Planning your weekend activities is a fun and common topic for conversations. Here is an easy guide to help you use gerunds and infinitives while talking about it.
Step 1: Start the conversation
Begin by asking a simple question about the weekend.
"What do you like to do on weekends?"
"Do you have any plans for the weekend?"
Step 2: Talk about your plans
When answering, you can use gerunds (verbs ending in -ing) and infinitives (to + base form of a verb).
Examples with gerunds:
"I enjoy relaxing at home."
"I love spending time with my family."
"I’m thinking about going to the beach."
Examples with infinitives:
"I’d like to visit a new coffee shop."
"I need to finish my homework first."
"I hope to watch a movie."
Step 3: Ask follow-up questions
To keep the conversation going, ask questions about their plans.
"What do you enjoy doing the most on weekends?"
"Where do you plan to go?"
"When are you planning to start your activities?"
Step 4: Share opinions and suggestions
You can also share your thoughts or recommend activities.
"I recommend trying that new restaurant downtown."
"It’s nice to take a walk in the park."
"I’ve heard it’s fun to visit the local market."
Step 5: End the conversation politely
Wrap up the conversation with a kind comment.
"That sounds like a great plan! Have fun!"
"I hope you enjoy spending your weekend that way."
"Let me know how it goes!"
Grammar
Gerunds & Infinitives
Learning how to use gerunds and infinitives can make your English more natural. This guide explains what they are and how to use them.
What is a gerund?
A gerund is a verb that ends in -ing and acts like a noun.
Examples:
"I enjoy reading books."
"She likes swimming in the morning."
"Cooking is my favorite hobby."
What is an infinitive?
An infinitive is the word to + the base form of a verb.
Examples:
"I want to learn English."
"He decided to travel next month."
"It’s important to drink water."
When to use gerunds
Some verbs are followed by a gerund. Here are common examples:
enjoy: "I enjoy playing soccer."
mind: "Do you mind helping me?"
suggest: "She suggested going to the park."
We also use gerunds after prepositions:
"I’m good at drawing."
"They’re excited about meeting new people."
When to use infinitives
Some verbs are followed by an infinitive. Here are common examples:
want: "I want to visit my friend."
plan: "We plan to leave early."
hope: "He hopes to get a new job."
We also use infinitives to explain why we do something:
"I went to the store to buy milk."
"She studies hard to pass her exams."
Some verbs can use both gerunds and infinitives
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning may change.
Examples:
remember:
"I remember locking the door." (I locked it, and now I remember.)
"I remembered to lock the door." (I didn’t forget to lock it.)
stop:
"He stopped smoking." (He quit smoking.)
"He stopped to smoke." (He stopped what he was doing to smoke.)
Tips for practice
Make a list of verbs that use gerunds or infinitives.
Write simple sentences to practice using them.
Listen for gerunds and infinitives in English songs or movies.
With practice, using gerunds and infinitives will feel easier. Keep practicing and have fun learning English!
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