Using Gerunds & Infinitives.

Duration: 30 minutes.

Let’s take a look at today’s lesson

In this lesson, we will look at, gerunds and infinitives and how to use them correctly.

Lesson Key: (U) = Understanding. (R) = Reading.

Let’s Start with a Warm-Up Question.

“What do you like doing in your free time?”

Explain that these sentences show different verb patterns, gerunds (doing) and infinitives (to do). “I like cooking,” “I love to read.”

Grammar Focus.

Objective: Understand when to use gerunds and infinitives.

A. What are they?

Gerund = verb + ing → reading, swimming, playing
Infinitive = to + verb → to read, to swim, to play

Both can act as nouns after certain verbs.

B. Verbs followed by Gerunds

After some verbs, use -ing.
Examples:

I enjoy reading.
She finished studying.
They suggested going by train.

Common verbs: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, stop, miss, consider.

C. Verbs followed by Infinitives

After some verbs, use to + verb.
Examples:

I want to go home.
We decided to travel by car.
She promised to help me.

Common verbs: want, decide, plan, hope, agree, learn, promise.

D. Verbs that can take both (different meanings)

Verb	+ Gerund (–ing)	+ Infinitive (to + verb)
Stop	I stopped smoking. (= I quit)	I stopped to smoke. (= I paused to do it)
Remember	I remember locking the door. (= past action)	Remember to lock the door. (= future action)
Try	Try calling her again. (= experiment)	Try to call her now. (= make an effort)
Like / Love / Hate	I like cooking. (= I enjoy it)	I like to cook. (= I think it’s a good habit)

Let’s see what we know.

A. Choose the correct form

I enjoy (to read / reading) novels.
She decided (to move / moving) to Canada.
They stopped (to talk / talking) when the teacher came in.
Remember (locking / to lock) the door!
I like (to get up / getting up) early on weekends.

B. Fill in your own ideas

I love ______________________.
I want ______________________.
I stopped ______________________.
I remember ______________________.

Speaking Practice.

What things do you enjoy doing?
What do you plan to do this weekend?
Have you ever stopped doing something that was bad for you?
What is something you hope to learn soon?

Model natural answers:

“I enjoy cooking Italian food.”
“I plan to travel to the beach.”

Let’s Wrap-Up the Lasson.

Quick Review:

After enjoy, finish, avoid → use -ing
After want, plan, decide → use to + verb
Some verbs (stop, remember, try) → change meaning depending on form

✅ Summary:

Use gerunds to talk about general activities or habits.
Use infinitives to talk about intentions, plans, or specific goals.