“I stopped to smoke” and “I stopped smoking” mean completely different things. So do “I’ll never forget meeting her” and “I forgot to meet her.” Getting the infinitive (to + base verb) vs gerund (verb + -ing used as a noun) distinction right is one of the classic intermediate-to-advanced English gates — and one of the most search-heavy grammar questions learners ask.
The mechanics are simple. The hard part is memorizing which verbs take which, and the small set where swapping them shifts the entire meaning of the sentence.
What Each Form Actually Is
- Infinitive = to + base verb. Acts like a noun, adjective, or adverb. Examples: to swim, to learn, to travel.
- Gerund = base verb + -ing, used as a noun. Examples: swimming, learning, traveling.
Both let a verb act like a noun — “Swimming is fun” and “To swim is fun” mean roughly the same thing. The difference shows up when you put them after another verb.
Verbs Followed Only by a Gerund
A set of verbs are always followed by the -ing form. Using an infinitive after them sounds wrong to a native ear.
- Common gerund-only verbs: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, admit, suggest, risk, consider, deny, imagine, keep, practice, postpone.
- Examples:
- Memory hook: most gerund-only verbs express a completed, avoided, or ongoing activity — something with internal duration rather than a future intention.
Verbs Followed Only by an Infinitive
Another set always takes the to-infinitive.
- Common infinitive-only verbs: want, decide, hope, promise, plan, refuse, agree, need, learn, offer, fail, tend, afford.
- Examples:
- Memory hook: most infinitive-only verbs express intention, desire, decision, or planning — something aimed at a future outcome.
Verbs That Take Both — Same Meaning
A smaller set of verbs can take either form with essentially no change in meaning. Use whichever feels more natural.
- Verbs of starting, continuing, preferring: begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer.
- Examples (interchangeable):
- Slight nuance: gerund leans general (“I love cooking” = I enjoy it as an activity); infinitive leans specific-occasion (“I’d love to cook tonight” = this particular event). In casual speech either works.
Verbs That Take Both — Different Meaning
This is where the stakes get real. A handful of verbs change meaning depending on whether you use the gerund or the infinitive. Get these wrong and you say something you didn’t mean.
- Stop:
- Stop + gerund = cease doing it. “I stopped smoking five years ago.” (I don’t smoke anymore.)
- Stop + infinitive = pause in order to do it. “I stopped to smoke.” (I paused my walk so I could smoke.)
- Remember:
- Remember + gerund = recall a past event. “I remember meeting her at the conference.” (The memory of meeting.)
- Remember + infinitive = don’t forget to do something. “Please remember to lock the door.” (Future task.)
- Forget: mirrors remember.
- Forget + gerund = fail to recall (usually in the negative). “I’ll never forget seeing the sunrise there.”
- Forget + infinitive = fail to do a task. “I forgot to call the dentist.”
- Try:
- Try + gerund = experiment with / attempt as a method. “Try adding more salt.” (See what happens.)
- Try + infinitive = make an effort, possibly failing. “I tried to open the jar.” (I attempted; unclear if I succeeded.)
- Regret:
- Regret + gerund = feel sorry about a past action. “I regret telling him the truth.”
- Regret + infinitive = deliver bad news politely. “We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.” (Fixed formal pattern.)
- Mean:
- Mean + gerund = involve / entail. “Getting fit means going to the gym regularly.”
- Mean + infinitive = intend. “I meant to call you but got distracted.”
- Go on:
- Go on + gerund = continue the same activity. “She went on talking for hours.”
- Go on + infinitive = proceed to a new activity. “After the starter, she went on to talk about the main topic.”
Other Patterns Worth Knowing
- Preposition + gerund: after any preposition, verbs always become gerunds. “She’s good at swimming” / “I’m interested in learning Spanish” / “Thanks for helping.”
- Adjective + infinitive: many adjectives pair with to-infinitive. “It’s hard to decide” / “I’m happy to meet you” / “She’s ready to start.”
- Noun + infinitive of purpose: “I bought a book to read on the plane.” (Purpose — why you bought it.)
- Bare infinitive (no to) after modals and after make/let/have: “She can swim” / “Let him go” / “I had him wait.” No to — these are exceptions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- “Look forward to meet you”: ✗ → ✓ Look forward to meeting you. After preposition to (not infinitive to!), use gerund.
- “I enjoy to read”: ✗ → ✓ I enjoy reading. Enjoy is gerund-only.
- “I want reading”: ✗ → ✓ I want to read. Want is infinitive-only.
- “Stopped to smoke” when you mean quit: ✗ (this means you paused to light a cigarette!) → ✓ I stopped smoking if you quit the habit.
- “Remember to meet her” for a past memory: ✗ → ✓ I remember meeting her (if it’s a memory) vs Remember to meet her (if it’s a reminder to do it).
- “Suggest him to come”: ✗ → ✓ Suggest that he come or Suggest coming. Suggest never takes infinitive.
Why Mastering This Pays Off
The gerund/infinitive choice is one of the small grammar skills that compounds: once you learn the core 20-30 high-frequency verbs and their patterns, dozens of daily-use sentences stop feeling uncertain. And the meaning-changing pairs (stop, remember, forget, try, regret) prevent real miscommunication — “I stopped to smoke” vs “I stopped smoking” isn’t just wrong grammar, it’s the opposite of what you meant.
For related topics, see transitive vs intransitive verbs (object structure) and modal verbs (which use the bare infinitive, no to). Browse every verb’s full forms including the -ing form in our verb database.