Gerunds & Infinitives: Advanced Patterns
At B2 you master the trickier side of gerunds (-ing) and infinitives (to + verb): verbs that change meaning depending on which you choose, and the complex forms (perfect, passive,…
At B2 you master the trickier side of gerunds (-ing) and infinitives (to + verb): verbs that change meaning depending on which you choose, and the complex forms (perfect, passive, continuous).
Verbs that change meaning
| Verb | + -ing | + to-infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember | recall a memory (remember doing) | not forget a task (remember to do) |
| stop | finish an activity (stop doing) | pause in order to do (stop to do) |
| try | experiment (try doing) | make an effort (try to do) |
| regret | be sorry about the past (regret doing) | be sorry to announce (regret to do) |
| go on | continue the same thing | change to a new thing |
stop doing vs stop to do“He stopped smoking” = he quit the habit. “He stopped to smoke” = he paused (another activity) in order to have a cigarette. The gerund is the thing that ends; the infinitive shows the purpose of stopping.
Complex forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| perfect gerund | She admitted having taken the money. |
| passive gerund | He hates being told what to do. |
| perfect infinitive | I’m glad to have met you. |
| passive infinitive | She wants to be promoted. |
Examples from EduCareer
- Remember to submit your homework. (don’t forget)
- I remember submitting it last night. (the memory)
- Omar regrets not starting the course earlier.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersFor these meaning-change verbs, ask: is it about a memory/past action (→ -ing) or a task/purpose (→ to-infinitive)? “I stopped to rest” (purpose) vs “I stopped working” (ended the activity). To make any gerund or infinitive negative, put not in front: “regret not studying.”
Common mistakes
- Remember submitting your homework (= reminder). → Remember to submit your homework.
- He stopped to smoke (= quit). → He stopped smoking.
- She admitted to taken the money. → She admitted having taken the money.
Practise with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."Remember ___ the door when you leave." (don't forget)
task not to forget → to-infinitive.
2."I remember ___ that film as a child." (memory)
recalling the past → -ing.
3."He stopped ___." (quit the habit)
ended the activity → -ing.
4."On the drive, we stopped ___ petrol." (purpose)
paused in order to → to-infinitive.
5."I regret ___ you that we're closed." (formal news)
regret to tell = sorry to announce.
6."She regrets ___ rude to him." (past action)
sorry about the past → -ing.
7."Have you tried ___ it off and on again?" (experiment)
experiment → try + -ing.
8."I tried ___ but the lid wouldn't open." (effort)
made an effort → try to.
9.Perfect gerund form:
having + past participle.
10."He hates ___ what to do." (passive gerund)
passive gerund → being told.
11."She admitted ___ the money." (earlier action)
perfect gerund → having taken.
12."I'm glad ___ you at last." (perfect infinitive)
to have met = pleased about a completed action.
13."She hopes ___ soon." (passive infinitive)
passive infinitive → to be promoted.
14."After the intro, he went on ___ the main topic." (changed activity)
go on to do = move to a new thing.
15."He went on ___ for hours." (continued same thing)
go on + -ing = continue.
16.Make a gerund negative by:
not + -ing (e.g. not going).
17."Omar regrets ___ the course earlier." (didn't start)
negative gerund → not starting.
18."Did you remember ___ the email?" (task)
task → remember to.
19."I don't recall ever ___ there." (memory)
recall + -ing.
20."He denied ___ involved." (passive gerund)
deny + being + pp.
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