Gerunds and Infinitives after Adjectives, Nouns, and Pronouns
Ever wonder whether to use ‘to go’ or ‘going’ after certain words? This section dives into the specific rules governing gerunds and infinitives when they follow adjectives (like happy to see), nouns (like the decision to leave), and pronouns. Master these structures to improve your English accuracy.
⏰ When to Use Infinitives?
Adjective + Infinitive
When an adjective is followed by an infinitive (to + verb), the infinitive typically refers to a general action or situation:
Examples:
It’s boring and difficult to work at night.
It’s important to arrive on time.
She’s happy to help you.
Common adjectives used with infinitives:
- easy/difficult/hard
- good/bad
- interesting/boring
- important/necessary
- happy/sad/pleased/delighted
- ready/prepared
- careful/careless
Noun + Infinitive
The infinitive after a noun often shows purpose or function:
Examples:
This is an interesting place to visit.
I don’t have time to exercise.
She found a way to solve the problem.
Do you have any questions to ask?
Pronoun + Infinitive
Similarly, infinitives after pronouns often express purpose:
Examples:
I have someone to help me with this project.
I need something to eat.
There’s nothing to worry about.
She has nowhere to go.
⏰ When to Use Gerunds?
Adjective + Gerund
When an adjective is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), the gerund usually refers to a specific activity or experience:
Examples:
It was boring waiting in line for the roller coaster. But it was cool riding on it.
Reading that book was interesting.
Swimming in the ocean is exciting.
He found walking in the rain relaxing.
Common adjectives used with gerunds:
- good/bad
- worth
- busy
- interesting/boring/exciting
- difficult/easy
- fun/enjoyable
Fixed Expressions + Gerund
Certain fixed expressions are always followed by gerunds:
Examples:
I spend a lot of time traveling for my job.
The museum is worth visiting.
We had fun playing games at the party.
She wasted time looking for her keys.
Common fixed expressions with gerunds:
- feel like
- be worth
- can’t help
- can’t stand
- have fun/difficulty/trouble
- spend/waste time
- look forward to
- be used to
📝 Key Differences in Meaning
Sometimes the choice between gerund and infinitive creates a difference in meaning:
She stopped smoking. (She quit the habit of smoking)
It’s interesting to read this book. (General statement about the action)
Reading this book is interesting. (Specific experience)
She stopped to smoke. (She stopped what she was doing in order to smoke)
Infinitive and -ing Forms
Understanding how verb choice changes the meaning of a sentence
⏰ When do we use?
We use these forms when one verb follows another. For some verbs like try, remember, forget, and stop, the choice between an infinitive and an -ing form completely changes the meaning of the action. We also use the to-infinitive to express purpose or after the verb be, while the -ing form is required after prepositions.
📌 Structure
| Usage | Structure | Meaning / Function |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Meaning | Verb + to-infinitive OR -ing | Meaning depends on the specific verb (e.g., stop, remember). |
| After ‘Be’ | Be + to-infinitive | States a purpose or plan. |
| Express Purpose | (So as) + to-infinitive | Explains why an action is done. |
| After Prepositions | Preposition + -ing | Required form after words like by, after, in. |
📝 Notes
Using “stop doing” implies that an activity or habit has ended permanently or for a long period, whereas “stop to do” suggests a temporary pause in one activity specifically to begin another. Similarly, “remember doing” is past-oriented, referring to a mental memory of a completed event, while “remember to do” is future-oriented, focusing on a responsibility or task that must still be performed.
- Stop doing (Finished/Quit): “I stopped smoking last year” means I no longer smoke.
- Stop to do (Paused for a purpose): “I stopped to smoke” means I was doing something else and paused to have a cigarette.
- Remember doing (A past memory): “I remember going to the beach as a child” means I have a memory of that trip.
- Remember to do (A future task): “Please remember to go to the store” means don’t forget the errand.
- Forget doing (No memory of the past): “I forgot meeting her” means I have no memory of our previous encounter.
- Forget to do (Action not performed): “I forgot to meet her” means I didn’t go because I didn’t remember the plan.
💬 Examples
Purpose (Using to-infinitive)
- Example: He stayed at the office late to finish the project. (Explanation: The reason or purpose for him staying late was the completion of the project.)
- Example: She joined a gym to get healthier. (Explanation: The goal or purpose of joining the gym is the improvement of her health.)
- Example: I am calling you to ask for some advice. (Explanation: The reason for the phone call is the desire to receive advice.)
Preposition (Using -ing form)
- Example: He apologized for being late to the meeting. (Explanation: The preposition “for” must be followed by the -ing form of the verb.)
- Example: She is very good at solving complex math problems. (Explanation: The preposition “at” requires the -ing form to describe the skill.)
- Example: They walked home instead of taking a taxi. (Explanation: The prepositional phrase “instead of” is followed by the -ing form.)
Meaning Change (to-infinitive vs. -ing)
- I forgot to meet him (I didn’t go because I didn’t remember the appointment), but I will never forget meeting the Queen (I have a vivid memory of that past event).
- “Forget to” means a task was not done; “forget doing” refers to a memory of an experience.
- Please try to be quiet (make an effort to not make noise), but if you can’t sleep, try drinking some warm milk (test this method to see if it helps you sleep).
- “Try to” is about making an attempt; “try doing” is about testing a possible solution.
- On my way to work, I stopped to talk to my neighbor (I paused my journey to have a chat), but I stopped talking to him months ago (I no longer speak to him at all).
- “Stopped to” means pausing for a new action; “stopped doing” means ending a habit or activity.)
Ready to Choose the Right Verb Form After English Adjectives, Nouns, and Pronouns?
Knowing when to use a gerund or an infinitive is a fantastic step to sounding more precise and natural in English. It’s how you distinguish “easy to learn” from “worth learning“!
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