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Native English speakers naturally know when to use the gerund or the infinitive, but for language learners, it can be tricky.  Follow these four steps and you'll soon be choosing the correct form without having to think about it.

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How do native English speakers know when to use a gerund or an infinitive? The short answer is, we just know. We hear our parents, siblings, and school chums use the verb correctly so we don't have to think about it. But that doesn't help much when you are learning English as a foreign language, does it? You can take the guesswork out of knowing which form to use by following these three simple steps.
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<h3>1. Follow the rules. &nbsp;</h3>
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One way to shorten your learning curve is to learn some simple rules. &nbsp;Once you know these rules, it will be easier to know whether to use the gerund or the infinitive.
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Gerunds usually function as nouns in a sentence and often answer the question, &ldquo;What? &nbsp;Example: She likes walking in the park. &nbsp;What does she like? &nbsp;Walking.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Use a gerund for activities and sports following the word &ldquo;go.&rdquo; &nbsp;Example: My friends and I like to go swimming. &nbsp;We often go horseback riding.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Use the gerund with the verb &ldquo;be&rdquo; when talking about something that is happening now or for a future plan. &nbsp;(Present continous tense.) I am eating lunch now. &nbsp;I am moving to Hollywood after I graduate from college.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Never use an infinitive directly after the subject of the sentence. You need to use &ldquo;be.&rdquo; Incorrect: I walking to school this morning. Correct: I am walking to school this morning. Incorrect: We having fun. Correct: We are having fun.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Use the infinitive after the verb "be" with states of being. &nbsp;Example: He is excited to meet the famous author. &nbsp;We are delighted to have you join us for dinner.</li>
</ul>
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<h3>2. Use your good sense.</h3>
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Children who grow up hearing English don't need to memorize any lists because they hear correct English spoken everyday. Unfortunately, memorization is essential for foreign language learners. The brain is like a file cabinet. If you open up a random drawer and toss the file in without any thought to where it's located, you'll have a hard time finding the file again. The idea is to store the information in a way that makes it easy to retrieve when you need it. One way to help with retrieval is by filing it into your brain using your strongest learning modality.
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For example, if you are a visual learner, you'll benefit by reading the words on your list(s). But if you're an auditory learner, read your list ALOUD. Do this at least five to ten minutes each day. (When learning a language it is more effective to practice ten minutes every day rather than to study sixty minutes once a week.)
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If you prefer, you can write the word list. Writing stimulates the natural strengths of kinesthetic learners. If your strong sense is kinesthetic, you learn by doing something physical. Something as simple as walking as you're reading the list or making flashcards can provide the physical component that you need.
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<h3>3. Drill, baby, drill.</h3>
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One way to remember the difference is to memorize the list of verbs followed by gerunds or verbs followed by infinitives. &nbsp;The problem is, there are a lot of lists to memorize and it can be boring! There are lists of gerunds and infinitives to use when following a noun as well as those that follow an adjective. Then there are lists of verbs that change their meaning (or not) when they are followed by a gerund or an infinitive. The lists go on and on. Even though memorizing lists can be confusing and cumbersome, I wouldn't scrap this method altogether.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm">This website</a> provides you with lists of gerunds and infinitives in every situation as well as practice exercises.
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Another great way to memorize words is to use a vocabulary app. If you download an app (like Quizlet) to your smartphone, you can take it with you wherever you go. So you can turn the time you're waiting in line or at the dentist's office into productive learning time, simply by reviewing your gerund and infinitive lists. The great thing about using a good app is that it's programmed to repeat your new vocabulary at regular interviews. Some experts say that you must see new vocabulary 15-20 times before it's set in your memory. In general, limit your word list to 10-15 new words per day. Anything less won't challenge you and anything more could be frustrating. Aim for enough words to keep from being bored but not so many that you feel overwhelmed.
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<h3>4. Memorize the shortest list first.</h3>
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If you look at the list of&nbsp; &ldquo;nouns that are followed by gerunds,&rdquo; you will see that it's a very long list. So rather, than memorize all those words, go for the shorter list, &ldquo;Nouns that are followed by infinitives.&rdquo; An example of such a noun is &ldquo;opportunity.&rdquo; For example, the opportunity to travel came with the job. Since this is a short list, you can get through it rather quickly and chances are, if the noun is not listed here, you will use the gerund.
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Practice these four steps and soon you'll be able to know whether to use a gerund or infinitive without having to think too much about it. &nbsp;When that happens, you'll be well on your way to speaking like a native.
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Hero image&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/505eectW54k?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Thought Catalog</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/english?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>
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Four Simple Steps To Learning When To Use The Gerund Or Infinitive

Learning Article : Four Simple Steps To Learning When To Use The Gerund Or Infinitive
Discuss the Article : Four Simple Steps To Learning When To Use The Gerund Or Infinitive<a href='/article/1232/four-simple-steps-to-learning-when-to-use-the-gerund-or-infinitive' target='_blank'>Four Simple Steps To Learning When To Use The Gerund Or Infinitive</a>Native English speakers naturally know when to use the gerund or the infinitive, but for language learners, it can be tricky. Follow these four steps and you'll soon be choosing the correct form without having to think about it.

This article will help students save time and money by taking the guesswork out of choosing the right English language for them. Based on questions I've been asked by students, there's a real need for this information.

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With so many English exams to choose from, how do you know which one is best for you? This simple guide will help you save time and money by making the right choice.
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>1. Ask your university or employer which exam they require.</h3>
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Don't make the mistake of taking a language proficiency test that you don't need. Asking the requirement before you take an exam can save you hundreds of dollars or euros, not to mention hours of your time. Your university will have specific criteria they use to measure your command of the English language. If you take an exam that's not on their list, you may wind up having to take another costly exam, so check first to be sure.
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Likewise, more and more employers are depending upon English language exams to certify your competency. However, sometimes the employer doesn't understand which test you need and can point you toward the wrong exam. For example, I once had a student ask me for private TOEFL preparation lessons. She was a primary grade teacher in a Spanish-speaking country. As you will read below, TOEFL is designed to test academic English at the university level. The exam she needed was ECPE which employers can use to measure the English proficiency of professionals.
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>2. Know the differences and similarities.</h3>
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The main tests for English proficiency are TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, and Michigan. TOEFL and IELTS will always give you a diploma, even with a low score, but they're only valid for two years. TOEFL tests for academic English and is used primarily as an entrance requirement for universities. IELTS has an academic exam as well as a version for general English. Cambridge and Michigan certificates are valid for a lifetime, but if you don't pass, you won't have anything to show for it. Cambridge is the British model, while Michigan tests for American English. Naturally, which country you're going to work or study in will determine if you need American or British English.
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Cambridge has a whole battery of exams &ndash; &nbsp;KET (basic), PET (intermediate), FCE (upper intermediate, CAE (advanced). Some universities also accept FCE and CAE certificates as part of their entrance requirements. Cambridge also offer tests for business English (BEC).
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Michigan simplifies things by offering two exams. ECCE tests for competency at a high intermediate level while ECPE tests for language proficiency at the advanced level.
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<h3>3. Compare levels.</h3>
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If you're still confused, take a look at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.examenglish.com/examscomparison.php" target="_blank">this chart</a>. It compares various language exams based on the CEF Common European Framework. &nbsp;If you're not sure of your level, you can take a&nbsp;<a href="https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/content" target="_blank">free placement test like this one</a> to determine which exam is best for you.
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<h3>4. Take a test you can pass.</h3>
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It's better to&nbsp;get a higher score on an exam that's at your aptitude level than to take an advanced exam that is beyond your ability to pass. A low score on a high-level test doesn't impress anyone. Stick to the exam you can pass.
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<h3>5. Do I need to take an exam at every level?</h3>
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As you learned from tip number three, each exam is assigned a level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) on the CEF chart. This makes it easy and convenient to compare aptitude levels. &nbsp;Some students begin with A1 and work their way up to C2, but doing so is time-consuming and expensive. It's really not necessay to take every exam -- unless you want to practice your test-taking skills. Your university or employer will be most interested in the highest level you've achieved.
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<h3>6. Where should I start?</h3>
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There are two ways you could begin your exam-taking adventure. You could start by taking an exam that is at your competency level, so your chances of passing are good. The second option is to wait until your English skills are sufficient enough to pass the exam that your university or employer requires. Taking the first option will build your confidence and experience. Doing the second, will save you time and money.
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After you've decided which exam is right for you, you can find detailed descriptions of the test, study materials, and practice exams online. Many of these resources are free. Look for reviews and recommendations of textbooks before you buy or ask your teacher which one he or she prefers. Doing a little research beforehand will preserve your cash and make the most of your time.
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Hero image&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Oaqk7qqNh_c?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Patrick Tomasso</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/test?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>.&nbsp;
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Which Language Exam Should I Take?

Learning Article : Which Language Exam Should I Take?
Discuss the Article : Which Language Exam Should I Take?<a href='/article/1217/which-language-exam-should-i-take?' target='_blank'>Which Language Exam Should I Take?</a>This article will help students save time and money by taking the guesswork out of choosing the right English language for them. Based on questions I've been asked by students, there's a real need for this information.