NIVEL B1 - FORMAS VERBALES

Gerunds vs Infinitives: -ing vs to + verb

Aprende qué verbos van con -ing y cuáles con to + infinitive para sonar natural y profesional

19 minutos18 ejerciciosB1 Intermediate

Gerunds vs Infinitives: ¿Cuál Usar?

Esta es una de las decisiones más importantes para sonar natural en inglés. Algunos verbos van con -ing (gerund), otros con to + verb (infinitive), y algunos cambian de significado según cuál uses. Es clave para fluidez profesional.

No hay regla universal: Cada verbo tiene su preferencia. Pero existenpatrones claros que te ayudarán a memorizar y usar correctamente.

Conceptos Fundamentales

🌱 GERUND (-ing form)

Verb + -ing (como sustantivo)

Ejemplos:

• I enjoy reading business books

• She's good at managing projects

• Working from home has advantages

💡 El gerund actúa como sustantivo pero mantiene características de verbo

🎯 INFINITIVE (to + verb)

to + base form of verb

Ejemplos:

• I want to improve my skills

• She decided to accept the offer

• It's important to communicate clearly

💡 El infinitive expresa propósito, intención o futura acción

🎭 Diferencia Conceptual

GERUND (-ing)

  • • Actividad real, concreta
  • • Experiencia vivida o conocida
  • • Enfoque en la actividad misma
  • • "Swimming is fun" (la experiencia de nadar)

INFINITIVE (to +)

  • • Acción futura, potencial
  • • Propósito, intención, objetivo
  • • Enfoque en el resultado o meta
  • • "I want to swim" (intención futura)

Verbos + Gerund (-ing)

🌿 Verbos que SIEMPRE van con Gerund

Patrones comunes: Verbos de experiencia, proceso, sentimientosy actividades en progreso o completadas

😍 Likes & Dislikes

  • • enjoy working
  • • love traveling
  • • hate waiting
  • • don't mind helping
  • • can't stand being late

🎯 Activities & Process

  • • finish working
  • • keep trying
  • • practice speaking
  • • avoid making mistakes
  • • suggest meeting

💭 Consideration

  • • consider changing jobs
  • • imagine working abroad
  • • admit making errors
  • • deny saying that
  • • involve working late

Ejemplos en Contexto Profesional:

• "I enjoy collaborating with international teams"

• "She suggested postponing the meeting until next week"

• "We finished reviewing all the applications yesterday"

• "He admitted making several calculation errors"

Verbos + Infinitive (to + verb)

🎯 Verbos que SIEMPRE van con Infinitive

Patrones comunes: Verbos de intención, deseo, decisióny acciones futuras o no realizadas

💡 Wants & Intentions

  • • want to improve
  • • hope to succeed
  • • plan to expand
  • • expect to finish
  • • would like to meet

⚡ Decisions & Actions

  • • decide to accept
  • • choose to focus
  • • agree to help
  • • refuse to compromise
  • • manage to complete

🎓 Learning & Growth

  • • learn to code
  • • need to understand
  • • try to improve
  • • attempt to solve
  • • fail to deliver

Ejemplos en Contexto Profesional:

• "We plan to launch the product in Q3"

• "She decided to accept the promotion offer"

• "The team managed to complete the project on time"

• "I would like to schedule a meeting with you"

Verbos que Cambian de Significado

🎭 Diferencias de Significado Importantes

¡Cuidado! Estos verbos cambian completamente de significado según uses gerund o infinitive. Son fundamentales para comunicación precisa.

REMEMBER

+ GERUND (-ing)

I remember meeting him

Recuerdo haberlo conocido (memoria del pasado)

+ INFINITIVE (to)

I remembered to call him

Recordé llamarlo (no olvidé mi obligación)

FORGET

+ GERUND (-ing)

I'll never forget working there

Nunca olvidaré haber trabajado allí (memoria)

+ INFINITIVE (to)

I forgot to send the email

Olvidé enviar el email (no cumplí mi obligación)

STOP

+ GERUND (-ing)

I stopped smoking

Dejé de fumar (terminé esa actividad)

+ INFINITIVE (to)

I stopped to smoke

Paré para fumar (pausa para hacer otra cosa)

TRY

+ GERUND (-ing)

Try working from home

Prueba trabajar desde casa (experimenta)

+ INFINITIVE (to)

Try to work harder

Intenta trabajar más duro (haz esfuerzo)

REGRET

+ GERUND (-ing)

I regret saying that

Lamento haber dicho eso (arrepentimiento del pasado)

+ INFINITIVE (to)

I regret to inform you

Lamento informarte (formal, antes de dar malas noticias)

Después de Preposiciones

📍 SIEMPRE Gerund después de Prepositions

Regla fija: Después de preposiciones (at, in, on, by, for, without, after, before, etc.) SIEMPRE usa gerund (-ing), nunca infinitive.

Common Preposition + Gerund:

interested IN interested in learning

good AT good at managing

responsible FOR responsible for organizing

tired OF tired of waiting

excited ABOUT excited about starting

worried ABOUT worried about missing

looking forward TO looking forward to meeting

Time Prepositions:

• After finishing the project, we celebrated

• Before making a decision, consult the team

• By working together, we achieved success

• Without understanding the problem, we can't solve it

Profesional Examples:

• "I'm interested in expanding our international presence"

• "She's responsible for managing the entire marketing budget"

• "We're looking forward to collaborating with your team"

• "After reviewing all proposals, we'll make our decision"

Ejercicios Interactivos

I enjoy _____ (work) with international teams.

¿Cuál usa infinitive correctamente?

She decided _____ (accept) the job offer.

¿Cuál cambia de significado con gerund/infinitive?

I stopped _____ (smoke) last year.

Corrige: "I would like improving my presentation skills".

Gerunds & Infinitives en Contexto Profesional

En Meetings y Presentations:

• "I suggest postponing the launch until we resolve these issues"

• "We need to focus on our core customers first"

• "The team managed to exceed all expectations this quarter"

• "I'm interested in exploring new market opportunities"

En Goal Setting y Planning:

• "We plan to expand into three new markets next year"

• "I enjoy working with diverse, international teams"

• "She decided to accept the leadership role"

• "After analyzing the data, we recommend these changes"

En Problem Solving:

• "We should try implementing a different approach"

• "I remember discussing this issue in the last board meeting"

• "Don't forget to follow up with the client tomorrow"

• "We can't avoid making some difficult decisions"

En Performance Reviews:

• "You've improved significantly at managing multiple projects"

• "I would like to develop my leadership skills further"

• "She's excellent at communicating with stakeholders"

• "We expect to see continued growth in this area"

Trucos de Memoria para Gerunds vs Infinitives

🌿 GERUND (-ing) Patterns

  • • Experiencia real: "I enjoy swimming" (ya lo he hecho)
  • • Después de preposiciones: "good AT working"
  • • Actividades completadas: "finished reading"
  • • Como sujeto: "Swimming is fun"
  • • Verbos de proceso: keep, practice, avoid

🎯 INFINITIVE (to +) Patterns

  • • Intención futura: "I want to swim" (plan futuro)
  • • Propósito: "I came to help you"
  • • Después de adjetivos: "happy to help"
  • • Verbos de decisión: decide, choose, plan
  • • Verbos de deseo: want, hope, would like

🧠 Memory Tricks

For GERUND (-ing):

  • • Think: "DONE, REAL, EXPERIENCE"
  • • After prepositions = always -ing
  • • Verbs ending in -ing sound = usually -ing
  • • "I can't help feeling excited"

For INFINITIVE (to +):

  • • Think: "PLAN, FUTURE, GOAL"
  • • Modal-like meaning = usually infinitive
  • • After adjectives = usually infinitive
  • • "It's important to understand"
💡 Pro tip: Cuando tengas dudas, piensa en si hablas de unaexperiencia real (gerund) o una intención/plan (infinitive)

📋 Referencia Rápida - Gerunds vs Infinitives

Only GERUND (-ing)

enjoy, avoid, finish

suggest, practice, keep

+ after prepositions

Only INFINITIVE (to)

want, decide, plan

hope, expect, agree

+ after adjectives

Change Meaning

remember, forget, stop

try, regret

Context matters!

Resumen: Gerunds vs Infinitives

El dominio de Gerunds vs Infinitives es fundamental para fluidez natural en inglés. Esta distinción marca la diferencia entre sonar mecánico y sonarprofesionalmente competente en contextos internacionales.

Gerund (-ing)

  • • Experiencias reales y concretas
  • • Después de preposiciones (siempre)
  • • Verbos de proceso y actividad
  • • Como sujeto de la oración

Infinitive (to +)

  • • Intenciones y planes futuros
  • • Después de adjetivos
  • • Verbos de deseo y decisión
  • • Expresar propósito y objetivo
💡 Fluidez profesional: El uso correcto de gerunds e infinitives demuestra competencia lingüística avanzada y marca la diferencia en comunicación internacional exitosa.