Gerunds and Infinitives: Common Verbs (Part 1)

Some verbs are always followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), while others are always followed by an infinitive (to + verb). In this exercise, you will practise five verbs that take gerunds: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, and suggest. For example, "I enjoy reading" and "She avoids eating sweets." You will also practise five verbs that take infinitives: want, decide, hope, agree, and refuse. For example, "He wants to learn" and "They decided to stay."

There is no grammar rule that tells you which verbs take gerunds and which take infinitives — you must learn them by heart. A helpful tip: many verbs about enjoyment or completion take gerunds (enjoy, finish, keep), while verbs about future plans or decisions often take infinitives (want, decide, hope). This distinction between gerund verbs and infinitive verbs is tested regularly in Cambridge B1 Preliminary and B2 First examinations, so mastering these common patterns early will help you throughout your English studies.