Gerund & Infinitive
đ§ What are Gerund & Infinitive?
â Gerund = verb + ing
đ acts like a noun
- Reading is useful.
â Infinitive = to + base verb
- I want to learn.
đĸ 1. GERUND (verb + ing)
đ Use after certain verbs:
- enjoy
- avoid
- finish
- suggest
- consider
- practice
â Examples:
- I enjoy reading.
- She avoids eating junk food.
- They suggested going there.
đĩ 2. INFINITIVE (to + verb)
đ Use after certain verbs:
- want
- need
- plan
- decide
- hope
- learn
â Examples:
- I want to learn English.
- He decided to study abroad.
- They plan to start a business.
đĄ 3. VERBS THAT TAKE BOTH (IMPORTANT)
Some verbs can take gerund or infinitive, but meaning may change.
đ´ A. Same meaning (both OK)
- like
- love
- hate
- prefer
â Examples:
- I like reading.
- I like to read.
đ No big difference
đ´ B. Different meaning (VERY IMPORTANT)
1. Stop
- I stopped smoking â (I quit)
- I stopped to smoke â (I paused to smoke)
2. Remember
- I remember meeting him â (past memory)
- Remember to meet him â (donât forget)
3. Try
- Try studying more â (experiment)
- Try to study more â (make effort)
đĨ Common IELTS Mistakes
â Wrong:
- I enjoy to read â
â I enjoy reading
â Wrong:
- I want learning English â
â I want to learn English
â Wrong:
- He suggested to go â
â He suggested going
đ¯ IELTS BAND 7+ TIP
Use gerund & infinitive to:
- Show grammar variety
- Avoid repetition
Example (Band 7):
- I enjoy learning new skills, and I plan to improve my English.
đ Easy Memory Trick
đ After preposition â always gerund
- interested in learning
- good at speaking
⥠Quick Summary
| Type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | verb + ing | I enjoy reading |
| Infinitive | to + verb | I want to learn |