Guide to the Gerund and Infinitive – TOEIC® Preparation
Flow Exam team
In English, some verbs are systematically followed by a verb ending in -ing (what is called the gerund) while others are systematically followed by a verb in the infinitive.
In this lesson, you will learn to master this subtlety of the English language. Knowing these lists and nuances is extremely important for the TOEIC®, as you will find many questions on this topic (especially in the reading section).
1. The Gerund: Definition and Uses
To simplify, a verb in the gerund form corresponds to a verb ending in "-ing". It can occupy several grammatical functions: as the subject of a sentence, after a preposition, or after certain verbs expressing a preference. Let's explore the different situations:
- CASE 1 - The gerund as the subject of a sentence:
- “Swimming is relaxing.” - Nager est relaxant.
- CASE 2 - The gerund after a preposition:
- “They are keen on discovering new cultures.” - Ils sont passionnés par la découverte de nouvelles cultures.
- CASE 3 - The gerund after a verb of preference:
- “She loves listening to music.” - Elle adore écouter de la musique.
- CASE 4 - Certain verbs always require the gerund; it is imperative to memorize them... (see detailed list below).
CASE 2 - The Gerund After a Preposition
When a preposition precedes a verb, the latter must take the gerund form. This simple rule to remember will help you gain many points on the TOEIC®!
Examples of Prepositions Followed by the Gerund
About ull She is concerned about missing important details in the TOEIC eg listening section.ull We discussed about preparing efficiently for the TOEIC eg exam. After ull He became more relaxed after reviewing multiple TOEIC eg mock tests.ull After mastering the grammar rules, she noticed significant progress. Before ull Before attempting the TOEIC eg exam, ensure you understand the format thoroughly.ull They always practice pronunciation before doing a listening exercise. By ull You can boost your TOEIC eg performance by training consistently.ull She enhanced her vocabulary by reading business articles daily. In ull They are engaged in developing effective TOEIC eg strategies.ull There is little value in stressing excessively before the exam. On ull He focuses on completing timed exercises to replicate real conditions.ull She relies on practicing regularly to maintain her level. Without ull They succeeded in finishing the section without committing serious errors.ull He answered the questions without hesitating too much. For ull Thanks for showing me how to approach the TOEIC eg reading comprehension.ull This platform is recognized for offering high-quality preparation resources. Of ull She is confident of reaching her target score on the TOEIC eg.ull He is scared of underperforming on test day, yet keeps working hard.
Here is a series of common expressions (which require a verb in the gerund form) frequently tested in the TOEIC®:
- look forward to ightarrow attendre avec impatience
- carry on ightarrow poursuivre
- think about ightarrow r ext{éfléchir ext{à}
- succeed in ightarrow r ext{éussir ext{à}
- dream of ightarrow r ext{êver de}
- apologize for ightarrow pr ext{ésenter ses excuses pour}
CASE 3 - The Gerund After a Verb of Preference
A verb of preference expresses a personal taste, an inclination, a judgment, or a desire. In English, these verbs are mainly used to express what one appreciates, what one rejects, what one favors, or what one wishes to achieve.
Verbs of preference are almost always followed by a verb in the gerund form.
All verbs marked with an * in the list below are common verbs of preference, but others exist as well:
- love ightarrow aimer, adorer
- hate ightarrow d ext{étester}
- adore ightarrow adorer
- prefer ightarrow pr ext{éférer}
- fancy ightarrow apprécier, avoir envie de
Examples:
- “He adores reading science fiction.” - Il adore lire de la science-fiction.
- “They hate commuting during rush hour.” - Ils détestent faire le trajet aux heures de pointe.
CASE 4: List of Verbs Followed by the Gerund (Must be memorized)
avoid ext{éviter} be worth ext{valoir la peine} can't face ext{ne pas avoir le courage de} can't help ext{ne pas pouvoir s'empêcher de} consider ext{envisager} delay ext{différer} deny ext{nier} dislike ext{ne pas aimer} enjoy ext{apprécier} feel like ext{avoir envie de} finish ext{terminer} give up ext{renoncer ext{à}} imagine ext{imaginer} involve ext{impliquer} justify ext{justifier} look forward to ext{avoir hâte de} mind ext{déranger} miss ext{manquer} postpone ext{remettre ext{à} plus tard} practice ext{s'exercer} spend time ext{passer du temps} suggest ext{suggérer} risk ext{risquer}
2. The Infinitive: Definition and Uses
The infinitive corresponds to the base form of the verb preceded by "to". It can fulfill several functions: as a subject, as a direct object, or to indicate a purpose.
Examples:
- Subject Function: “To learn is essential” - Apprendre est essentiel.
- Object Function: “She needs to study” - Elle a besoin d'étudier.
- Expression of a Goal: “He studies to improve his skills” - Il étudie pour améliorer ses compétences.
Some verbs are systematically followed by the infinitive (consult the complete list below).
List of Verbs Followed by the Infinitive (Must be learned by heart)
afford ext{se permettre} agree ext{accepter} arrange ext{organiser} attempt ext{essayer} can't wait ext{avoir hâte} claim ext{prétendre} dare ext{oser} decide ext{décider} demand ext{exiger} deserve ext{mériter} expect ext{s'attendre ext{à}} fail ext{échouer} guarantee ext{garantir} hesitate ext{hésiter} hope ext{espérer} learn ext{apprendre} manage ext{parvenir ext{à}} mean ext{avoir l'intention de} neglect ext{négliger} offer ext{proposer} plan ext{planifier} prepare ext{se préparer} pretend ext{faire semblant} promise ext{promettre} refuse ext{refuser} seem ext{sembler} tend ext{avoir tendance ext{à}} threaten ext{menacer} train ext{s'entraîner} want, would like ext{vouloir, aimerais} wish ext{souhaiter}
Examples:
- “She plans to travel abroad next summer.” - Elle prévoit de voyager ext{à} l'étranger l'été prochain.
- “They hope to succeed in their TOEIC eg exam.” - Ils espèrent réussir leur examen TOEIC eg.
Conclusion
Even if learning these lists seems tedious, they are massively used in the TOEIC®. By mastering them, you will be able to easily rack up points during the exam!
We are aware that memorization can be a challenge, which is why we are developing fun tools to help you assimilate these structures more easily. If you want to test these resources, click on the button below to access the platform!
In the meantime, to deepen your knowledge of the infinitive and the gerund, do not hesitate to consult these other resources that cover special cases:
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