The Rule
| Use gerund (-ing) | Example |
|---|---|
| After prepositions | I'm interested in expanding the team. |
| As subject of sentence | Managing people is a real skill. |
| After certain verbs: enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest, recommend, finish, mind, miss, practise, risk, deny | We recommend reviewing the contract first. |
| Use infinitive (to + verb) | Example |
|---|---|
| After certain verbs: want, need, hope, plan, decide, agree, refuse, manage, expect, offer, promise | We agreed to review the budget. |
| To express purpose | I called to discuss the proposal. |
| After adjectives | It is difficult to justify the cost. |
Verbs that change meaning — remember & stop:
I remember sending the email. (I sent it, and now I remember doing so.)
I remember to send the email. (I must not forget to send it.)
She stopped working. (She no longer works.)
She stopped to work. (She paused in order to work.)
Also: try, regret, forget, go on, mean — all change meaning.
I remember sending the email. (I sent it, and now I remember doing so.)
I remember to send the email. (I must not forget to send it.)
She stopped working. (She no longer works.)
She stopped to work. (She paused in order to work.)
Also: try, regret, forget, go on, mean — all change meaning.
Common Mistakes
I enjoy to work with international clients very much.
I enjoy working with international clients very much.
We decided expanding into the Asian market last quarter.
We decided to expand into the Asian market last quarter.
She is interested in to learn more about the new system.
She is interested in learning more about the new system.
I forgot sending the invoice — I need to do it now.
I forgot to send the invoice — I need to do it now. (unfulfilled obligation)
Gap Fill — Press Enter to Check
Error Correction
Multiple Choice
Put the Words in the Correct Order
Sentence Transformation — Press Enter to Check
Conversation Practice
1
What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you try to avoid? Use gerunds.
2
What have you decided to do differently this year at work? Use infinitives.
3
Discuss something you are considering doing professionally — use 'considering', 'thinking about', 'planning to'.
Homework
Write 8 sentences about your professional goals and habits. Use gerunds in 4 sentences and infinitives in 4 sentences. Underline the gerund or infinitive in each sentence.