Learning how to use gerunds and infinitives after a verb can be difficult in English, I know, but don´t panic. Let´s put our ideas in order and go for it !!
We use gerunds (verb + ing):
- After certain verbs - I enjoy singing
- After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving
- As the subject or object of a sentence - Swimming is good exercise
We use 'to' + infinitive:
- After certain verbs - We decided to leave
- After many adjectives - It's difficult to get up early
- To show purpose - I came to London to study English
We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to'):
- After modal verbs - I can meet you at six o'clock
- After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help' - The teacher let us leave early
- After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) - I watched her walk away
- After expressions with 'why' - why go out the night before an exam?
Verb + Gerund
admit - anticipate - appreciate - avoid - complete - consider - defend - delay - despise - detest - discuss - dislike - enjoy - escape - excuse - finish - get through - give up - can't help - imagine - imvolve - keep (on) - mention - (not) mind - miss - postpone - practice - put off - recall - recollect - recommend - report - resent - resume - risk - (can't) see - suggest - take up - tolerate - understand.
I don´t mind washing the dishes after dinner
John suggested going to the mountain for the holidays
Claire enjoys living in Prague
Verbs + TO infinitive
afford
|
come
|
hesitate
|
prefer
|
swear
|
agree
|
consent
|
hope
|
prepare
|
tend
|
appear
|
continue
|
hurry
|
pretend
|
threaten
|
arrange
|
dare
|
incline
|
profess
|
turn out
|
ask
|
decide
|
intend
|
promise
|
venture
|
attempt
|
deserve
|
learn
|
prove
|
volunteer
|
begin
|
determine
|
like
|
refuse
|
want
|
can’t afford
|
elect
|
long
|
request
|
wish
|
can’t bear
|
endeavor
|
love
|
resolve
|
would like
|
can’t stand
|
expect
|
manage
|
say
|
yearn
|
can’t wait
|
fail
|
mean
|
seek
| |
care
|
get
|
need
|
seem
| |
chance
|
grow up
|
offer
|
shudder
| |
choose
|
guarantee
|
pay
|
start
| |
claim
|
hate
|
plan
|
strive
|
Note: remember that gerunds can follow a preposition, infinitives cannot. Take care not to confuse the preposition "to" with an infinitive form, or with an auxiliary form such as have to, used to, going to
Note: some verbs are followed by a pronoun or noun referring to a person, and then an infinitive. Gerunds cannot be used in this position.Can you touch your toes without bending your knees?She got the money by selling the car.
ask, beg, cause, expect, invite, order, remind, teach, tell, wannt, warn. I must ask you to reconsider your statement
Verbs followed by gerund and infinitive with a change of meaning
- I don't remember taking the hat out of the box.
No me acuerdo de haber sacado el sombrero de la caja. - Bob, remember to tell everybody to come at 6.
Bob, acuérdate de decirles a todos que vengan a las 6. - I've stopped worrying about unimportant things.
- He dejado de preocuparme por cosas sin importancia.
- They had stopped to have something to eat.
Habían parado para comer algo. - Jesse forgot brushing his teeth so he did it again.
Jesse no recordaba si se había lavado los dientes así que lo hizo otra vez. - You must never forget to send you report at the end of the week.
Nunca debes olvidar mandar tu informe al final de la semana.
Verbs followed by gerund or infinitive without a change of meaning
Begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, start.
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http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5401
