Gerunds vs Infinitives — Complete Verb List & Rules (2026)
Learn when to use a gerund (-ing) and when to use an infinitive (to + verb). Includes verb lists, verbs with meaning changes, and common errors.
Table of Contents
Should you say “I want to go” or “I want going”? Why do we say “I enjoy reading” but not “I enjoy to read”?
The choice between a gerund (the -ing form) and an infinitive (the to + verb form) is a common grammar pain point for English learners. Unlike other rules, there is no simple phonetic clue to tell you which one is correct — you must learn which verbs require which form.
In this definitive 2026 guide, we provide the complete lists of verbs, explain the rules of prepositions, and look at the tricky verbs that change meaning depending on the form you choose.
1. Verbs Followed by Gerund Only (20)
These common verbs must always be followed by the -ing form. Memorize them to avoid grammatical errors:
- enjoy: I enjoy swimming in the ocean.
- avoid: Try to avoid making noise.
- finish: Have you finished reading the report?
- suggest: He suggested taking a taxi.
- mind: Would you mind closing the window?
- consider: They are considering buying a house.
- keep: Keep practicing your English every day.
- practice: She practices speaking English with AI.
- deny: The suspect denied stealing the money.
- admit: He admitted making a mistake.
- imagine: Can you imagine living on Mars?
- quit: He quit smoking last year.
- risk: Don't risk losing your job.
- delay: They delayed launching the product.
- postpone: We postponed meeting the client.
- appreciate: I appreciate your helping me.
- miss: I miss living in London.
- involve: The job involves writing code.
- resist: I couldn't resist eating the cake.
- recommend: I recommend visiting the museum.
2. Verbs Followed by Infinitive Only (20)
These verbs must always be followed by the to + verb structure:
- decide: We decided to sell the car.
- want: I want to learn English.
- hope: She hopes to pass the exam.
- plan: They plan to travel to Japan.
- agree: He agreed to help us.
- refuse: She refused to sign the contract.
- manage: We managed to catch the bus.
- offer: He offered to carry my bags.
- promise: Promise to call me later.
- pretend: He pretended to be sick.
- afford: I cannot afford to buy a new laptop.
- appear: She appears to be happy.
- choose: We chose to stay at home.
- expect: I expect to arrive by 8 PM.
- fail: The company failed to meet its targets.
- learn: She is learning to play tennis.
- need: You need to study hard.
- seem: It seems to rain today.
- tend: He tends to talk too much.
- wish: I wish to speak with the manager.
3. Verbs That Take Both (Same Meaning)
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with **no significant change** in meaning:
- start: It started raining. / It started to rain.
- begin: She began playing the piano. / She began to play the piano.
- continue: They continued walking. / They continued to walk.
- prefer: I prefer driving. / I prefer to drive.
4. Verbs That Take Both (Different Meanings)
The most critical verbs to learn are those that **change their meaning entirely** depending on whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.
A. STOP
Stop + Gerund
“He stopped smoking.”
Meaning: He quit the habit of smoking. He no longer smokes.
Stop + Infinitive
“He stopped to smoke.”
Meaning: He interrupted another activity (like walking) in order to smoke.
B. REMEMBER
Remember + Gerund
“I remember locking the door.”
Meaning: I have a visual memory of locking the door in the past.
Remember + Infinitive
“Remember to lock the door.”
Meaning: Do not forget to lock the door when leaving. (Obligation)
5. Verb + Preposition + Gerund
In English, **prepositions** (in, on, at, about, for, of) must **always** be followed by a gerund, never an infinitive.
- I apologize for being late. (Not: to be late)
- She is thinking about moving to Spain.
- He succeeded in opening the business.
⚠️ Crucial Rule: Watch out for “to” as a preposition!
In phrases like look forward to, adjust to, or get used to, the word “to” acts as a preposition. It must be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.
- I look forward to meeting you. (Correct)
- I look forward to meet you. (Incorrect)
6. Interactive Practice Quiz
Test your understanding. Select the correct verb aspect to complete each sentence!
She suggested ___ to the park instead of the cinema.
They decided ___ a new car next year.
I look forward to ___ you at the conference.
We stopped ___ coffee because it was getting late.
On our road trip, we stopped ___ some coffee at a service station.
I remember ___ my keys on the table, but they are gone now.
Please remember ___ your keys before leaving the house.
He avoided ___ about his financial problems.
She managed ___ the deadline despite the setbacks.
He apologized for ___ late to the business meeting.
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Gerunds function as nouns and end in '-ing' (e.g., reading is fun).
- •Infinitives use the form 'to + verb' (e.g., to read is educational).
- •Many common verbs must be followed exclusively by one form (e.g., enjoy reading, decide to read).
- •Some verbs change meaning entirely depending on the choice (e.g., stop, remember, try).
- •Prepositions must always be followed by a gerund, never an infinitive.
- •The 'to' in 'look forward to' is a preposition, so it takes a gerund.
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