Gerund vs Infinitive: Definitions, Exampes & Exercise

Gerund vs Infinitive:

1-Gerund:

A gerund is a word that is formed with the help of a (verb + ing), it works as a noun in a sentence.

Key Point:

Gerund = Verb + ing

Examples:

Swimming is a good exercise. (as a subject)

I like swimming. (as an object)

She is fond of swimming. (as an object of a preposition)

Her hobby is swimming. ( as a compliment of the verb) 

So the common functions of gerunds are as follows:

1- Subject of verb → Swimming is fun.

2- Object of verb → I enjoy reading.

3- Object of preposition → She is fond of singing.

4- Complement of verb → His hobby is painting.

2- Infinitive

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by to (to + base form of verb)

Key Points:

An infinitive can act as a Noun, an adjective, or an Adverb

Examples:

I want to learn English (object of a verb)

She has a lot of work to do. (as an adjective)

He came to help me. (as an adverb purpose)

3- Participle

A participle is a verb form that works as an adjective or helps form the tenses in the form of a verb.

Types of Participles:

(a) Present Participle

Describes a noun or shows an action:

Examples:

The crying baby is hungry.

I saw a boy running in the street.

Shows action in the tenses:

Examples:

The is baby is crying now.

The boy was running in the street.

(b) Past Participle (V3)

It usually ends ~ed, ~en (such as broken, written etc.)

Examples:

I have broken a mirror. (shows action in the tenses)

I have a broken mirror. (as an adjective)

I have got a written letter. (as an adjective)

Common functions of participle:

1- Adjective → a crying baby

2- Adverbial participle → Walking on the road, he slipped.

3- Object complement → I saw him running.

Gerund (-ing)

Acts as a noun (subject, object, or object of a preposition)

After verbs like: enjoy, avoid, admit, finish, mind, keep

After prepositions: 

She is good at singing

Examples:

• I enjoy reading.

• She avoided answering.

Infinitive (to + verb)

Shows purpose, plan, or future action

After verbs like: want, decide, hope, plan, promise, learn, try, refuse

Examples:

1. I want to learn English.

2. She decided to leave early.

3. Both (Gerund or Infinitive)

Some verbs accept both with little or no change: like, start, begin, love

Example:

4. I like reading / to read.

Meaning Changes

Some verbs change meaning depending on form: remember, stop, try, forget

Examples:

1. I stopped smoking → quit the habit

2. I stopped to smoke → paused to do it

Rule of thumb:

After prepositions → always gerund

Purpose/future → usually infinitive

Action/habit → gerund

stop + to + verb means: he stopped one action (in order to) start another action.

More difficult concepts to grasp:

Example:

He stopped walking to smoke.

Meaning: First action = walking 

He paused it → then he smoked 

When I saw him, he stopped smoking. ✔

Meaning: He was smoking, but when he saw you, he ended smoking.

Clear comparison:

He stopped smoking.

He quit (the activity of) smoking.

He stopped to smoke.

He stopped something else (walking, working, talking, etc.) 

(to smoke).

Example: 

He stopped working to smoke.

He stopped walking to smoke.

Simple memory tip to memorise:

stop + ing = stop the activity

stop + to verb = stop another activity for a purpose

Click to attempt to know about the Present and Past Participle

Identification of Gerunds vs Participls

Instructions: Read the following sentences and gerund, participle or infinitive

1. I enjoy --Choose-- reading to read read books at night.


2. She decided --Choose-- leaving to leave left early in the morning.


3. He avoided --Choose-- to answer answering answers the questions.


4. They want --Choose-- to start started starting a new project.


5. I am interested in --Choose-- learn learning to learn English grammar.


6. She promised --Choose-- helping to help helps me in my work.


7. He wishes --Choose-- becoming to become became a doctor.


8. I have --Choose-- break breaking broken a glass.


9. My teacher wants me --Choose-- attending attend to attend the meeting today.


10. The police are --Choose-- patrolling to patrol patrol in the city.


11. The bay is --Choose-- crying to cry cries for the milk.


12. I saw a dog was --Choose-- to run running ran in the street.


13. Last year, I could not afford --Choose-- to travel travelling travels abroad.


14. We are committed --Choose-- to serve to serving serve our country.


15. They threatened me --Choose-- to expose exposing exposes the scandal.


16. The scientist managed --Choose-- develop to develop developing the vaccine second time.


17. The look forward to --Choose-- celebrating to celebrate celebrated their anniversary with their friends.


18. She is used to --Choose-- studying to study studies eight hours daily.


19. The sight is worth --Choose-- to visit visiting visits for the turists.


20. We used --Choose-- to play playing played football in our childhood.


21. She has been --Choose-- watches watching to watch TV with her children.


22. I cannot help --Choose-- read reading to read books.


23. It is not good --Choose-- to argue arguing argues with a fool.


24. I saw a --Choose-- to fly flying flies eagle in the sky.


25. My friends insisted me on --Choose-- to go going go to the party.


26. She enjoys --Choose-- to sing singing sings in the evening.


27. They decided --Choose-- traveling to travel travels abroad.


28. He admitted --Choose-- to make making makes a mistake in the precedure.


29. We hope --Choose-- winning to win wins the match.


30. She is fond of --Choose-- to read reading reads novels.


31. He refused --Choose-- helping to help helps them.


32. I am interested in --Choose-- to learn learning learns Arabic.


33. She promised --Choose-- visiting to visit visits us soon with his family.


34. He kept --Choose-- to talk talking talks during the lecture.


35. He plannned --Choose-- starting to start starts a new project in Saudia.