The difference between gerunds and infinitives
What is the difference between gerund and infinitive forms? A gerund is the -ing form (swimming), and an infinitive is to plus the verb (to swim). Which one you use depends on the verb before it, and verbs fall into three groups:
| Only -ing | Only to | Both |
| enjoy, avoid, mind, finish, keep, suggest | want, need, decide, hope, plan, agree | like, love, hate, start, begin |
Gerunds and infinitives worksheets often give these lists without a context. Ours start from an advert, so students see each verb in a real sentence first. Two more rules cover most other cases. After a preposition, always use -ing: good at drawing, tired of waiting. And to can explain why: she went to Australia to work.
Students learn the -ing after prepositions rule fastest with phrases they already use: interested in learning, thanks for helping, tired of waiting. To for purpose answers the question why: I went to the bank to open an account. The gerunds and infinitives exercises with answers on the worksheet practice both.
Verbs that change meaning
A few verb patterns change the meaning completely. I stopped smoking means I don't smoke now. I stopped to smoke means I stopped walking so I could smoke. The same happens with remember, try and forget. The new Gerunds and Infinitives worksheet, built around a real 2009 job advert for the best job in the world, has a table for exactly these four verbs.
Remember is the one adults use most. I remember locking the door is a memory. Remember to lock the door is an instruction. Practice it with situations from their own day, such as keys, emails and appointments.
Lessons where verb patterns come up naturally
- Hobbies (A1-A2, free): likes and dislikes with like, love and hate + -ing
- Total Beginner (A1-A2, free): new skills and plans
- Social Media Confessions (A1-A2): gerunds and infinitives in confessions about online habits
- One More Game (A2-B1, free): opinions about gaming with -ing forms
- The Youngest CEO (B1-B2): teenagers who started their own businesses
- Your Brain On Music and Oversharing (B2-C1): verb patterns in discussions about music and saying too much online
Any of these lessons can serve as a gerunds and infinitives ESL lesson plan. Use the worksheet first, then let the topic do the work, so students meet the same verbs again in a conversation.
Gerunds and infinitives FAQ
Do the worksheets have answers?
Yes. The gerunds and infinitives worksheets have a Teacher's Version with all the answers, so they work for homework and self-study.
What level are gerunds and infinitives for?
Like and love + -ing come at A1. The full contrast belongs at B1-B2, and verbs that change meaning at B2.
How can students remember which verbs take which form?
In sentences, not lists. Learn I enjoy swimming as one chunk, and sort new verbs into three groups each time they appear.
All gerund and infinitive worksheets and lesson plans come with a teacher subscription.