Lesson 11
Gerunds vs Infinitives: Core Verb Patterns
This lesson groups five rules that students commonly confuse because they look similar on the surface. Treat the first verb or preposition as a pattern trigger. Work through the examples slowly once; speed comes after the pattern is clear.
What you will learn
- Understand and apply: A verb after a preposition normally takes -ing.
- Understand and apply: Some verbs are followed by gerunds.
- Understand and apply: Some verbs are followed by to-infinitives.
- Understand and apply: 'Enjoy', 'avoid' and 'suggest' normally take gerunds.
- Understand and apply: 'Want', 'decide' and 'hope' normally take to-infinitives.
For every rule: spot the trigger → identify the grammatical relationship → apply the form → check meaning.
Before you start
Try the warm-up without checking the rule. The purpose is to expose the instinct you currently use, not to score marks.
Which sentence follows the target grammar pattern?
A. She improved by analysing her mistakes.
B. She improved by analyse her mistakes.
Answer: A. When a verb follows a preposition, use the gerund form.
Rule 1 · G051
A verb after a preposition normally takes -ing
When a verb follows a preposition, use the gerund form.
Correct example
She improved by analysing her mistakes.
Incorrect example
She improved by analyse her mistakes.
Interpretation
When a verb follows a preposition, use the gerund form. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Treat the first verb or preposition as a pattern trigger. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Gerund/infinitive choices often look arbitrary unless students learn the trigger and the change in meaning.
Common exam trap
Choosing between -ing and to + verb by meaning alone when the first verb actually controls the pattern.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Look at the word before the second verb.
- Recall whether that trigger takes -ing, to + verb, or changes meaning.
- Read the full sentence to confirm the intended meaning.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: When a verb follows a preposition, use the gerund form. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “analyse” with “analysing”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
Verb-complement patterns are partly lexical. Learn high-frequency combinations rather than trying to invent one universal rule.
Preposition + noun/pronoun/-ing form.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “She improved by analyse her mistakes.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply A verb after a preposition normally takes -ing: When a verb follows a preposition, use the gerund form.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “She improved by analyse her mistakes.”
Rule 2 · G052
Some verbs are followed by gerunds
Certain verbs select an -ing complement; learn these patterns as verb combinations.
Correct example
He admitted copying the sentence.
Incorrect example
He admitted to copy the sentence.
Interpretation
Certain verbs select an -ing complement; learn these patterns as verb combinations. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Treat the first verb or preposition as a pattern trigger. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Gerund/infinitive choices often look arbitrary unless students learn the trigger and the change in meaning.
Common exam trap
Choosing between -ing and to + verb by meaning alone when the first verb actually controls the pattern.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Look at the word before the second verb.
- Recall whether that trigger takes -ing, to + verb, or changes meaning.
- Read the full sentence to confirm the intended meaning.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: Certain verbs select an -ing complement; learn these patterns as verb combinations. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “to copy” with “copying”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
Verb-complement patterns are partly lexical. Learn high-frequency combinations rather than trying to invent one universal rule.
BY = deadline; UNTIL = continuation.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “He admitted to copy the sentence.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply Some verbs are followed by gerunds: Certain verbs select an -ing complement; learn these patterns as verb combinations.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “He admitted to copy the sentence.”
Rule 3 · G053
Some verbs are followed by to-infinitives
Certain verbs select to + base verb as their complement.
Correct example
They decided to postpone the meeting.
Incorrect example
They decided postponing the meeting.
Interpretation
Certain verbs select to + base verb as their complement. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Treat the first verb or preposition as a pattern trigger. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Gerund/infinitive choices often look arbitrary unless students learn the trigger and the change in meaning.
Common exam trap
Choosing between -ing and to + verb by meaning alone when the first verb actually controls the pattern.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Look at the word before the second verb.
- Recall whether that trigger takes -ing, to + verb, or changes meaning.
- Read the full sentence to confirm the intended meaning.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: Certain verbs select to + base verb as their complement. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “postponing” with “to postpone”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
Verb-complement patterns are partly lexical. Learn high-frequency combinations rather than trying to invent one universal rule.
BY = deadline; UNTIL = continuation.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “They decided postponing the meeting.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply Some verbs are followed by to-infinitives: Certain verbs select to + base verb as their complement.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “They decided postponing the meeting.”
Rule 4 · G054
'Enjoy', 'avoid' and 'suggest' normally take gerunds
These common verbs are followed by -ing forms rather than to-infinitives in their usual patterns.
Correct example
She suggested revising the final paragraph.
Incorrect example
She suggested to revise the final paragraph.
Interpretation
These common verbs are followed by -ing forms rather than to-infinitives in their usual patterns. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Treat the first verb or preposition as a pattern trigger. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Gerund/infinitive choices often look arbitrary unless students learn the trigger and the change in meaning.
Common exam trap
Choosing between -ing and to + verb by meaning alone when the first verb actually controls the pattern.
How to spot it
Look immediately before the second verb. A preposition or a pattern-trigger verb usually decides between -ing and to + verb.
3-step solving method
- Look at the word before the second verb.
- Recall whether that trigger takes -ing, to + verb, or changes meaning.
- Read the full sentence to confirm the intended meaning.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: These common verbs are followed by -ing forms rather than to-infinitives in their usual patterns. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “to revise” with “revising”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
Verb-complement patterns are partly lexical. Learn high-frequency combinations rather than trying to invent one universal rule.
These common verbs are followed by -ing forms rather than to-infinitives in their usual patterns.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “She suggested to revise the final paragraph.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply 'Enjoy', 'avoid' and 'suggest' normally take gerunds: These common verbs are followed by -ing forms rather than to-infinitives in their usual patterns.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “She suggested to revise the final paragraph.”
Rule 5 · G055
'Want', 'decide' and 'hope' normally take to-infinitives
These verbs normally take to + base verb when followed directly by another action.
Correct example
I hope to improve my accuracy.
Incorrect example
I hope improving my accuracy.
Interpretation
These verbs normally take to + base verb when followed directly by another action. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Treat the first verb or preposition as a pattern trigger. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Gerund/infinitive choices often look arbitrary unless students learn the trigger and the change in meaning.
Common exam trap
Choosing between -ing and to + verb by meaning alone when the first verb actually controls the pattern.
How to spot it
Look immediately before the second verb. A preposition or a pattern-trigger verb usually decides between -ing and to + verb.
3-step solving method
- Look at the word before the second verb.
- Recall whether that trigger takes -ing, to + verb, or changes meaning.
- Read the full sentence to confirm the intended meaning.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: These verbs normally take to + base verb when followed directly by another action. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “improving” with “to improve”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
Verb-complement patterns are partly lexical. Learn high-frequency combinations rather than trying to invent one universal rule.
These verbs normally take to + base verb when followed directly by another action.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “I hope improving my accuracy.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply 'Want', 'decide' and 'hope' normally take to-infinitives: These verbs normally take to + base verb when followed directly by another action.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound