Gerunds & Infinitives | SSC Banking UPSC CAT Grammar | BhashaLab
- Jul 21
- 14 min read
Updated: Aug 1
Section 1 – What is Gerunds & Infinitives and Why Should You Care?
Have you ever found yourself staring at an exam question, completely stuck between choosing "to meet" or "meeting"? You read the sentence once, read it twice, and both sound completely fine to your ears! This is the exact moment where thousands of aspirants lose precious negative marks in competitive exams. The examiner knows that your brain relies on native flow, and they set clever traps precisely where English grammar breaks everyday conversational habits.
Gerunds and Infinitives are simply verb forms that step up to function as nouns within a sentence. A Gerund is formed by adding "-ing" to the base verb (e.g., swimming), while an Infinitive is the base form of the verb preceded by the word "to" (e.g., to swim). Instead of showing an action happening live, they allow you to talk about actions as abstract concepts, subjects, or objects.
💬 BhashaLab Analogy: जब हम किसी काम (action) को एक क्रिया की तरह इस्तेमाल न करके, एक नाम या संज्ञा (noun) की तरह इस्तेमाल करते हैं, तो उसे Gerund या Infinitive कहते हैं। जैसे हिन्दी में हम कहते हैं, "तैरना (swimming) एक अच्छा व्यायाम है" या "मुझे तैरना (to swim) पसंद है।" यहाँ तैरना कोई एक्टिविटी चलते हुए नहीं दिखाई जा रही, बल्कि उस काम का नाम लिया जा रहा है!
Mastering this single grammar topic can easily fetch you 1–3 direct marks across major competitive exams like SSC CGL, IBPS PO, SBI PO, UPSC CSAT, NDA, and CDS!
Section 2 – The Complete Breakdown
Sub-Topic 1: Gerunds as Nouns & The Preposition Rule
Definition
A gerund is the present participle (-ing) form of a verb functioning as a noun. It can act as the subject of a sentence, a direct object, or the object of a preposition. The absolute rule in English is that any verb following a preposition must be written in the gerund form.
💬 Hindi Explanation: जब भी वाक्य में कोई Preposition (जैसे in, on, at, for, from, of, before, after, against) आता है, तो उसके तुरंत बाद आने वाली क्रिया हमेशा "-ing" (Gerund) रूप में ही होगी। आप कभी भी preposition के बाद "to + verb" नहीं लगा सकते। यह नियम पत्थर की लकीर है!
How to Identify – Bilingual Two-Column Table
How to Identify (English) | कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi) |
1. Spot a word ending in "-ing" in the sentence. | 1. वाक्य में "-ing" पर खत्म होने वाले किसी शब्द को ढूंढें। |
2. Check if the "-ing" word has a helping verb (is/am/are/was/were) before it; if no, it is likely a gerund. | 2. देखें कि उस "-ing" शब्द के पहले is/am/are जैसा कोई helping verb है या नहीं; अगर नहीं है, तो वह gerund हो सकता है। |
3. Substitute the "-ing" word with the pronoun "It"; if the sentence remains grammatically sound, it is a gerund. | 3. उस "-ing" शब्द की जगह मन में "It" रखकर वाक्य पढ़ें; अगर वाक्य सही लगे, तो वह एक gerund है। |
4. Look immediately to its left; if a preposition sits right before the "-ing" word, it is definitively a gerund object. | 4. शब्द के ठीक बाईं ओर देखें; अगर तुरंत पहले कोई preposition है, तो वह निश्चित रूप से एक gerund है। |
Quick Examples Table
Gerund Role | Main Verb / Preposition | Gerund Form | Complete Sentence |
Sentence Subject | N/A | Smoking | Smoking is strictly prohibited in public places. |
Direct Object | Enjoy | Reading | The young student enjoys reading historical fiction. |
Object of Preposition | Insisted on | Paying | My uncle insisted on paying for the entire dinner. |
Object of Preposition | Apologized for | Arriving | She apologized for arriving late to the crucial meeting. |
Object of Preposition | Good at | Solving | Rohit is exceptionally good at solving complex puzzles. |
The #1 Exam Rule: Whenever a verb follows a preposition, it must be a gerund (e.g., He is afraid of flying, not of to fly).
Sub-Topic 2: Infinitives & Bare Infinitives
Definition
An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by "to" (to + verb). It expresses the purpose of an action or an intended outcome. A Bare Infinitive is an infinitive used without the word "to" (just the base verb), which occurs after specific causative verbs, sensory verbs, and modal auxiliaries.
💬 Hindi Explanation: Infinitive का मतलब होता है "to + verb की first form" (जैसे to go, to play) लेकिन कुछ खास शब्द ऐसे होते हैं जो अपने बाद वाले "to" को गायब कर देते हैं। बिना "to" वाले इस रूप को Bare Infinitive कहते हैं।
How to Identify – Bilingual Two-Column Table
How to Identify (English) | कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi) |
1. Find the combination of the word "to" followed directly by a base verb. | 1. वाक्य में "to" के तुरंत बाद आने वाली verb की first form को खोजें। |
2. Check if the phrase answers the question "Why?" or "For what purpose?" | 2. जांचें कि क्या यह वाक्यांश "क्यों?" या "किस उद्देश्य से?" का जवाब दे रहा है। |
3. Look for causative verbs like make, let, have or sensory verbs like see, hear, watch. | 3. वाक्य में causative verbs (make, let) या sensory verbs (see, hear) को पहचानें। |
4. Verify if the verb following these causative/sensory words is in its bare root form without "to". | 4. देखें कि इन खास शब्दों के बाद आने वाली क्रिया बिना "to" के अपने शुद्ध रूप में है या नहीं। |
Quick Examples Table
Infinitive Type | Governing Word | Verbal Form | Complete Sentence |
Full Infinitive | Decided | To relocate | The family decided to relocate to Bangalore. |
Full Infinitive (Purpose) | N/A | To clear | He studied night and day to clear the competitive exam. |
Bare Infinitive | Made | Cry | The tragic movie made the entire audience cry. |
Bare Infinitive | Let | Go | The strict officer finally let the driver go. |
Bare Infinitive | Heard | Sing | I heard the famous vocalist sing a classical melody. |
The #1 Exam Rule: In the active voice, causative verbs like make, let, bid, help, have take a bare infinitive without "to".
Section 3 – The Exam Traps (Don't Fall for These)
Examiners set these exact trap patterns every year because they know students rely on spoken English intuition rather than core grammatical rules. Watch out for these 6 high-frequency traps!
⚠️ EXAM TRAP 1
What students think: Because the phrase ends in the word "to", it must be followed by a regular base verb (e.g., I look forward to meet you).
Correct answer: It must be followed by a gerund (e.g., I look forward to meeting you).
Rule: The "to" in look forward to is a structural preposition, not an infinitive marker, and prepositions demand gerunds.
Seen in: SSC CGL, IBPS Clerk, NDA
⚠️ EXAM TRAP 2
What students think: Stop to smoke and stop smoking mean the exact same thing in a paragraph.
Correct answer: Stop to smoke means halting an activity to clear time for smoking; stop smoking means quitting the habit permanently.
Rule: Stop + Gerund means terminating the action itself; Stop + Infinitive means stopping another action in order to perform the infinitive action.
Seen in: SBI PO, CAT, CDS
⚠️ EXAM TRAP 3
What students think: Since make takes a bare infinitive in active sentences, it must keep the bare infinitive in passive sentences too (e.g., He was made sign the paper).
Correct answer: It changes to a full infinitive in the passive voice (e.g., He was made to sign the paper).
Rule: The causative verb make loses its bare infinitive property and requires a full infinitive when transformed into the passive voice.
Seen in: SSC CGL, Defence Exams, MPSC
⚠️ EXAM TRAP 4
What students think: Phrases showing advice or preference like had better or would rather sound best with a full infinitive (e.g., You had better to study).
Correct answer: They take a bare infinitive strictly (e.g., You had better study).
Rule: The idiomatic modal expressions had better, would rather, as soon as, sooner than must be followed by a bare infinitive.
Seen in: SSC CHSL, Bank Clerical, RRB NTPC
⚠️ EXAM TRAP 5
What students think: Verbs indicating intent or future action like avoid or deny work fine with infinitives (e.g., He avoided to answer my call).
Correct answer: These verbs belong to a fixed lexical set that strictly requires a gerund (e.g., He avoided answering my call).
Rule: Verbs such as avoid, deny, postpone, admit, delay, mind, resist, enjoy, practice must take a gerund object.
Seen in: IBPS PO, SSC CGL, CUET
⚠️ EXAM TRAP 6
What students think: With a view to operates identically to the infinitive of purpose, needing a base verb (e.g., He came with a view to study).
Correct answer: It requires an "-ing" gerund (e.g., He came with a view to studying).
Rule: With a view to is an idiomatic prepositional phrase where "to" serves as the preposition, thus unlocking the gerund rule.
Seen in: UPSC CSAT, SSC CGL, IBPS PO
Section 4 – Solved Examples (Exam Style)
Q1. The management is looking (a) forward to receive the delegation (b) from the overseas branch (c) next Tuesday. (d) [SSC Style] [Difficulty: Medium]
a) The management is looking
b) forward to receive the delegation
c) from the overseas branch
d) next Tuesday
✅ Correct: b Explanation (English): The idiomatic phrase looking forward to ends with a prepositional "to." Therefore, it must be followed by a gerund (receiving) rather than a base verb infinitive (receive). समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): इस वाक्य में looking forward to वाक्यांश का प्रयोग हुआ है। यहाँ पर दिखने वाला 'to' कोई आम infinitive marker नहीं है, बल्कि एक preposition है। और हमने सीखा है कि preposition के बाद हमेशा gerund यानी '-ing' वाली form आती है। इसलिए receive को बदलकर receiving करना होगा। Rule tested: Section 03, Trap 1 (The "Look Forward To" Illusion)
Q2. Given the high volatility of the stock market, you had better ________ your long-term investment portfolio without consulting a financial advisor. [Banking Style] [Difficulty: Hard]
a) to not liquidate
b) not to liquidate
c) not liquidate
d) not liquidating
✅ Correct: c Explanation (English): The idiomatic expression had better acts as a modal phrase and strictly requires a bare infinitive for its modifying action. For a negative statement, the adverb not is placed directly before the bare infinitive liquidate. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): वाक्य में had better का प्रयोग सलाह देने के लिए हुआ है। नियम यह है कि had better के बाद सीधे verb की first form आती है बिना "to" के (Bare Infinitive)। जब इसे negative बनाना हो, तो verb के ठीक पहले not लगा देते हैं इसलिए विकल्प (c) not liquidate बिल्कुल सही है। Rule tested: Section 03, Trap 5 ("Had Better" constructions)
Q3. Choose the sentence that conveys that the manager has completely discontinued the practice of reading the physical daily reports: [UPSC CSAT Style] [Difficulty: Medium]
a) The manager stopped to read the physical daily reports on his desk.
b) The manager stopped reading the physical daily reports on his desk.
c) The manager was stopped from reading the physical daily reports.
d) The manager had stopped to have read the physical daily reports.
✅ Correct: b Explanation (English): To indicate that an action has been completely halted or terminated, the verb stop must be followed by a gerund. Sentence (b) correctly uses stopped reading, which means the habit was abandoned. Sentence (a) means he paused another action in order to read the reports. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): जब हम किसी काम को हमेशा के लिए या पूरी तरह बंद करने की बात करते हैं, तो stop के बाद gerund (reading) लगाते हैं। विकल्प (a) का मतलब है कि मैनेजर रिपोर्ट पढ़ने के लिए रुका (यानी काम चालू किया)। हमें काम बंद करने वाला वाक्य चाहिए, जो कि सिर्फ विकल्प (b) है। Rule tested: Section 03, Trap 2 (Meaning Shift with Stop)
Q4. The research committee objected to ________ the project budget without a comprehensive review of the preliminary milestones achieved by the data science team. [CAT/MBA Style] [Difficulty: Hard]
a) slash
b) slashing
c) to slash
d) having slashed
✅ Correct: b Explanation (English): The verb phrase object to requires a prepositional object. The word "to" here functions as a true preposition, not as an infinitive marker. Consequently, it must be paired with the gerund form of the verb, which is slashing. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): इस जटिल वाक्य में object to (आपत्ति जताना) का प्रयोग हुआ है। इस फ्रेज़ में आने वाला 'to' एक preposition है। नियम के अनुसार, इसके बाद संज्ञा के रूप में सिर्फ gerund (slashing) का प्रयोग ही व्याकरणिक रूप से सही माना जाएगा। Rule tested: Section 02, Sub-Topic 1 (Fixed Phrases Ending in Prepositional To)
Q5. The psychological trauma of the event was so intense that it made the victim ________ into isolation completely. [CLAT/Defence Style] [Difficulty: Medium]
a) withdraw
b) to withdraw
c) withdrawing
d) withdrawn
✅ Correct: a Explanation (English): The sentence features the causative verb made in an active construction. Active causative structures involving make force the subsequent action verb into a bare infinitive form. Hence, withdraw is correct. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): यहाँ पर made एक active voice के वाक्य में आया है। नियम कहता है कि active voice में make/made के बाद आने वाली क्रिया बिना "to" के यानी bare infinitive में होनी चाहिए। इसलिए विकल्प (a) withdraw सही उत्तर है। Rule tested: Section 02, Sub-Topic 2 (Bare Infinitives after Causatives)
Q6. The strict headmaster made (a) all the latecomers (b) to clean the entire school playground (c) as a punishment. (d) [SSC Style] [Difficulty: Easy]
a) The strict headmaster made
b) all the latecomers
c) to clean the entire school playground
d) as a punishment
✅ Correct: c Explanation (English): The causative verb made is used in the active voice here. In the active voice, make must be followed by a bare infinitive (clean), not a full infinitive (to clean). समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): वाक्य में made एक causative verb की तरह आया है, जिसका मतलब है किसी से जबरदस्ती काम कराना। जब वाक्य active voice में होता है, तो made अपने बाद आने वाली क्रिया में से "to" को हटा देता है (Bare Infinitive)। इसलिए यहाँ to clean की जगह सिर्फ clean होना चाहिए। Rule tested: Section 02, Sub-Topic 2 (Bare Infinitives)
Section 5 – Common Errors Indian Students Make
ERROR TYPE: Preposition Followed by Infinitive
❌ Wrong: He left the office after to finish all the pending paperwork.
✅ Correct: He left the office after finishing all the pending paperwork.
Why: The word after is acting as a preposition here. An infinitive cannot serve as the object of a preposition; a gerund form must be used.
💬 Hindi: हम हिन्दी में सोचते हैं, "पेपरवर्क खत्म करने के बाद वो गया।" छात्र 'after' के बाद 'to finish' लगा देते हैं। पर याद रखें, 'after' एक preposition है, और इसके बाद सिर्फ '-ing' (finishing) ही आ सकता है।
Seen in: SSC MTS, RRB NTPC
ERROR TYPE: Wrong Verbal After "Avoid"
❌ Wrong: You must avoid to make silly mistakes in the final examination.
✅ Correct: You must avoid making silly mistakes in the final examination.
Why: The verb avoid cannot take an infinitive complement. It must be followed directly by a gerund object (making).
💬 Hindi: बातचीत में "avoid to make" बोलना काफी आसान लगता है, इसलिए यह गलती बार-बार होती है। लेकिन avoid के बाद हमेशा gerund का नियम है, इसलिए "making" ही सही होगा।
Seen in: SSC CHSL, IBPS Clerk
ERROR TYPE: "With a view to" Infinitive Error
❌ Wrong: He joined the crash course with a view to improve his communication skills.
✅ Correct: He joined the crash course with a view to improving his communication skills.
Why: With a view to is a fixed multi-word preposition where "to" functions as a preposition, requiring the gerund form improving.
💬 Hindi: छात्र सोचते हैं कि "to" लगा है तो "improve" (verb की first form) लगा दो। पर "with a view to" का मतलब होता है "के उद्देश्य से", जिसमें 'to' एक preposition है, इसलिए इसके बाद 'improving' आएगा।
Seen in: UPSC CSAT, SBI PO
ERROR TYPE: Passive Causative Bare Infinitive Error
❌ Wrong: The prisoner was made confess his crime by the interrogating officers.
✅ Correct: The prisoner was made to confess his crime by the interrogating officers.
Why: While active make takes a bare infinitive, a passive construction like was made requires a full infinitive (to confess).
💬 Hindi: जब वाक्य active होता है तो हम "to" हटाते हैं, लेकिन जब वाक्य passive voice (was made) में बदल जाता है, तो छुपा हुआ "to" वापस आ जाता है। इसे याद रखने के लिए पैसिव वॉइस का नियम देखें।
Seen in: NDA, CDS, SSC CGL
ERROR TYPE: Pronoun Case Before Gerund
❌ Wrong: I really do not like him coming to my house unannounced.
✅ Correct: I really do not like his coming to my house unannounced.
Why: The action coming is a gerund acting as a noun. A noun must be modified by a possessive pronoun (his), not an objective pronoun (him).
💬 Hindi: मुझे "वह" नापसंद नहीं है, मुझे उसका "बिना बताए आना" नापसंद है। चूंकि 'coming' यहाँ एक नाउन (gerund) बन चुका है, इसलिए उसके पहले मालिकाना हक दिखाने वाला शब्द his लगेगा, him नहीं।
Seen in: IBPS PO, CAT
Section 6 – Previous Year Questions – Test Yourself
These questions have actually appeared in competitive exams. Try each one before reading the answer.
He did not approve (a) of his son wasting (b) precious time on video games. (c) [SSC CGL]
a) He did not approve
b) of his son wasting
c) precious time on video games
d) No error
Answer: b Explanation (English): The word wasting is a gerund acting as a noun object. Therefore, the preceding noun must be in the possessive case (son's) to correctly modify the gerund. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): यहाँ wasting एक gerund है जो नाउन का काम कर रहा है। नियम के मुताबिक, gerund के ठीक पहले आने वाले नाउन में apostrophe 's' लगाकर उसे possessive रूप (son's) देना पड़ता है।
You had better to complete (a) your assignment before (b) the submission deadline passes. (c) [SSC CHSL]
a) You had better to complete
b) your assignment before
c) the submission deadline passes
d) No error
Answer: a Explanation (English): The phrase had better acts as a modal phrase and strictly governs a bare infinitive. The word "to" must be removed to make the sentence had better complete. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): Had better के साथ कभी भी "to" का उपयोग नहीं किया जाता। यह एक bare infinitive संरचना है, इसलिए to complete को बदलकर सिर्फ complete लिखना होगा।
The bank officials requested the customer (a) to avoid to use public networks (b) while logging into their online accounts. (c) [IBPS PO]
a) The bank officials requested the customer
b) to avoid to use public networks
c) while logging into their online accounts
d) No error
Answer: b Explanation (English): The verb avoid cannot take an infinitive phrase as its direct complement. It requires a gerund, so to use must be changed to using. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): इस बैंकिंग परीक्षा के प्रश्न में avoid के बाद to use लगाया गया है जो कि गलत है। Avoid अपने बाद हमेशा gerund लेता है, इसलिए यहाँ using होना चाहिए था।
I distinctly remember (a) to have locked the safe (b) before leaving the office premises last evening. (c) [SBI PO]
a) I distinctly remember
b) to have locked the safe
c) before leaving the office premises last evening
d) No error
Answer: b Explanation (English): Since the action of locking the safe happened in the past and is now a recollection, remember must be followed by a gerund (locking or having locked without the infinitive "to"). समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): जब हम अतीत की किसी याद को याद करते हैं, तो remember के बाद gerund लगाते हैं। चूंकि तिजोरी कल शाम को बंद की जा चुकी थी, इसलिए "to have locked" गलत है; यहाँ केवल locking या having locked आएगा।
Identify the grammatically correct option: [UPSC CSAT]
a) It is no use crying over spilled milk.
b) It is no use to cry over spilled milk.
c) It is no use for crying over spilled milk.
d) It is no use to be crying over spilled milk.
Answer: a Explanation (English): The idiomatic expression It is no use is traditionally and strictly followed by a gerund phrase. Therefore, crying is correct. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): English में It is no use (कोई फायदा नहीं होना) एक निश्चित मुहावरा है जिसके बाद हमेशा gerund का प्रयोग किया जाता है। इसलिए विकल्प (a) ही एकमात्र शुद्ध रूप है।
Section 7 – Practice Worksheet
Test your concepts with our interactive online practice sheet! It features 20 carefully curated questions across all difficulty levels with instant answer checking to sharpen your exam accuracy.
[PRACTICE WORKSHEET WILL BE EMBEDDED HERE]
Section 8 – Exam-wise Quick Strategy
SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS): Focus heavily on fixed structural rules and exceptions in direct Error Spotting lines. Examiners love testing look forward to + gerund, had better + bare infinitive, and active causative make. Target solving these within 5 seconds per question.
Banking (IBPS PO / SBI PO / Clerk): Focus on contextual application inside long, complex financial passages. Pay extra attention to subtle meaning shifts (remember doing vs remember to do) and possessive pronouns before gerunds in Cloze Tests. Isolate the main verb complement directly.
UPSC / CAT / CLAT: Focus on formal syntax, legal/logic definitions, and sentence symmetry. Watch out for parallel structure mismatches that mix gerunds and infinitives in lists. Ensure verbs of prohibition (restrained from) correctly link with gerunds.
Defence / Railways / State PSC: Focus on direct identification rules and classic bare infinitive traps. Look out for the passive causative switch (was made to do) and simple preposition rules (fond of + gerund). Verify whether "to" should be kept or removed based on active/passive voice.
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