What are Gerunds and Infinitives?
Gerunds and infinitives are two different verbal forms that cause confusion for English learners. Both act as nouns, but they form and follow different grammatical rules. Understanding their use will improve your writing and speaking.
Gerunds are -ing verb forms that function as nouns (e.g., 'Running is healthy'). Infinitives are 'to + verb' forms also used as nouns (e.g., 'To run is healthy').
Step-by-step worked examples
Which is gerund? I love hiking. A) hiking B) love
Gerund is -ing form. 'Hiking' ends in -ing. 'Love' is base verb. Answer: A (hiking).
Fill in the blank: She wants ___ (visit/visiting). Which is correct?
After 'want,' we use infinitive. 'To visit' is correct. 'Visiting' is gerund, not used here. Answer: to visit.
Transform: I like to read books → Using gerund: ___
Change infinitive to gerund. To read (infinitive) → reading (gerund). Answer: I like reading books.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Which is a gerund?
Q2.After 'enjoy,' which form?
Q3.Which uses infinitive?
Q4.Both forms work here: 'I prefer ___'
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What are Gerunds and Infinitives?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
All verbs use gerunds. — Correct: Different verbs take different forms—some want gerunds, some infinitives, some both.
Gerunds are always subjects of sentences. — Correct: Gerunds can be subjects, objects, or objects of prepositions.
Infinitives cannot be used as objects. — Correct: Many verbs take infinitives as objects: 'I want to leave,' 'She decided to go.'
'-ing form' is always a gerund. — Correct: '-ing' can be gerund, present participle, or other forms—context matters.
FAQ
What is the difference between gerunds and infinitives?
Gerunds are -ing forms functioning as nouns; infinitives are 'to + verb' forms also functioning as nouns. Some verbs prefer one or the other.
How do I know when to use a gerund vs. infinitive?
Learn verb lists: 'enjoy,' 'finish,' 'avoid' take gerunds; 'want,' 'hope,' 'decide' take infinitives. Many verbs accept both.
Can a gerund be a subject of a sentence?
Yes. 'Swimming is healthy' uses 'swimming' (gerund) as the subject.
Which verbs accept both gerunds and infinitives?
'Like,' 'love,' 'prefer,' 'start,' 'continue,' 'begin' often accept both: 'I like swimming' and 'I like to swim.'