Bac English: Gerunds and Infinitives – Rules, Examples and Practice

What is a Gerund?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun in a sentence. It is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb (e.g., reading, writing, studying, playing). Unlike a present participle (which also ends in -ing), a gerund acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence rather than as a verb or adjective. Understanding the difference between gerunds and infinitives is crucial for the Bac English exam, as it appears in grammar exercises, written expression, and reading comprehension tasks.

Verbs Followed by Gerund

The following verbs are commonly followed by a gerund (verb + -ing):

  • Enjoy: I enjoy reading novels in my free time.
  • Avoid: You should avoid making the same mistakes.
  • Suggest: The teacher suggested studying the lesson again.
  • Keep: She keeps talking during the exam.
  • Consider: He is considering changing his career.
  • Admit: The student admitted cheating on the test.
  • Deny: He denied stealing the money.
  • Mind: Do you mind opening the window?
  • Practice: You need to practice speaking English every day.
  • Finish: I finished writing my essay at midnight.

Verbs Followed by Infinitive

The following verbs are commonly followed by an infinitive (to + verb):

  • Want: I want to become a doctor.
  • Decide: She decided to study abroad.
  • Hope: We hope to pass the Bac exam.
  • Promise: He promised to help me with my homework.
  • Plan: They plan to visit Algeria next summer.
  • Agree: The manager agreed to meet us.
  • Refuse: She refused to answer the question.
  • Learn: I learned to speak French at school.
  • Offer: He offered to drive me to the airport.
  • Seem: It seems to be raining outside.

Verbs Followed by Both – With Meaning Change

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning changes. This is a common topic in Bac exams:

Stop: “He stopped smoking” (he quit the habit) vs. “He stopped to smoke” (he paused what he was doing in order to smoke).

Remember: “I remember locking the door” (I recall doing it) vs. “I remembered to lock the door” (I didn’t forget to do it).

Forget: “I forgot meeting him” (I don’t recall meeting him) vs. “I forgot to meet him” (I didn’t remember to meet him).

Try: “Try pressing this button” (test/experiment) vs. “Try to press this button” (make an effort/attempt).

Regret: “I regret telling him” (I feel sorry about something I did) vs. “I regret to tell you” (I am sorry to inform you – formal announcement).

Gerund as Subject, Object, and After Prepositions

Gerund as Subject: When a gerund is the subject of a sentence, it takes a singular verb. Example: Reading is my favourite hobby. / Studying regularly leads to success.

Gerund as Object: Gerunds can function as the object of certain verbs as we have seen above. Example: I enjoy listening to music.

After Prepositions: When a verb follows a preposition, it must take the gerund form. Common prepositions include: in, on, at, for, of, about, with, without, before, after. Examples: Thank you for helping me. / He left without saying goodbye. / She is interested in learning Arabic. / Before leaving, check your answers.

Infinitive of Purpose

The infinitive of purpose is used to explain why someone does something. It answers the question “Why?” and is often translated as “من أجل” or “لكي” in Arabic. Examples: I went to the library to study for the Bac exam. / She saved money to buy a new computer. / He called me to invite me to his birthday party. / We use social media to communicate with friends and family. You can also use “in order to” or “so as to” for a more formal tone: He works hard in order to support his family.

Comparison Table: Verb Patterns

Pattern Verbs Examples
Verb + Gerund Enjoy, avoid, suggest, keep, consider, admit, deny, mind, practice, finish I enjoy reading. He avoided answering.
Verb + Infinitive Want, decide, hope, promise, plan, agree, refuse, learn, offer, seem She wants to travel. They agreed to help.
Verb + Both (meaning change) Stop, remember, forget, try, regret Stop smoking vs. stop to smoke
Preposition + Gerund All prepositions (in, on, at, for, of, without, etc.) Thank you for calling. Before leaving…

Practice Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the correct form (gerund or infinitive).

1. I enjoy _____ (read) books in my free time. → reading

2. She decided _____ (study) medicine at university. → to study

3. He stopped _____ (smoke) because of health problems. → smoking

4. Please remember _____ (lock) the door when you leave. → to lock

5. They are interested in _____ (learn) English for their career. → learning

Exercise 2 (Bac Exam Style): Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. “I will help you,” he said. (promised) → He promised to help me.

2. She went to the library. She wanted to study. (in order to) → She went to the library in order to study.

Exercise 3: Write three sentences about your future plans using verbs followed by infinitives (hope, plan, want). Then write three sentences about your habits using verbs followed by gerunds (enjoy, keep, avoid). This type of exercise is commonly found in the written expression section of the Bac exam.