sectan wrote:
Can someone share a few rules to identify when to use the gerund form and when to use the infinitive form? I have gone through the GMAT Club grammar book where a bunch of verbs are given for each form, however, I'd mostly likely forget/confuse the lists. Is there a better way to identify when to use which form?
Example: Because he was angry with the team, Aaron failed to play his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable to play better
A) failed playing his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable of playing better
B) failed to play his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable of playing better
When two verbs (or verb forms) appear together (as is the case here:
fail and
play), the
first verb determines whether the second verb will be in the gerund form (-ing form of the verb, functioning as noun) or in the infinitive form (to + the basic form of the verb).
There are no grammar rules around this and the only way is to
memorize which verbs are followed by gerunds and which are followed by infinitives. We obviously don't recommend this memorization
.
The good thing is that most verbs are followed by infinitives.
p.s. Our book
EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses
this aspect of verb forms. Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.