Gerunds & Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives are two different forms of verbs. 

Gerunds	Infinitives
Verb + ING	To + Verb
Reading Playing	To Read To Play

Gerunds and infinitives are verbs that act like nouns.  They can
be either the subject or the object of the sentence.

Look at this example:

• Soccer is fun.  (Soccer is a noun)
  

The subject of this sentence is soccer, which is a noun.  If the subject is a verb, it can be a gerund or infinitive.

• Playing soccer is fun.
  
• To play soccer is fun.
  

The verb play acts like a noun in these sentences, so it must be a gerund or infinitive. 

Subjects 

Subjects are usually at the beginning of the sentence.  They are the thing doing the action.

Gerund:          Running is fun.
Infinitive:        To run is fun.

It is better to use a gerund as the subject of the sentence.  An infinitive is very formal and does not sound very good in conversation.
Objects 

When a verb is the object of the sentence it can be either a gerund or infinitive.  It can't be a base verb.

Gerund:       Verb = Verb + ING

• I like running.
  

Infinitive:      Verb + To + Verb

• I like to run.
  

Deciding between a gerund and an infinitive as an object is much more difficult than subjects.  You must learn which verbs are followed by gerunds, infinitives, or both.

The tables show which verbs are followed by gerunds and which are followed by infinitives.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Admit	Delay	Give up	Quit	Suggest
Anticipate	Deny	Imagine	Recall	Tolerate
Appreciate	Discuss	Keep	Recollect	Understand
Avoid	Dislike	Mention	Recommend
Can't help	Don't mind	Mind	Report
Can't stand	Enjoy	Miss	Resent
Complete	Finish	Postpone	Resist
Consider	Get through	Practice	Risk

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Agree	Claim	Expect	Know how	Prepare	Tend
Appear	Consent	Fail	Learn	Pretend	Threaten
Arrange	Decide	Forget	Manage	Promise	Try
Ask	Demand	Happen	Mean	Seem	Wait
Care	Deserve	Hesitate	Need	Struggle	Want
Choose	Desire	Hope	Offer	Swear	Wish

Verbs Followed by Both

Can afford	Choose	Hate	Plan	Stop
Allow	Continue	Hesitate	Prefer	Threaten
Attempt	Dread	Intend	Pretend	Try
Can bear	Expect	Like	Regret
Begin	Forget	Love	Remember
Can't stand	Go	Neglect	Start