What's the Difference Between Infinitive and Gerund?
Infinitives (to run, to eat) and gerunds (running, eating) are non-finite verb forms that function as nouns or modifiers. Choosing between them depends on the verb or structure that precedes them.
An infinitive is the 'to' form of a verb (to run); a gerund is the -ing form (running). Some verbs take only infinitives, others only gerunds, and some accept both—each carrying a subtle meaning shift.
- •Form: to run, to eat, to go
- •Often marks future intention or abstract action
- •Used after: want, plan, decide, hope, seem
- •Example: I want to travel.
- •Form: running, eating, going
- •Often marks ongoing or habitual action
- •Used after: enjoy, avoid, finish, stop, consider
- •Example: I enjoy traveling.
Step-by-step worked examples
I want to learn Spanish (infinitive) vs I enjoy learning Spanish (gerund). Explain the nuance.
Infinitive 'to learn': expresses intention, desire, or future plan. Gerund 'learning': expresses the action itself, pleasure in the activity. 'Want to learn' = goal; 'enjoy learning' = appreciation of the activity.
He started coding / He started to code. Do both work? What's the difference?
Yes, both work with 'start' (it accepts both). 'Started coding' emphasizes the action beginning naturally. 'Started to code' suggests he began with the intention, perhaps didn't finish. Nuance: -ing = ongoing; to-infinitive = intention.
She avoided asking for help vs She avoided to ask for help. Which is correct?
'Avoid' only takes gerunds, so 'avoided asking' is correct. 'Avoided to ask' is grammatically wrong. Rule: verb + gerund is mandatory after 'avoid'.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Choose: I can't imagine ____ here.
Q2.He promised ____ on time.
Q3.Which verb takes ONLY gerunds?
Q4.I suggest ____ early.
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What's the Difference Between Infinitive and Gerund?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
Using a gerund after 'want': 'I want running.' — Correct: Use infinitive: 'I want to run.'
Using infinitive after 'avoid': 'She avoided to call.' — Correct: Use gerund: 'She avoided calling.'
Forgetting that some verbs accept both forms with different meanings. — Correct: Check context: 'I like to go' (habitual) vs 'I like going' (enjoy the activity).
Not recognizing gerunds as nouns that can be subjects. — Correct: 'Running is fun' — 'running' is the subject noun.
FAQ
How do I know whether to use infinitive or gerund?
It depends on the main verb or structure. Some verbs (want, plan) always take infinitives; others (enjoy, avoid) take gerunds. Memorizing verb patterns helps.
Can gerunds be used as subjects?
Yes! 'Swimming is healthy.' Here 'swimming' is a gerund noun used as the subject.
What's the difference between 'I like to read' and 'I like reading'?
'Like to read' suggests a habitual action or routine; 'like reading' suggests you enjoy the activity itself. Both are acceptable, but the nuance differs.
Do infinitives and gerunds ever have subjects?
Gerunds can have possessive subjects ('I enjoy his singing'). Infinitives typically need a main clause subject but can have 'for + noun' ('It's important for her to succeed').