This document provides guidance on using gerunds (-ing form of verbs) and infinitives (to + base form of verbs) in English. It lists verbs and expressions that are commonly used with gerunds or infinitives, and provides examples to illustrate the differences. Key points covered include gerunds being used for completed or real actions, while infinitives are used for future or unreal actions. It also discusses using gerunds or infinitives after certain verbs, prepositions, adjectives and in certain expressions. Memory aids and exceptions to the rules are outlined.

1.  CLUE: It is sometimes difficult to remember all the patterns, so here is a useful clue that you can use in order to guess:
Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed: I stopped smoking. (The smoking was real and happened until I stopped.)
Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future: I stopped to smoke. (I was doing something else, and I stopped; the smoking had not happened yet.)
+ ING / NOT GERUND + TO INF / NOT TO INF SPECIAL VERBS 
WITH THESE VERBS
- Verbs of preference (like, love, enjoy, prefer,
don’t mind, dislike, hate, can’t stand)
- others: avoid, admit, can’t help, feel like,
imagine, suggest, start, begin, finish
 Be used to
WITH THESE VERBS
Agree, decide
Arrange, plan, want
Manage
Learn, know how to…
Expect, hope
Refuse, offer, promise
Can’t afford
Can’t wait
 would like/love + to do sth
Remember:
- To inf: first I remembered and then I did the action
(I remembered to post the letter)
- Ing: First I did the action and now I remember that action.
(I remember playing with my sisters)
Forget:
- To inf: First you forget, then you don’t do it!
(I forgot to study for the exam and I failed!)
- Ing: First you do it, then you forget it (forget something from the past)
(My grandma forgot playing with her sisters. She is too old to remember)
AFTER PREPOSITIONS
BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
Interested in
Good at
Tired of
The importance of
The chance of
Instead of
WITH THESE EXPRESSIONS
There is no point (no tiene sentido)
There is/It’s no use (es inútil)
AFTER VERBS + PRON
Advise, allow, permit, invite, order, persuade,
convince, tell, want
He invited me to go to the cinema.
Stop:
- To inf: First you stop then you start a new activity
(I was studying for hours, then I stopped to have a rest)
- Ing: you don’t continue that activity anymore
(My father stopped smoking last year)
AFTER ADJECTIVES
We are sad to hear that
They are ready to go
It is difficult to learn a language
Regret:
- To inf: you regret sth that you have to say
(I regret to tell you that you’ve failed)
- Ing: you regret sth you did in the past.
(I regret not studying for my exams. I failed)

2. A. Complete the sentences with a verb from the box in the (not) GERUND or (not) TO INFINITIVE form.
1) There's no use ................................ to the theatre now. The play has already started.
2) I'm looking forward to .......................... to Cairo. I've never been there before.
3) I can't stand ............................ to heavy metal music. It's awful.
4) George’s father learnt ............................. the guitar in five years.
5) He arranged ............................. her at the Grand Hotel.
6) Suzy can't help ........................... chocolate when she's nervous.
7) Do you find it difficult ............................. when you are studying?
8) I’d like ............................. to the Moon some day.
9) I don't feel like............................. . I'm not tired.
10) They decided ............................. New York because of the weather.
11) I always suggest ............................... the film before reading the book.
12) He promised ............................. me with my homework.
13) My brother can’t afford .............................to India right now. It’s too expensive.
14) I offered ............................. the dress for her, but she refused ........................... it.
15) We are used to ............................. in a small town.
16) Jennifer prefers ............................. her bed to .......................... the bathroom.
17) I often imagine ............................... in Paris and driving a very expensive car.
18) He has finally managed ............................. his driving test!
19) My daughter hates ............................. orange juice in the morning. She prefers coffee.
20) My grandpa used to …………………… the news after dinner.
21) Harry dislikes ............................ food that isn't organic. He only buys at health food shops.
22) His parents agreed ............................. for the electricity bill.
23) I can’t wait ............................. you again.
B. Complete the sentences with PREPOSITIONS + GERUNDS? / GERUNDS AS SUBJECTS? / NOUNS + TO INF? /
ADJECTIVES + TO INF?.
1) After a long time we eventually succeeded in………………..………………….a flat. (find)
2) It is important ............................. your friends carefully. (choose)
3) ………………..…………………. is bad for your health. (smoke)
4) It is bad ………………..…………………. . (smoke)
5) I wonder what prevented him from………………..………………….to the party. (come)
6) We have an essay ………………..…………………. . (write)
7) ………………..…………………. a father or a mother is not always easy. (be)
8) I've always dreamed of………………..………………….on a small island in the Pacific. (live)
9) It's no use .......................... Sara how to bake a cake. She can't cook. (explain)
10) I have no time ………………..…………………. . (waste)
11) I’m glad ............................. you again. (see)
12) The cold water didn't stop her from………………..………………….a swim. (have)
13) She apologised after ………………..………………….so rude to me. (be)
14) It is good ………………..…………………. every day. (study)
15) Before ………………..…………………. the house, Jack locked all the doors. (leave)
Play / Concentrate / Not watch / Travel / Sleep / Meet / Not visit / Help /
Listen
Fly / Eat / Go
Buy /Pass / Watch / Pay / Travel / Make / Have (x2) / Accept / See / Clean
Live (x2)

3. C. Choose the correct alternative BE USED TO/GET USED TO + ING or USED TO + INF.
1. Andy wasn’t used to/ didn’t get used to getting up early, but he is used to it now.
2. It took him a long time to be used to / get used to living abroad. He felt really homesick at first.
3. He used to / was used to sign autographs when he was a pop star.
4. He wasn’t used to/ didn’t use to walk to work but he does it now every day.
5. He used to/ is used to appearing on TV, but it still makes him nervous.
6. He left the band because he couldn’t get used to / be used to being famous.
7. English people used to /are used to driving on the left, so when they visit Spain they need to be
used to / get used to driving on the right.
8. When I travelled to Ireland I was used to / got used to drinking tea.
D. Correct the mistakes.
1. They used to working in Valdepeñas but they work in Moral now.
2. I can’t help to close my eyes after sneeze.
3. When you move to the flat you’ll have to be used to the noise.
4. Enma promised being home before midnight.
5. I used to driving to work but now I’ve get used to walking there.
6. Live in a big city is better than live in a small town.
7. I’m full after eating so much. I am not used to eat like that.
8. It is very important knowing languages.
9. To drive demands a lot of concentration.
10. They’ve been talking about to buy a new house.
E. Stop, forget, remember and regret: -ING or TO INFINITIVE form of the verbs below?
Talk / have / eat / say / be / buy / inform / see (x2) / post
1. Mike used to be fat but he stopped …………………………. junk food last month.
2. I remember …………………………. the Eiffel Tower for the first time.
3. We missed the concert because he forgot …………………………. the tickets.
4. Did you remember …………………………. the letter?
5. She regrets …………………………. to her mum like that.
6. We’ll never forget …………………………. Aunt Ann two years ago.
7. My brother doesn’t remember …………………………. rude to me.
8. We regret …………………………. you that we are unable to offer you that job.
9. After being driving for three hours, they stopped …………………………. a rest.
10. I believe what I said was fair. I don’t regret …………………………. it.