Why do we say I enjoy reading but I want to read? Both sentences place one verb after another, yet English uses an -ing form in one and a to-infinitive in the other.
The choice often depends on the first verb. Some verbs are normally followed by a gerund, some by an infinitive, and some can take either form. With certain verbs, switching from one form to the other changes the meaning.
Understanding these patterns is more useful than trying to apply one rule to every sentence.
Gerund vs. Infinitive: The Main Difference
A gerund uses the -ing form of a verb in a noun-like role.
Maya enjoys reading.
An infinitive in this comparison usually means a to-infinitive, formed with to + base verb.
Maya wants to read.
When a gerund or infinitive follows another verb, English does not always allow you to choose freely between them.
A few common patterns look like this:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Verb + gerund | enjoy reading |
| Verb + to-infinitive | want to read |
| Either form possible | start reading / start to read |
| Form changes the meaning | stop talking / stop to talk |
The key question is not simply whether an activity can be expressed with -ing or to. You need to look at the grammatical pattern used by the first verb.
Why Some Verbs Take a Gerund and Others Take an Infinitive
There is no single rule that predicts every gerund or infinitive pattern in English.
For example:
Noah enjoys cooking.
but:
Noah hopes to cook professionally.
The difference does not come from the activity itself. It comes from the way the verbs enjoy and hope are normally used.
That is why it helps to learn verbs as complete patterns:
enjoy doing
avoid doing
decide to do
hope to do
ask someone to do
This approach is more reliable than trying to decide from the meaning of the second verb alone.
Verbs Followed by Gerunds
Some verbs are normally followed by a gerund in this pattern.
Common examples include:
- avoid
- consider
- enjoy
- finish
- keep
- mind
- practice
- suggest
Olivia enjoys working from home.
Marcus considered changing his schedule.
Ethan avoided answering the question.
Sophie suggested leaving before rush hour.
The -ing form completes the meaning of the first verb.
For example, enjoy is normally followed by a gerund:
We enjoy hiking.
Not:
We enjoy to hike.
A larger set of verbs follows this pattern, but it is better to learn them gradually as verb + gerund combinations rather than treating them as isolated vocabulary.
Verbs Followed by To-Infinitives
Other verbs are commonly followed by a to-infinitive.
These include:
- agree
- decide
- hope
- learn
- manage
- plan
- promise
- want
Claire agreed to help.
Daniel decided to stay.
Mia hopes to study abroad.
Lucas managed to finish the project on time.
With these verbs, the usual pattern is:
verb + to-infinitive
For example:
Ava wants to leave early.
Not:
Ava wants leaving early.
Again, the pattern belongs to the first verb.
Verbs Followed by an Object + To-Infinitive
Some verbs can be followed by a person or thing and then a to-infinitive.
The pattern is:
verb + object + to-infinitive
The manager asked Olivia to wait.
We want Ethan to join us.
The teacher told everyone to begin.
Sarah encouraged her brother to apply.
In these sentences, the object identifies who is expected, asked, encouraged, or wanted to perform the action in the infinitive.
Compare:
Daniel wants to leave.
Daniel is the person who will leave.
Daniel wants Emma to leave.
Emma is the person who will leave.
This pattern is especially common after verbs such as ask, allow, encourage, expect, tell, and want.
Verbs That Can Take Either Form
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive without a major change in meaning.
Common examples include begin, start, and continue.
It started raining.
It started to rain.
Both sentences are natural.
Another pair:
Emma continued working after lunch.
Emma continued to work after lunch.
In many contexts, the meaning is very similar.
That does not mean every verb allows both forms. It also does not mean that two forms always have exactly the same meaning when both are possible. Some verbs require much more careful attention.
When Gerund vs. Infinitive Changes the Meaning
With certain verbs, both forms are grammatical, but they express different ideas.
These are some of the most important patterns to recognize.
Stop Doing vs. Stop to Do
Stop + gerund means to end an activity.
Elena stopped checking her phone.
She had been checking it and then ended that activity.
Stop + to-infinitive means to pause one activity in order to do something else.
Elena stopped to check her phone.
She was doing something else, paused, and checked her phone.
The difference is not small. The two sentences describe different situations.
Remember Doing vs. Remember to Do
Remember + gerund refers to a memory of something that already happened.
I remember meeting Alex at the conference.
The meeting happened, and the speaker remembers it.
Remember + to-infinitive means not forgetting to perform an intended action.
Remember to email Alex tomorrow.
The remembering must happen before the email is sent.
Forget Doing vs. Forget to Do
Forget + gerund refers to remembering or failing to remember an event that has already happened.
A common natural form is:
I will never forget seeing the mountains for the first time.
The event happened, and the speaker expects to remember it.
Forget + to-infinitive means failing to perform an intended action because it was forgotten.
Maya forgot to bring her keys.
She intended to bring them, but the action did not happen.
Try Doing vs. Try to Do
Try + gerund means testing an action as a possible solution or method.
Try restarting the computer.
Restarting is being suggested as something that may solve the problem.
Try + to-infinitive means making an effort to accomplish something.
Oliver tried to lift the box.
He made an effort to lift it, whether or not he succeeded.
Regret Doing vs. Regret to Do
Regret + gerund usually means feeling sorry about something that has already happened.
I regret saying that.
The speaker is sorry about the earlier action.
Regret + to-infinitive is often used when giving unwelcome information, especially in formal situations.
We regret to inform you that the event has been canceled.
Here, the regret concerns the act of giving the information.
Go On Doing vs. Go On to Do
Go on + gerund means to continue the same activity.
Rachel went on talking for another ten minutes.
She continued talking.
Go on + to-infinitive means to move from one activity to a different one.
Rachel went on to explain the next stage.
She finished one part and then moved to another.
These pairs show why a gerund and an infinitive cannot always be treated as interchangeable forms.
Gerund or Infinitive After Like, Love, Hate, and Prefer?
Verbs such as like, love, hate, and prefer can often be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive.
I like walking to work.
I like to walk to work.
Both are grammatical.
In many contexts, the difference is small. One form may sound more natural because of the meaning, emphasis, context, or variety of English being used, but there is no single rule that explains every case.
The same is true with love, hate, and prefer. Rather than assuming that the gerund always means one thing and the infinitive another, it is better to look at the full sentence and the way the verb is being used.
Use a Gerund After a Preposition
When a verb form comes directly after a preposition, English normally uses the -ing form.
Sophia is interested in learning Spanish.
Marcus left without saying goodbye.
We talked about moving the meeting.
This also applies when to functions as a preposition rather than as part of an infinitive.
I look forward to meeting you.
Here, to belongs to the expression look forward to, so meeting follows it.
Compare:
I hope to meet you soon.
Here, to meet is a to-infinitive.
The word to by itself does not tell you which structure you have. Its role in the sentence matters.
When the Infinitive Expresses Purpose
A to-infinitive can also explain why someone does something.
Ava went outside to call her sister.
The phrase to call her sister explains the purpose of going outside.
Another example:
Noah opened the file to check the figures.
This use is different from patterns such as want to leave or decide to stay. The infinitive is not simply completing the meaning of the first verb. It explains the purpose behind the action.
How to Choose Between a Gerund and an Infinitive
A few questions can help you decide which pattern to use.
Is there a preposition directly before the verb form?
A gerund is normally used.
interested in learning
worried about arriving late
Does the first verb normally take one particular pattern?
Use that pattern.
enjoy reading
decide to leave
Can the verb take both forms?
Check whether the meaning stays broadly the same or changes.
start working / start to work
but:
stop working / stop to work
Is there an object between the first verb and the infinitive?
You may have a verb + object + to-infinitive pattern.
The doctor advised him to rest.
Does the infinitive explain why an action happened?
It may be expressing purpose.
She called to confirm the appointment.
When you are unsure, it is often more useful to check the complete pattern rather than the first verb by itself:
avoid doing
agree to do
ask someone to do
That makes the grammar easier to recognize the next time you encounter the same verb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one rule for choosing a gerund or infinitive?
No. English has several common patterns, but there is no single rule that predicts every verb. Some verbs normally take a gerund, others take a to-infinitive, and some allow both. Learning the verb together with its usual pattern is often the most reliable approach.
Can the same verb take both a gerund and an infinitive?
Yes. Some verbs allow both forms. With verbs such as start and begin, the meaning is often very similar. With verbs such as stop, remember, and try, changing the form can change the meaning.
Why is “enjoy to do” incorrect?
The verb enjoy normally takes a gerund as its complement. For example, We enjoy traveling is grammatical, while We enjoy to travel does not follow the standard verb pattern.
Is “to” always followed by an infinitive?
No. To can also function as a preposition. In I look forward to seeing you, to is a preposition and is followed by the gerund seeing. In I hope to see you, to see is an infinitive.
Which is correct: “start doing” or “start to do”?
Both can be correct. Verbs such as start and begin commonly allow either a gerund or a to-infinitive, and the difference is often small in ordinary contexts.
The First English Grade Editorial Team creates simple English grammar, vocabulary, and language guides for students, beginners, and everyday learners.
