Gerund or infinitive at B2: verb patterns you need for the exam

Q: How do I know whether to use a gerund or infinitive?

Look at the word before. After a preposition, use *-ing*. After modal verbs, *make* and *let*, use the bare infinitive. After other verbs, you need to learn the pattern: *enjoy doing*, *decide to do*, *ask someone to do*. Learning each verb in a short example sentence works best.

Q: Which verbs change meaning with -ing or to?

The most important are *remember*, *forget*, *stop*, *try*, *regret* and *go on*. For example, *I remember posting the letter* (I have a memory of it) and *Remember to post the letter* (don't forget to do it).

Q: Why is it "look forward to seeing" and not "look forward to see"?

Because *to* here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. Prepositions are followed by *-ing* forms. Other common phrases like this are *be used to*, *get used to* and *object to*.

Q: Can I use like + to or like + -ing?

Both are possible, with little difference: *I like swimming / to swim.* But *would like* always takes *to*: *I'd like to swim.*

Q: How are verb patterns tested in B2 First?

In key word transformations you may need *suggest doing*, *deny doing*, *manage to do* or *prevent someone from doing*. In the open cloze, the gap may be a preposition or *to* inside a pattern. In Writing, accurate patterns are part of your Language mark.

Whether you need a gerund or infinitive at B2 depends on the word before it: some verbs take -ing (avoid doing), some take to + infinitive (manage to do), some take an object + infinitive (want someone to do), and a few change meaning (stop doing vs stop to do). Verb patterns are tested in Part 4 and the open cloze. This guide belongs to our B2 grammar guide.

By Eleanor BennettLast updated: 13 October 2026

Why verb patterns matter

When one verb follows another, the second verb has to take a particular form. There is no single rule that decides which one: mostly you have to learn the pattern with the first verb, just like you learn a collocation. That is why examiners like testing them. A sentence can be perfect in every other way and still lose a mark because of I avoid to eat or She let me to go.

There are a few useful general rules:

After a preposition, always use -ing: She's good at drawing, Thanks for coming, before leaving. This includes to when it is a preposition: I look forward to hearing from you, I'm used to getting up early.
After modal verbs and make, let and had better, use the bare infinitive (no to): They made us wait, You'd better hurry.
To express purpose, use to + infinitive: I went to the library to return a book.
An -ing form can be the subject of a sentence: Swimming is good for your back.

In key word transformations, verb patterns often appear together with reported speech, because reporting verbs like deny, offer and advise each have their own pattern. They also appear with wish and would rather (see wish and if only). In the open cloze, the missing word is sometimes to, of or from in a pattern such as prevent someone from doing.

Common verb patterns

Use it to…	Phrases
Verb + -ing	avoid, admit, consider, deny, enjoy, finish, imagine, involve, keep, mind, miss, practise, risk, suggest, can't help, can't stand, give up, put off Would you mind closing the window? I can't help laughing when I see that photo.
Verb + to + infinitive	afford, agree, arrange, decide, expect, fail, hope, learn, manage, offer, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, tend, threaten We can't afford to go away this summer. He pretended to be asleep.
Verb + object + to + infinitive	advise, allow, ask, encourage, expect, force, invite, persuade, remind, teach, tell, want, warn, would like My parents encouraged me to apply. I want you to be honest with me.
Verb + object + bare infinitive	make, let, help (also help + to) The film made me cry. Let me know when you arrive.
Preposition / phrase + -ing	look forward to, be used to, get used to, object to, insist on, succeed in, be interested in, be keen on, prevent someone from, it's worth, there's no point (in) It's not worth repairing this old printer. There's no point in arguing about it.
Verbs that change meaning	remember / forget doing (a memory of the past) vs remember / forget to do (a duty): I remember locking the door. / Remember to lock the door. stop doing (no longer do it) vs stop to do (pause in order to do): He stopped smoking. / He stopped to buy a coffee. try doing (experiment) vs try to do (make an effort): Try restarting the laptop. / I tried to open the window, but it was stuck. regret doing (sorry about the past) vs regret to tell / inform (formal bad news): I regret saying that. / We regret to inform you that… go on doing (continue) vs go on to do (do something next): She went on to become a doctor.
Little change in meaning	begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer + -ing or to + infinitive It started raining / to rain.

Typical B1 to B2 mistakes with gerunds and infinitives

Trap: Before to leave, check the windows. Spanish antes de salir and Italian prima di partire use an infinitive after a preposition.
Fix: In English, prepositions take -ing: Before leaving, check the windows. The same applies to after, without, instead of and by.
Trap: I look forward to see you.
Fix: To is a preposition in look forward to, so use -ing: I look forward to seeing you. The same is true for be used to and object to.
Trap: They let me to stay up late or She made me to apologise.
Fix: Let and make take the bare infinitive: They let me stay up late. But in the passive, to comes back: I was made to apologise.
Trap: I want that you come with me. A direct translation of Spanish quiero que, Italian voglio che or Polish chcę, żeby.
Fix: Want takes object + infinitive: I want you to come with me.
Trap: I'm thinking to change my course. German ich denke daran and Polish myślę o can lead to this.
Fix: Think of / about + -ing: I'm thinking of changing my course. Or use consider: I'm considering changing…
Trap: I stopped to smoke last year when you mean you quit.
Fix: Stop doing = quit: I stopped smoking. Stop to do = stop in order to do it.

Worked example: a verb pattern transformation

The task

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

"I didn't take the last piece of cake," said Oskar.

DENIED

Oskar ______ the last piece of cake.

1.
Identify the pattern. Deny is a reporting verb, and it is followed by -ing, not by to + infinitive. The meaning of deny is already negative, so we do not need not.
2.
Choose the form. The simple answer is denied taking. You can also show that the action was earlier with a perfect gerund: denied having taken. Both are correct.
3.
Count: denied + taking = 2 words, or denied + having + taken = 3 words. Both are within two to five words.
4.
Common wrong answers: denied to take (wrong pattern), denied not taking (double negative: this means he says he did take it) and denied that he take (wrong tense).

Answer

Oskar denied taking (or denied having taken) the last piece of cake.

Practice · Reading & Use of English Part 4

Key word transformations 1: Mixed grammar

Gerund or infinitive: frequently asked questions

How do I know whether to use a gerund or infinitive?

Look at the word before. After a preposition, use -ing. After modal verbs, make and let, use the bare infinitive. After other verbs, you need to learn the pattern: enjoy doing, decide to do, ask someone to do. Learning each verb in a short example sentence works best.

Which verbs change meaning with -ing or to?

The most important are remember, forget, stop, try, regret and go on. For example, I remember posting the letter (I have a memory of it) and Remember to post the letter (don't forget to do it).

Why is it "look forward to seeing" and not "look forward to see"?

Because to here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. Prepositions are followed by -ing forms. Other common phrases like this are be used to, get used to and object to.

Can I use like + to or like + -ing?

Both are possible, with little difference: I like swimming / to swim. But would like always takes to: I'd like to swim.

How are verb patterns tested in B2 First?

In key word transformations you may need suggest doing, deny doing, manage to do or prevent someone from doing. In the open cloze, the gap may be a preposition or to inside a pattern. In Writing, accurate patterns are part of your Language mark.