Verbs with gerunds or infinitives: Avoiding common mistakes

Not sure when to use a gerund and when to use an infinitive with certain verbs? Here's a short summary with some examples of mistakes I encounter frequently.

Some verbs in English can be followed by either the -ing form (gerund) or the to + infinitive. Other verbs can only be used with a gerund or with an infinitive form.

Examples:

• Remember

  • I remembered to go to the store. (I did it.)

  • I remember going to the store. (I have the memory of it.)

• Stop

  • She stopped to look at the view. (She paused in order to look at the view.)

  • She stopped looking at the view. (She didn’t look at the view anymore.)

• Try

  • He tried to eat it. (He made an attempt but couldn’t manage it.)

  • He tried eating it. (He experimented to see if he liked it.)

Common learner mistakes: Using the wrong verb form

• ❌ Wrong: I enjoy to swim 

  ✅ Right: I enjoy swimming.

• ❌ Wrong: Alice learned riding a bike. ✅ Right: Alice learned to ride a bike.

If you'd like to have your English texts checked for typical mistakes like these, I'm happy to be of service!