dependent clause and so works like a conjunction. In these examples we could say to or in order to.

Infinitives after nouns

We also use long infinitives after certain common “advice” phrases:

It’s a good idea to buy a tent when you go camping.

It was a mistake to attack that bear.

Finally, lets look at when we need to use the ING form or gerund to make verb patterns.

Which verbs before -ing forms?

We use ING form after verbs like these:

avoid going out

finish eating your lunch

(be) used to driving long distances

Imagine climbing that mountain

give up drinking banana milkshake

stop talking

start eating

carry on sleeping

We also use -ING form verbs after verbs of preference (like, love, hate, don’t mind) – to express our preferences for certain activities. (But see “similar meanings below, as sometimes we can use infinitive for preferences and the meaning is often similar:

like working from home

love meeting new people

enjoy seeing people at weekends

hate saying goodbye

can’t stand being tired all the time

don’t mind swimming

ING form verbs after phrases:

It’s worth / not worth going

There’s no point speaking to him

It’s no fun / It’s not much fun walking in the rain without a raincoat.

We usually also use ING for after prepositions

I’m interested in finding out more about this city

We’re looking forward to seeing you

She’s talking about going on holiday

Credit is a way of buying things and paying later (compound – two gerunds)

How long can you live without eating anything?

Cats can balance on thin branches by using their tails

ING form verbs to say HOW things happen

We also use ING form after a single action to say how that thing happens

I went to work riding on a skateboard

I often spend time visiting people

Or to talk about another action which is happening at the same time

She turned up wearing a lovely red blouse

I saw Mike sitting on his own eating a banana.

Similar meanings with infinitives and ING forms

Sometimes we can use either long infinitive or TO form and the meaning is the same or very close:

• I like swimming = I enjoy swimming in general / I like to swim in autumn = I prefer to swim at this time of year)
• I love to hear about new inventions – I love hearing about new inventions (meaning is roughly the same)