Gerund vs Infinitive — When to Use -ing vs 'to'
English verb patterns that don't follow Spanish logic
Category: Verb Patterns
The Rule
Some English verbs take gerund (-ing): enjoy reading. Some take infinitive (to): want to read. Some take both with meaning change: stop smoking vs stop to smoke. Spanish mainly uses infinitive after verbs.
Why This Matters
Spanish: 'Disfruto leer' (I enjoy to-read). English: 'I enjoy reading' (NOT 'enjoy to read'). Spanish almost always uses infinitive after another verb, so Spanish speakers default to 'to + verb' everywhere, producing errors like 'avoid to do' instead of 'avoid doing'.
Examples
• I enjoy traveling. — "Disfruto viajar." [enjoy + -ing (NOT enjoy to travel)] • She decided to leave. — "Ella decidió irse." [decide + to + verb (infinitive)] • I stopped smoking. (quit) — "Dejé de fumar." [stop + -ing = quit. stop + to = pause in order to]
Common Mistakes
❌ I enjoy to travel. ✅ I enjoy traveling. → Spanish 'disfrutar + infinitivo' doesn't transfer. 'Enjoy' always takes gerund in English. ❌ She suggested to go to the park. ✅ She suggested going to the park. → 'Suggest' takes gerund, not infinitive. Spanish 'sugerir + infinitivo' doesn't apply.
Quick Tip
Gerund verbs (memorize): enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, consider, deny, admit, imagine. Infinitive verbs: want, need, hope, decide, plan, agree, offer, refuse.
Gerund verbs (memorize): enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, consider, deny, admit, imagine. Infinitive verbs: want, need, hope, decide, plan, agree, offer, refuse.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: I enjoy to travel. → Correct: I enjoy traveling.. Spanish 'disfrutar + infinitivo' doesn't transfer. 'Enjoy' always takes gerund in English.
Incorrect: She suggested to go to the park. → Correct: She suggested going to the park.. 'Suggest' takes gerund, not infinitive. Spanish 'sugerir + infinitivo' doesn't apply.
Quiz
Which is correct?