IELTS grammar lesson: Gerund or Infinitive?

Theory

A gerund is a verb with its -ing form that functions as a noun that names an activity. You can make a gerund with any action verb. (Running is his hobby. My friend quit smoking 2 years ago)

An infinitive is a verb form that acts as other parts of speech in a sentence. It is formed with to + base form of the verb. (You promised to do your homework today. I want to call her now)

Some of the verbs are followed either by the gerund:

avoid

consider

deny

enjoy

recommend

miss

enjoy

explain

risk

resume

omit

permit

allow

confess

finish

forgive

complete

practice

suggest

admit

advise

delay

involve

imagine

For example: I enjoy playing football.

Other verbs are followed by infinitive:

ask

afford

help

learn

offer

hope

agree

seek

hurry

dare

demand

pay

refuse

seem

wait

say

deserve

claim

choose

elect

manage

learn

hesitate

fail

For example: he hopes to achieve 9.0 on IELTS.

But some of the verbs can be followed by both. We'll talk about them in the second part of the lesson.


Practice. Choose the correct sentence in each pair:

  1. I want asking you something.
    I want to ask you something.

  2. I enjoy reading novels.
    I enjoy to read novels.

  3. He agreed to help me.
    He agreed helping me.

  4. John suggested seeing this movie next week.
    John suggested to see this movie next week.


Tick ALL the possible options for each sentence:

  1. Jonh enjoys ........ people to for a dinner.
    to invite
    invite
    inviting
    to inviting


  2. You should practice more. It will ......... .
    help you succeed
    help you succeeding
    help you to succeed
    help you to succeeding


  3. Mark hopes .......... the exam. It is very important for him.
    passing
    to passing
    to pass
    pass


  4. You need to give him some time. He is not used .......... this much.
    to work
    to working
    work
    working


  5. Steve is playing football now. He loves .......... it.
    to do
    do
    doing
    -


  6. It is too expensive. We can't afford ......... it.
    buying
    buy
    to buy
    -