Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds and Infinitives (verb + ing এবং to + verb)
Introductionভূমিকা
When one verb follows another, English uses either a gerund (verb + ing, like 'swimming') or an infinitive (to + verb, like 'to swim'). Choosing the right one is one of the trickiest points for learners — but a few clear patterns cover most cases.
একটি verb-এর পরে আরেকটি verb এলে ইংরেজিতে হয় gerund (verb + ing, যেমন 'swimming') নয়তো infinitive (to + verb, যেমন 'to swim') বসে। সঠিকটি বেছে নেওয়া শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য কঠিন, তবে কয়েকটি সহজ নিয়মেই বেশিরভাগ ক্ষেত্র চলে যায়।
Definitionসংজ্ঞা
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun (I like reading). An infinitive is 'to' + the base verb (I want to read). Certain verbs are always followed by a gerund, others by an infinitive.
Gerund হলো verb-এর -ing রূপ যা noun হিসেবে কাজ করে (I like reading)। Infinitive হলো 'to' + base verb (I want to read)। কিছু verb-এর পরে সবসময় gerund বসে, আবার কিছুর পরে infinitive।
Bangla Explanationবাংলা ব্যাখ্যা
নিয়ম: preposition-এর পরে সবসময় gerund বসে (good at swimming, before eating)। enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, practise, keep — এই verb-গুলোর পরে gerund বসে (I enjoy reading)। want, decide, hope, plan, need, promise, agree, would like — এদের পরে infinitive বসে (I want to go)। কিছু verb দুটোই নেয়: like, love, hate, start, begin — অর্থ প্রায় একই থাকে। আবার stop, remember, forget, try — gerund ও infinitive-এ অর্থ বদলে যায়: “stop smoking” মানে ধূমপান বন্ধ করা, কিন্তু “stop to smoke” মানে ধূমপান করতে থামা। মনে রাখুন — বাক্যের শুরুতে কর্তা হিসেবে সাধারণত gerund বসে: “Swimming is good for health.”
Examplesউদাহরণ
- I enjoy playing cricket on Fridays.আমি শুক্রবারে ক্রিকেট খেলতে ভালোবাসি।
- She wants to learn English quickly.সে দ্রুত ইংরেজি শিখতে চায়।
- He is good at solving problems.সে সমস্যা সমাধানে দক্ষ।
- They decided to move to Dhaka.তারা ঢাকায় চলে যাওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নিল।
- Please stop making noise.দয়া করে শব্দ করা বন্ধ করো।
- Reading books improves your vocabulary.বই পড়া তোমার শব্দভাণ্ডার বাড়ায়।
Common Mistakesসাধারণ ভুল
I enjoy to play football.
I enjoy playing football.
'Enjoy' is always followed by a gerund (playing), never an infinitive.
She wants going home.
She wants to go home.
'Want' takes an infinitive (to go), not a gerund.
He is good at to cook.
He is good at cooking.
After a preposition ('at') you must use a gerund, not an infinitive.
To swim is good for health, so I swimming daily.
Swimming is good for health, so I swim daily.
As the subject, a gerund reads more naturally; and a main verb after a subject is not -ing without 'be'.
Tipsটিপস
- After a preposition (at, of, about, before), always use the -ing form. — preposition-এর (at, of, about, before) পরে সবসময় -ing রূপ বসান।
- Remember three infinitive verbs — want, decide, hope — and three gerund verbs — enjoy, finish, avoid. — তিনটি infinitive verb — want, decide, hope; আর তিনটি gerund verb — enjoy, finish, avoid মনে রাখুন।
- 'Stop + ing' means quit the action; 'stop + to' means pause in order to do something. — 'stop + ing' মানে কাজটি বন্ধ করা; 'stop + to' মানে কিছু করার জন্য থামা।
Quizকুইজ
Tap an answer to check yourself — a free preview of the full graded quiz in the app.
1. Choose the correct sentence.
2. Complete: 'They hope ___ the exam.'
3. Complete: 'She is interested in ___ art.'
Practiceঅনুশীলন
Try each one, then reveal the answer.
1. Put the verb in the right form: 'I avoid ___ (eat) fast food.'
Hint: 'Avoid' takes a gerund.
2. Put the verb in the right form: 'We agreed ___ (help) them.'
Hint: 'Agree' takes an infinitive.
3. Put the verb in the right form: 'Thank you for ___ (come).'
Hint: After the preposition 'for' use the gerund.
Related Lessonsসম্পর্কিত পাঠ
- Relative Clauses (Who, Which, That)Learn relative clauses in Bangla and English: when to use who, which, that and whose, defining vs non-defining clauses, examples, mistakes and a quiz.
- So, Such, Too and EnoughSo such too enough made simple in Bangla and English: so + adjective, such + noun, too vs enough, word order, examples, common mistakes and a free quiz.
- Present Simple TenseThe present simple tense in Bangla and English: how to use it for habits and facts, the -s/-es rule, questions and negatives, examples, mistakes and a free quiz.
AI Practiceএআই অনুশীলন
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Practise with the AI teacher →Frequently Asked Questionsসাধারণ জিজ্ঞাসা
What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?
A gerund is the verb + ing used like a noun (swimming), while an infinitive is 'to' + the base verb (to swim). Some verbs take one, some take the other.
How do I know which verbs take a gerund and which take an infinitive?
There is no single rule, so learn common lists: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind take gerunds; want, decide, hope, plan take infinitives. After a preposition, always use a gerund.
Do 'like' and 'start' take a gerund or an infinitive?
Verbs like 'like', 'love', 'hate', 'start' and 'begin' can take either form with almost no change in meaning: 'I like reading' and 'I like to read' are both correct.