INFINITIVES x GERUNDS

          Verbs followed by infinitives, gerunds or base form:

In English, verbs are followed by other verbs sometimes. These other verbs can appear in three ways: infinitives, gerunds or base form (also called Bare Infinitives). Here’s a list of many verbs with their requirements for the following verbs.

I) Verbs followed by gerund (ing)

Enjoy

Mind

Postpone

Suggest

Delay

Finish

Fancy

Imagine

Consider

Avoid

Admit

Deny

Miss

Involve

Practice

Keep

Risk

(Be) used to

Get used to

Can’t help

Phrasal verbs ( verb + preposition) . All verbs after preposition use ING form( look after / give up / think about … )

Exs:

Sarah was involved in making the arrangements for the party.

I miss sleeping in my bed when I travel.

Would you mind waiting just a second?

Tom has always enjoyed playing the guitar.

I’ve given up smoking.

I’m used to eating fruits in the morning.

II) Verbs followed by infinitive (to+ verb)

Offer

Agree

Refuse

Decide

Plan

Hope

Learn

Teach

Aim

Afford

Deserve

Attempt

Manage

Fail

Threaten

Promise

Persuade

Invite

Get

Warn

Remind

Claim

Want

Ask

Expert

Beg

Tell

Force

Dare

Order

Pretend

Tend

Appear

Seem

Would like

Would prefer

Used to

Verb+ object pronoun + to + verb

Exs:

He offered to help us.

Jonathan failed to complete the project in time.

The government hopes to control the inflation.

I’ve decided to cancel the trip.

He wanted us to come.

The directors have asked them to call off the meeting.

Sue expects Mike to keep his word.

III) Verbs followed by infinitive or gerund with no difference in meaning

Begin

Start

Love

Like

Continue

Intend

Can’t stand

Can’t bear

Exs:

It has begun to rain / raining.

I love to spend / spending time at home.

Harry can’t stand  to wait / waiting in lines.

IV) Verbs followed by infinitives or gerunds with difference in meaning

Remember

Forget

Regret

Allow

Try

Stop

Recommend

Encourage

Permit

Forbid

Mean

Remember to do = you know you have to do

Remember doing = you have memory of a fact

Forget to do = you didn’t do something you were supposed to

Forget doing = you don’t have memory of a fact.

Regret to do = it’s bad to give bad news

Regret doing = you did something and feel sorry about it

Allow (someone) to do = you give permission to someone to do something

Allow doing = the action is permitted

Stop to do = stop one action in order to do another

Stop doing = quit / give up / abandon a certain activity

Mean to do = plan to do

Mean doing = involves doing

Recommend / Encourage / Permit / Forbid follow the same pattern of the verb ALLOW.

Exs:

We regret to inform the vacancy has been filled.

I regret waiting time during school years.

Have you remembered to order the pizza ?

I remember watching this movie.

V) Other tips for infinitives

After question words;   I didn’t know what to do.

After whether (if);   They couldn’t decide whether to stay or to go.

After adjectives;  It’s important to be sensible.

After nouns;  There’s no space to host more people here.

VI) Other tips for gerunds

When a verb is the subject of a sentence ;  Reading improves your culture.

When a verb is the object of a sentence; What bothers me is wasting my time in vain.

When a verb becomes a present participle ( adjective ); It was the most depressing film I’ve ever seen.

VII) Verbs followed by base form ( or bare infinitive )

Make

Let

Would rather

Modal verbs ( exception : ought to )

After BUT (= except)

Mom made us clean the yard yesterday.

Could you let me see your notes ?

We’d rather stay home tonight.

The children should play inside today.

We can’t wait any longer.

It may rain later.

They haven’t done anything but play videogames