It can often be tricky trying to remember which verbs are followed by the infinitive (the to form) of the verb and which are followed by the gerund (a verb ending in ing that is used as a noun, either as a subject or object) of the verb.
Examples of infinitives:
* John wants to study English.
Examples of gerunds:
* Speaking helps students learn English. (the gerund is a subject)
* John enjoys reading. (the gerund is an object)
Of course, confusion often arises when learning the difference between the two, but it's good to keep in mind that gerunds sound more natural than infinitives when used as a subject of a sentence, and if you remember this it will lead to less mistakes.
Remembering which verbs are followed by a gerund and which are followed by an infinitive is often difficult, because simply by reading through a list won't always help you remember. It's more effective to write your own list as you come across which verbs need a gerund and which need an infinitive. Or choose a selection of verbs and write an article or a diary entry using them. This often reinforces how to use them, instead of trying to memorize a list.
And then there's practice! Well, you're in luck, because here's some links to a collection of gerund/infinitive exercises :)
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