Gerunds vs Infinitives

What it means

Sometimes one verb comes right after another: "I enjoy reading", "I want to learn". The second verb takes one of two forms: a gerund (verb + -ing, used like a noun: swimming) or an infinitive (to + base verb: to swim). In Khmer and Chinese the second verb doesn't change, so in English you need to learn which form each verb takes.

How to make it

• Gerund = verb + -ing: swim → swimming, read → reading, write → writing.
• Infinitive = to + base verb: swim → to swim, learn → to learn, stay → to stay.
• Verb + gerund: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, keep → She finished writing her essay at midnight.
• Verb + infinitive: want, decide, hope, plan, agree, need → We decided to stay at home.
• Preposition + gerund (always): interested in learning, good at cooking → I'm interested in learning Korean.

When to use it

• After verbs like enjoy, finish, avoid: I enjoy reading. Do you mind waiting?
• After verbs like want, hope, plan: I hope to see you soon.
• After any preposition (in, at, of, about, for): She is good at cooking.
• As the subject of a sentence, use a gerund: Swimming is good exercise.

Compare

• stop + -ing = quit: I stopped smoking. (I don't smoke any more.)
• stop + to = stop in order to do something: I stopped to smoke. (I paused what I was doing to have a cigarette.)
• remember + to = don't forget (a future action): Please remember to lock the door.
• remember + -ing = have a memory of a past action: I remember locking the door.

Common mistakes

• ❌ I enjoy to swim. → ✅ I enjoy swimming. (enjoy + gerund)
• ❌ I want learning English. → ✅ I want to learn English. (want + infinitive)
• ❌ I'm good at cook. → ✅ I'm good at cooking. (after a preposition, always -ing)