Gerund ve Infinitive'leri Doğru Kullanmanın Yolları: Kurallar + Pratik

Some choices in English feel almost random. You say "I enjoy reading" but "I want to read." Why? The difference isn’t about meaning—it’s about grammar patterns. Gerunds (verb+ing used as a noun) and infinitives (to+verb) follow specific rules, and once you know them, the guesswork disappears.

What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

A gerund looks like a verb but acts like a noun. Think of it as the "-ing" form of a verb used to name an activity.

• Swimming is fun.
• She avoids eating late.

An infinitive is the base form of a verb with "to" in front. It can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

• I need to leave now.
• He promised to call us.

Both can follow verbs, but which one you choose depends entirely on the first verb.

The Main Gerunds and Infinitives Rules

There is no single shortcut—you have to memorize which verbs pair with which form. But patterns do exist. Here are the most frequent ones.

Verbs That Take a Gerund

Some verbs just don't like the infinitive. These are often about enjoyment, avoidance, or completion.

Common examples:
enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, recommend, consider, mind, practice, quit, admit.

I finished writing the report.
Do you mind closing the window?
She suggested taking a break.

Verbs That Take an Infinitive

These verbs usually express desire, intention, expectation, or effort.

Common examples:
want, hope, plan, decide, promise, learn, need, seem, expect, fail.

I hope to see you soon.
He decided to move to Berlin.
They learned to cook Italian food.

Verbs That Take Both (With the Same Meaning)

A small group of verbs works with both forms, and the meaning stays the same. That's the easy part.

begin, start, continue, intend, bother.

It started raining / to rain.
She continued working / to work.

Verbs That Take Both (With Different Meaning)

Here lies the real trap. With these verbs, choosing gerund or infinitive changes what you're saying.

Stop

• He stopped smoking. (He quit the habit.)
• He stopped to smoke. (He paused what he was doing in order to smoke.)

Remember

• I remember locking the door. (I recall the past action.)
• Please remember to lock the door. (Don't forget the future action.)

Try

• Try pressing the button. (Experiment with this method.)
• Try to press the button. (Make an effort.)

Forget

• I'll never forget meeting her. (I will always remember the past.)
• Don't forget to buy milk. (Remember the future task.)

The most common mistake learners make is mixing up these meaning‑changing pairs. If you master only one thing from this article, let it be that.

Gerunds After Prepositions

This rule saves you a lot of trouble. After a preposition, always use a gerund—never an infinitive.

I'm interested in learning Japanese.
She left without saying goodbye.
He's afraid of flying.

Prepositions include: in, on, at, for, about, of, without, with, before, after.

Gerunds as Subjects, Infinitives as Subjects

Both can start a sentence, but the gerund is far more common in everyday speech.

Running is good for health. (Natural)
To run is good for health. (Formal, sounds stiff)

When you use an infinitive as a subject, native speakers often rephrase it with "It" at the start.

It is good for health to run. (Much more natural)

Practice: Spot the Correct Form

Try filling in the blanks. Choose the gerund (verb+ing) or infinitive (to+verb).

1. I can't afford __________ (buy) a new car right now.
2. She admitted __________ (cheat) on the test.
3. We expect __________ (arrive) around 6 pm.
4. He keeps __________ (interrupt) me during meetings.
5. I regret __________ (not study) harder for the exam.

Answers: 1. to buy, 2. cheating, 3. to arrive, 4. interrupting, 5. not studying.

If number 5 tricked you, that's normal. "Regret" takes a gerund when talking about a past action you wish you hadn't done. "Regret to say" is possible but very formal and means "I'm sorry to tell you."

A Quick Visual Guide

Here is a simple summary of the three major verb patterns.

Final Advice

Don't try to memorize all gerunds and infinitives rules at once. Start with the verbs you use most: want, need, enjoy, like, stop, remember. Practice those until they feel automatic.

Mistakes will happen. Even advanced speakers occasionally second‑guess themselves. That's okay. The goal is not perfection overnight, but steady improvement.

Take our free English test at English Measure to find your current level and get personalized practice on verb patterns, grammar, and more. Test your Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking skills in just 15 minutes. Start your test here.

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