Gerunds and Infinitives in English: Rules, Examples, and Practice Exercises

12/12/2025 Learning & Grammer created by Sprachcaffe Team

Gerund or Infinitive? Here's how the Gerund and Infinitive work in English: Examples and Exercises | I like… drawing? Or to draw? It's not always so easy to know when to use the gerund and the infinitive in English. Although we often attribute the same meaning to them in translation, these two verb forms are applied according to different and specific rules.

And, as often ( always ) happens in English, the rule also has its fair share of exceptions. Learning the use of gerunds and infinitives in English is very important from the beginning, but don't worry if you find it a little difficult: this topic challenges even the most advanced learners!

The difference, in some cases, is so subtle that we don't even perceive it, so we need to train this super-sense and everything suddenly becomes simpler. Continue reading this lesson to study the topic of gerunds and infinitives in English with exercises to test your skills.

Gerund and Infinitive in English: What are they?

Let's start by recognizing these two verb forms: what are gerunds and infinitives in English ? How can we distinguish them?

It's actually quite simple.

The gerund is the compound form of the verb + ing , an ending used to indicate the continuity of an action. This progressive action can occur in the present, past, or future: the auxiliary verb will tell us that in the case of compound tenses. In any case, the gerund is a verb + ing , as for example: drinking, cooking, eating, listening, writing…

The infinitive, on the other hand, is the form composed of the verb and preceded by the particle "to." If we find the verb "live" in a sentence as is, we can translate it as "vivo," but also "viviamo," "vivono," and so on depending on the subject. That TO , however, indicates that it is an infinitive, and therefore: to live → vivere.

Look, they're quite different, aren't they? The problem arises when we want to translate a sentence with an infinitive from Italian to English. Which one to choose isn't so obvious, even if it may seem so! Let's take the following sentence as an example:

Cooking is relaxing.

Instinctively, we would use the infinitive, that is, the form with the TO. In this case, however, it's incorrect:

To cook is soothing. Cooking is soothing.

This happens because, as we'll see shortly, the rule dictates the use of the gerund when the infinitive verb serves as the subject. It's therefore necessary to pay some attention to the context and the sentence form before translating, in order to choose the correct verb. Much like understanding the tenses in English , it takes practice!

Gerund in English: When to Use It?

Let's now look at the uses of the gerund in English, to begin with. What does the general rule say? That we must necessarily use the gerund in the following cases:

As the subject of a sentence . This is the example we saw before, but let's look at a few more for clarity: Translating

this text is very hard. Going

to school is great, but not every day . Studying by heart is the worst method.
After prepositions. This rule is very important: we can use the gerund after a preposition, but never the infinitive! Remember this even in compound tenses.

I had breakfast before meeting you. = I had breakfast before meeting you .

Did you take your medicine after having lunch? = Did you take your medicine after having lunch?
As a direct object after possessive adjectives in English. Here too, the infinitive would be incorrect, and only the gerund is allowed. I think

his singing isn't all that pleasant . Your cooking is simply delicious.
To indicate habits after specific verbs, such as enjoy.

I enjoy traveling around the world.

I love cooking while listening to a podcast.

Infinitive in English: When to Use It?

And now let's move on to the infinitive in English and its uses. Here are the cases in which using the infinitive is correct, while using the gerund would be incorrect:

After adverbs and adjectives as a direct object.

1. I would like to take a shower. = I would like to take a shower.

2. It's impossible to concentrate with such chaos! = It's impossible to concentrate with such chaos!

As a final complement, or to indicate the reason why something happens.

I often take a day off to relax my eyes from the PC light. I want to go to Iceland to see waterfalls and geysers.

After BUT when it means "except ":

I would like anything but to see you. = I would like anything but to see you .

With nouns that indicate goal, dream, desire, advice , and so on.

1. His desire to become a singer is fading. = His dream of becoming a singer is fading.

2. The advice to listen before you speak is always great. = The advice to listen before you speak is always great.

Some verbs that indicate will, desire, or decision only take the infinitive, and not the gerund:

1. I want to remind you that I am here. = I want to remind you that I am here.

2. Don't you sometimes want to turn everything off and just live? = Don't you sometimes want to turn everything off and just live a little.

3. You decided not to leave , and it was for the best. = You decided not to leave , and it was for the best.

Gerunds and Infinitives in English: Exceptions to the Rule

The gerund and infinitive in English therefore have very different uses... but not always . Naturally, English wants to complicate things for you, always leaving the rules somewhat open to change as they please.

In some cases, in fact, it's possible to use both verb forms in the same sentence without altering its meaning. These cases involve the verb when it functions as:

Subject of the sentence :

To climb K2 would be very hard. = Climbing K2 must be difficult.

Eating is essential. = Eating is essential.
Subject of the sentence :

I would hate to date someone arrogant. = I wouldn't like to date someone arrogant.

I like dating humble people. = I like dating humble people.
Object complement of the sentence :

My hobby is painting flowers . = My mom wants me to go to church. = My mom wants me to go to church.

The truth is that in some cases there's no real rule: you just have to know by heart that, for some reason, a gerund or an infinitive is used in English. Generally speaking, however, we can distinguish this substantial difference:

We use the gerund to talk about habits, choices, dangers, and experiences:

I enjoy going to the cinema every Sunday with my family. = I love going to the cinema every Sunday with my family.

I risk falling if I pass by there. = I risk falling if I pass by there.
We use the infinitive to talk about hopes, desires, goals, and possible actions:

I went to the supermarket to buy some milk. = I went to the supermarket to buy some milk.

I desire to live on a farm. = I dream of living on a farm.

Gerund and Infinitive in English: Review Exercises

That said, you now have all the necessary knowledge about gerunds and infinitives in English: the exercises below will help you determine whether you've fully grasped the topic or if you still have some gaps. Don't worry: you'll find the solutions below!

Exercise 1: Choose the correct gerund or infinitive in the following sentences:

I want to go / going live in the countryside. = I want to go and live in the countryside.
To watch / Watching TV is the only sport he does. = Watching TV is his only sport.
To risk / Risking missing the train every morning is my sport instead.
It's hard not to lose patience with you.
Ask me anything but to call / calling that guy! = Ask me anything but to call / calling that guy!
I loved to discover / discovering new things with my grandfather. = I loved to discover new things with my grandfather.
Spoiling / To spoil children is a risk for the future.
I would love hugging / to hug you but we are far away. = I would love to hug you but we are far away.

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into English, using the gerund or infinitive as appropriate:

It's satisfying to know you did the right thing.
Knowing more than others is satisfying.
I would like to say that I am never wrong.
She enjoys counting all the red cars.
Jonathan wanted to be better for his children.
He wanted to remind me to turn off the light in the empty room.
To be or not to be , that is the question.
I'd like to whistle but I can't!

Solutions
Exercise 1	Exercise 2
to go	It's satisfying to know you did the right thing.
watching	Knowing more than others is satisfying.
risking	I would like to say that I am never wrong.
to lose	She enjoys counting all the red cars.
to call	Jonathan wanted to be better for his children.
discovering	He wanted to remind me to turn off the light in the empty room.
spoiling	To be or not to be, that is the question.
to hug	I would like to whistle but I can't!

How did it go? If you're not satisfied, don't despair: as we said at the beginning, the topic is not the easiest. The gerund and infinitive in English can challenge even native speakers, since choosing the correct form is sometimes just a matter of memory. Or luck, in cases where the difference is more subtle! Keep practicing, doing exercises like this, and repeating the correct sentences out loud until the mechanics become second nature, and most of the work will be done.

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