Gerunds vs. To-Infinitives: Your No-Stress Guide
Master the 1st Bachillerato essentials without the headache.
Hey everyone! 👋 Let’s be real: trying to figure out when to use a Gerund (that "-ing" thing) and when to use a To-Infinitive can feel like trying to choose a Netflix show—exhausting and slightly confusing.
But don't worry! Here is your ultimate, no-stress guide to surviving B2 Level.
🚀 The "To-Infinitive" Club
We use the to-infinitive in these specific situations:
- 📍 To explain WHY (Purpose): Like, "She went to his office to talk to him".
- 📍 The "Bossy" Structure: After a Verb + Object. "Mum wants us to set the table".
- 📍 After Adjectives: "We were too exhausted to go out".
- 📍 After "VIP" Verbs: Some verbs are just obsessed with "to," like agree, decide, hope, offer, promise, refuse, and want.
🎨 The "Gerund" (-ing) Squad
The Gerund is used when the verb takes on a different role:
- ✨ As the Star of the Show (Subject): When the verb starts the sentence. "Admitting the truth was a big challenge".
- ✨ After Prepositions: This is a golden rule! "She was accused of stealing the jewelry".
- ✨ After certain "ing-loving" Verbs: Like admit, avoid, enjoy, finish, imagine, suggest, and risk.
- ✨ The Preposition Combo: Verbs like believe in, dream about, feel like, or insist on always invite the "-ing" squad.
👯 The "Same Energy" Verbs
Some verbs are super flexible! Begin, start, continue, prefer, hate, like, and love can take both a gerund or an infinitive with almost no difference in meaning.
"I love swimming" OR "I love to swim"—both are 10/10!
⚠️ The "Drama" Verbs (Meaning Matters!)
Wait! For these verbs, your choice changes the story. Pay attention, or things might get awkward:
| Verb | Gerund (-ing) 🕰️ | To-Infinitive 🔮 |
|---|---|---|
| Forget / Remember | Past Vibes: Looking back at a memory. "I remember switching off the lights". | Future Vibes: Remembering a task. "Remember to switch off the lights!". |
| Stop | The End: You quit the activity. "I stopped smoking". | The Break: You stop in order to do something. "I stopped to smoke". |
| Try | The Experiment: Testing a result. "I tried taking an aspirin". | The Struggle: Attempting something hard. "Try to be quiet!". |
| Regret | Past Sadness: Sorry about a past action. "I regret being late". | Bad News: Sorry for what you must say. "We regret to inform you...". |
| Mean | Result: What an action involves. "That means phoning your mother". | Intention: What you planned. "I meant to phone your mother". |
| Go on | Keep going: Continue the same thing. "Go on reading". | Next task: Change activity. "Go on to read the next text". |
Ready to test your knowledge?
PRACTICE EXERCISES →