English · Chapter 6 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
The gerund and the infinitive
When a verb follows another verb, does it take '-ing' or 'to'? Enjoy doing, want to do - the patterns that decide which one, and the verbs that take either.
The short version
After a preposition, always the -ing form
This rule is completely reliable, which is rare in this topic. After at, in, of, about, for, before, after and on, use the gerund and never the infinitive. The trap is the fixed phrases ending in to, where the to is a preposition rather than part of an infinitive. If you can put a noun there instead, use -ing.
I look forward to meeting you.
Stop, remember and try change meaning
A small group of verbs takes both forms and means something different with each. Stop doing is quitting, stop to do is pausing in order to do something else. Remember doing recalls a memory, remember to do is a task for later. Choosing the wrong form tells people the opposite of what you intend.
He stopped to smoke.
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