1. Infinitive VS Gerund

2. Infinitive with “To” is used after certain verbs:
afford
agree
appear
arrange
choose
decide
expect
fail
help (also
without to)
hesitate
hope
learn
manage
mean
offer
plan
prepare
pretend
promise
refuse
want
wish
would like
would love
would prefer

3. Examples: I learnt to swim in the Black Sea last summer.
They can’t afford to buy this house.
I expect to get high marks in English this term.
He would like to eat out tonight.
She managed to pass the exam at the first attempt!
He offered to buy some ice-cream for dessert.

4. Infinitive with “To” is used to express purpose. Examples:
She went to the supermarket to buy some food.
Children go to school to get knowledge.
He has gone to Paris to visit his parents.

5. Infinitive with “To” is used after such phrases with adjectives as:
To be nice
To be sorry
To be happy
To be glad
To be afraid

6. Examples:
He is glad to be back.
I am sorry to hear it.
We were happy to win the competition.

7. Infinitive with “To” is used after “TOO” and “ENOUGH”. Examples:
He is too young to work.
She is strong enough to take part in the competition.

8. The bare Infinitive (without “To”)is used after:
Most Modal Verbs (apart from HAVE/HAS TO, OUGHT TO):
I can swim. BUT: I have to go now.
After the verbs: let, make, see, hear, feel
His parents don’t let him go out.
He always makes her cry.

9. Gerund (- ing) is used as a noun (a subject of the sentence)
Swimming keeps you fit.
Reading broadens the mind.
Cycling is good for your health.

10. Gerund is used after certain verbs:
admit
advise
consider
avoid
can't help
can't stand
deny
dislike
enjoy
fancy
love/like
finish
keep
mind
involve
permit
practise
suggest
mention
Imagine
hate

11. Examples:
He suggests ordering pizza for lunch.
They admitted cheating in the test.
I enjoy visiting parties.
I can’t stand walking in a cold weather.

12. Gerund is used after prepositional phrases:
It’s no use
It’s (not) worth
What’s the use of…?
There is no point in
Be/get used to
Have difficulty in

13. Examples: It’s no use waiting for them, they won’t come.
He has difficulty in learning languages.
I got used to working hard.

14. Gerund (- ing) is used after phrasal verbs
accuse of
agree with
apologize for
ask about
believe in
blame for
carry on
complain about
concentrate on
depend on
dream about/of
forgive for
give up
insist on
keep on
look forward to
object to
think of
succeed in
use for

15. Examples: They insist on paying the bill.
She apologized for being late.
He gave up smoking.

16. Verbs followed either by Infinitive or Gerund
stop
interrupt another action:
He stopped to have a snack.
stop doing smth.(give up doing smth.):
He stopped smoking last month.
try
do one’s best:
He will try to win the race.
do smth. as an experiment (advice):
Try eating more vegetables.

17. Verbs followed either by Infinitive or Gerund
forget / remember
with regard to the future:
Remember (Don’t forget) to switch off the lights.
with regard to the past:
I will always remember visiting my Grandma every summer.
regret
to be sorry:
I regret to inform you that you have failed the exam.
with regard to the past (talking about mistakes):
He regrets being rude to her.