Gerunds and Infinitives | Intermediate English for IELTS

Intermediate English for IELTS: Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives are two of the most useful grammar patterns in English. They appear in everyday conversation, IELTS Speaking answers, and formal IELTS Writing. Once you learn how they work, your English becomes more natural, more accurate, and more flexible.

This lesson explains what gerunds and infinitives are, how to use them after common verbs, when meaning changes, and how to avoid frequent mistakes. It also connects naturally with other lessons such as Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure Basics, Subject-Verb Agreement, Basic Adjectives, Basic Adverbs, Prepositions in English, Pronouns for IELTS, Present Simple Tense, Present Continuous Tense, Past Simple Tense, Future Forms in English, Present Perfect Tense, Past Continuous Tense, Past Perfect Tense, Modal Verbs, and Comparatives and Superlatives.

What is a gerund?

A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that works like a noun.

Examples:

• Reading helps improve vocabulary.
• I enjoy cooking.
• Traveling broadens your perspective.

In each sentence, the -ing word behaves like a noun, not just an action word.

You can often see gerunds after prepositions and certain verbs. That is why this topic fits well with Prepositions in English and Parts of Speech.

What is an infinitive?

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually with to.

Examples:

• I want to study.
• She decided to move abroad.
• He tried to answer the question.

Infinitives often show purpose, intention, choice, or future meaning. They are also common after many verbs, adjectives, and noun phrases.

Gerund or infinitive: what is the main difference?

The simplest way to remember it is this:

• Gerund = verb + -ing used like a noun
• Infinitive = to + base verb

Compare these examples:

• Swimming is good exercise.
• I like to swim in the morning.

Both are correct, but they are used in different ways.

When to use gerunds

1) After many common verbs

Some verbs are usually followed by a gerund.

Common examples:

• enjoy
• avoid
• finish
• mind
• suggest
• recommend
• admit
• consider
• keep
• delay
• practise
• dislike
• risk
• imagine

Examples:

• I enjoy reading IELTS articles.
• She avoids making careless mistakes.
• We suggest starting early.
• He admitted forgetting the appointment.

2) After prepositions

After a preposition, use a gerund.

Examples:

• I am interested in learning English.
• She is good at writing essays.
• He left without saying goodbye.
• They succeeded by working together.

This is why Prepositions in English is such an important support lesson.

3) As the subject of a sentence

A gerund can be the subject of a sentence.

Examples:

• Studying regularly improves your score.
• Speaking clearly is important in IELTS.
• Practising every day builds confidence.

This pattern is very useful in IELTS Writing because it helps you write formal, clear topic sentences.

4) After certain fixed expressions

Examples:

• It is worth visiting that museum.
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• They are busy preparing for the test.
• She is used to living in a big city.

When to use infinitives

1) After many common verbs

Some verbs are usually followed by to + infinitive.

Common examples:

• want
• decide
• plan
• hope
• need
• agree
• refuse
• learn
• promise
• choose
• manage
• offer
• expect
• afford
• forget
• remember

Examples:

• I want to improve my speaking.
• She decided to apply for the course.
• They plan to travel in summer.
• He promised to help me.

2) To show purpose

Infinitives are often used to explain why someone does something.

Examples:

• I study hard to get a better band score.
• She went to the library to find information.
• He called early to avoid delays.

This use is especially helpful in IELTS Speaking because it makes answers sound natural and complete.

3) After adjectives

Many adjectives are followed by an infinitive.

Examples:

• It is important to practise.
• She is happy to help.
• He was surprised to hear the news.
• I am ready to begin.

This connects well with Basic Adjectives because adjectives often need a structure after them.

4) After question words in indirect questions

Examples:

• I do not know what to say.
• She explained how to solve the problem.
• He asked where to go.

Verbs that can take both gerunds and infinitives

Some verbs can be followed by either form, but the meaning may stay the same or change slightly.

Verbs with little or no change in meaning

Examples:

• begin
• start
• continue
• like
• love
• hate
• prefer

Examples:

• I like reading.
• I like to read.
• She started working early.
• She started to work early.

Both forms are often possible, although gerunds are usually more common after like, love, and hate when talking about general enjoyment.

Verbs whose meaning can change

Some verbs are especially important for IELTS because the meaning changes depending on the form.

remember

• I remember locking the door. = I have the memory of it.
• Remember to lock the door. = Do not forget to do it.

forget

• I forgot meeting him before. = I do not remember the past event.
• Don’t forget to meet him tomorrow. = Do not fail to do it.

stop

• She stopped smoking. = She no longer smokes.
• She stopped to smoke. = She stopped another activity in order to smoke.

try

• Try using a dictionary. = experiment with this method.
• Try to use a dictionary. = make an effort.

regret

• I regret telling him. = I am sorry about a past action.
• We regret to inform you. = formal phrase announcing something.

This is one of the most important grammar areas in the intermediate level because small form changes can create very different meanings. It also fits well with Past Simple Tense, Present Perfect Tense, and Past Continuous Tense when you talk about past events and memories.

Bare infinitive: infinitive without “to”

Sometimes English uses the base verb without to.

After modal verbs

Examples:

• can speak
• should study
• must go
• might rain

This is closely related to Modal Verbs.

Examples:

• You must submit the form today.
• She can speak three languages.
• They should practise more often.

After make, let, and help

Examples:

• The teacher made us write the answers again.
• My parents let me choose my course.
• The guide helped us find the way.

Gerunds and infinitives in IELTS Speaking

In IELTS Speaking, gerunds and infinitives help you sound fluent and flexible.

Examples:

• I enjoy learning new words because it helps me express ideas more clearly.
• I decided to focus on grammar this month.
• One of my goals is to improve my pronunciation.
• Reading before bed is a habit I enjoy.

These structures are especially useful in Speaking Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 because they help you expand your answer naturally.

Gerunds and infinitives in IELTS Writing

In IELTS Writing, these forms can make your sentences more formal and precise.

Examples:

• Improving education is essential for long-term development.
• Governments need to invest more in public transport.
• Reducing pollution should be a priority.
• It is important to create equal opportunities.

Using gerunds as subjects and infinitives after adjectives can make your writing sound more academic.

Common mistakes to avoid

1) Using the wrong form after a verb

Incorrect:

• I enjoy to read.

Correct:

• I enjoy reading.

Incorrect:

• She decided going home.

Correct:

• She decided to go home.

2) Forgetting the preposition rule

Incorrect:

• He is interested to learn English.

Correct:

• He is interested in learning English.

3) Using gerund after every verb

Incorrect:

• I want going there.

Correct:

• I want to go there.

4) Using infinitive after a modal verb

Incorrect:

• She can to swim.

Correct:

• She can swim.

5) Confusing meaning-changing verbs

Incorrect interpretation:

• I stopped to smoke. = I stopped smoking forever.

Correct meaning:

• I stopped to smoke. = I paused another action in order to smoke.

6) Mixing verb form and tense form

Incorrect:

• He suggested go earlier.

Correct:

• He suggested going earlier.

7) Using gerunds and infinitives without clear sentence structure

This is why Sentence Structure Basics is so helpful. Grammar forms are important, but the whole sentence must still be complete and logical.

Useful gerund and infinitive verb groups

Verbs usually followed by gerunds

• enjoy
• avoid
• finish
• mind
• suggest
• recommend
• consider
• keep
• practise
• deny
• admit

Verbs usually followed by infinitives

• want
• need
• decide
• plan
• hope
• agree
• refuse
• choose
• promise
• learn
• manage

Verbs that often allow both

• start
• begin
• like
• love
• hate
• prefer
• continue

Learning these verb patterns helps a lot with vocabulary growth and sentence accuracy. It also works well with Basic Adverbs because adverbs often combine with gerund and infinitive structures to show time, frequency, or attitude.

Practice section

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form

1. I enjoy __________ (read / to read) before bed.
2. She decided __________ (move / to move) to another city.
3. He is interested in __________ (study / studying) abroad.
4. They want __________ (buy / to buy) a new laptop.
5. We finished __________ (write / writing) the report.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences correctly

1. I hope going to the meeting.
2. She can to speak French.
3. He suggested to take the bus.
4. They are good at swim.
5. It is important studying every day.

Exercise 3: Choose the sentence with the correct meaning

1. a) I stopped smoking.
   b) I stopped to smoke.
2. a) Remember locking the door.
   b) Remember to lock the door.
3. a) She tried to study harder.
   b) She tried studying harder.

Answer key

Exercise 1

1. reading
2. to move
3. studying
4. to buy
5. writing

Exercise 2

1. I hope to go to the meeting.
2. She can speak French.
3. He suggested taking the bus.
4. They are good at swimming.
5. It is important to study every day.

Exercise 3

1. a) I stopped smoking. = correct if the person no longer smokes.
2. b) Remember to lock the door. = correct for future action.
3. Both can be correct, but they mean different things.

Study Tips for IELTS Learners

• Learn verbs in patterns, not only as single words.
• Make short example sentences every day.
• Review common verbs with gerunds and infinitives together.
• Read your own writing aloud to check whether the pattern sounds natural.
• Study this lesson with Present Simple Tense for general habits, Future Forms in English for plans, and Comparatives and Superlatives for making stronger IELTS answers.

FAQs About Gerunds and Infinitives

1. What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

A gerund is a verb ending in -ing used like a noun, while an infinitive is the base verb with to.

2. How do I know which one to use?

You usually need to learn the verb pattern. Some verbs take gerunds, some take infinitives, and some can take both.

3. Can a gerund be the subject of a sentence?

Yes. Examples: Reading improves vocabulary. Practising helps fluency.

4. Can I use an infinitive after an adjective?

Yes. Examples: It is easy to understand. She is ready to start.

5. Do prepositions take gerunds or infinitives?

Prepositions take gerunds. For example: interested in learning, good at writing.

6. What is a bare infinitive?

A bare infinitive is a verb without to. It often appears after modal verbs and after make, let, and help.

7. Which verbs change meaning with gerunds and infinitives?

Common examples are remember, forget, stop, try, and regret.

8. Are gerunds useful in IELTS Writing?

Yes. They help you write more formal, academic sentences, especially when used as subjects or after prepositions.

9. Are infinitives useful in IELTS Speaking?

Yes. They help you express purpose, plans, intentions, and opinions clearly.

10. What is the best way to practise this grammar?

Write short sentences with common verbs, then say them aloud and reuse them in Speaking and Writing practice.

Gerunds and Infinitives in English for IELTS

Gerunds and infinitives are a core part of intermediate English. They help you form more accurate sentences, sound more natural in conversation, and write more clearly in IELTS tasks. The key is not just memorising rules, but learning common verb patterns and using them repeatedly in real sentences.

For best results, keep this lesson connected with Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure Basics, Modal Verbs, and Articles in English. When these building blocks work together, your English becomes much stronger.