🔥 EXPLAINED! When to use the Infinitive and Gerund After Verbs

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► CHAPTERS:
00:00 How to know when to use the gerund or infinitive in English?
01:29 When to use the GERUND in English
2:25 Which verbs are followed by the gerund in English?
4:58 Full list of verbs followed by the gerund or infinitive
5:42 When to use the INFINITIVE in English
7:07 Which verbs are followed by the infinitive in English?
9:15 Golden rule for knowing gerund v infinitive in English

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► TRANSCRIPTION
Suggest to go or suggest going? Decide to go or decide going? These are the questions that drive my students crazy. Do we use the infinitive, like to go after verbs, or the gerund, like going after verbs? Well, I've got some bad news and good news for you. Let's start with the bad news.

Now, the bad news is it all depends on the verb. And there's no real rule to help us know which verb is followed by the infinitive and which verb is followed by the gerund. And that's why it's so important that when you learn a new verb in English, you learn it in context, so that you learn exactly. For example, the word dare. Don't just learn the word dare, learn it in context, like, I didn't dare to touch the spider. Dare to touch. Okay? Dare is followed by the infinitive.

Now, that being said, in this video, I do have some little tricks that are going to help you identify which verbs need to be followed by the infinitive and which verbs are going to be followed by the gerund. A lot of students have requested this video. I think you're going to find it really useful and that it's going to help you stop making so many mistakes in English grammar. So let's start with when to use the gerund.

Again, the gerund is the -ing form of verbs going, eating, taking. And before I tell you how to know which verbs are followed by the gerund, I want to tell you a couple of other very common places where we use the gerund. First is after prepositions of time and place. For example, I always have breakfast before leaving the house. I always have a cup of tea after eating lunch. I got wet after walking in the rain.

And the other commonplace we use it is when we're replacing the subject or object of a verb, and we're basically using it as a noun. For example, Dave loves jumping in the swimming pool, but jumping in the pool is forbidden. But swimming is a great exercise. In that situation, we're using jumping and swimming as the subject, as a noun, and as the subject of the sentence.

Okay? So as you saw in that example, Dave loves jumping into swimming pools. Who doesn't? And this is my first guideline for knowing when to use the gerund. So basically, when we're using verbs that tell us what we like and what we don't like, we use the gerund. I've got lots of examples of this, so let's have a look.

Alright. Things I like doing I like watching football. I love going on holiday. I enjoy playing the ukulele. I fancy going to the cinema this weekend. I adore travelling to foreign countries. I don't mind driving long distances. I feel like eating out tonight. Okay, all these verbs tell you more or less what I like, and they are all followed by the gerund.

I said I like watching football. Yeah, I prefer watching football to playing football. So prefer is also followed by the gerund. And now things that we don't like.

Let's have a look at some examples of things that we don't like, which are all followed by the gerund. I don't like being ill. I hate people smoking near me. Hate smoking. Hate people smoking near me. Some people detest going to the dentist.

[... Due to character limit, the rest of this transcription is unavailable]

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~ Greg 😀

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[rstrelba]

I've found a rule, wich covers 90% percents combination of verbs. When the second verb is about to happen in nearest future (even for past shifting) - use infinitive. I want to eat. I decided to eat. If second verb is already acting or does not have a chance to happen - use gerund. I pause eating, I like eating, I finish eating, I prefer eating to working ))

[IanEvans]

I am an English teacher and this is an excellent video. Well done Greg.

[katerynavolkova-shapovalen]

Mr. Greg, thank you so much!!! This very material is just exactly what I need!!! I’ve been working with this material for years with so many books but still I haven’t found more or less clear explanations on the topic! And this video of yours is really of great help!!! I’m thankful so much! Wonderful day to everyone ❤

[homeirakashanchi]

You are really a kind and generous teacher. Thank you, you work very hard to teach your students the keys to grammar.

[rayherbrecht]

Hi Mr. Greg, thank you so much for all your videos, I loved all of them. I've been studying English by myself for 2 years and I live in Belgium. I've found all your videos so amazing, transparent, and self-explanatory. Thank you so much

[nastyamastereng]

Thank you, Greg! The effort you put into the video is priceless! Keep it up!

[ezequielchabay]

Thanks Greg! This video has been my salvation!

[gerupxg]

Greg, you are an awesome teacher and I look forward to learning from you. Thank you ever so much. A special thanks for your WORKSHEETS )))

[andrespadron]

So valuable lesson, quite well organized. You have given me a bit of light on this question that has been around my head for a long time. Thank you.

[anaramos]

I don't mind watching your videos every single day. In fact, I recommend to watch them to all my friends!

[Лермонтов-м]

Attaboy, Greg. Your explanation of the gerund-infinitive practical application is the clearest one on The Youtube.

[MrQuietrob]

The best video about English grammar I've seen in a long time. Congratulations and a big thank you! 🙏

[VitorSilva-uogl]

I've been studying English about one year, and I'm lerning with your videos, thank you Greg, I wish sucess for you!!

[berenice-]

Thank you so much Greg for this lesson!!!

[pascalguerandel]

Where were you..when I was growing up!😀😀 I've never come across someone who explains it the way you do.. simplistically brilliant...your explanations are helping me speak and comprehend...better! Thank you ❤

[joseernestosabatercalvet]

Thank you Greg for such a practical guide.

[salutvictor]

Awesome content GREG!!!
Watching, enjoying and learning from Guatemala!!!

[zx_vlogs]

Fantastic explanation. Thank you. Keep it up

[zxxtdis]

Greg, thnx a lot, I love hearing your perfect speech, I'm also a teacher and I tell my students about the difference between -to ang -ing in this way: if two actions go at the same moment use gerund after verb cause it's impossible first to enjoy and then to swim or first to hate then to smoke but we use inf if the second action goes after the first one e.g. I decide to go meaning first we decide smth and then we do it. And don't forget to use like+inf speaking about people's habits e.g. I like to go to the gym 3 times a week...anyway, I love your videos and I often use them during my lessons, greetings, Den

[luisremelli]

thank you for the super helpful worksheet, really thank you for your time :)