GRAMMAR

VERB + V-ING
1. These verbs are followed by v-ing (not to):

stop
finish
miss
risk

delay
postpone
involve
practise

fancy
imagine
enjoy
like

consider
avoid
dislike
hate

admit
deny
love
suggest

mention
continue
mind
quit

I enjoy dancing. (not I enjoy to dance )

Would you mind closing the door.
Ann suggested going to the cinema.
Have you ever considered going to live in another country?
Suddenly everybody stopped talking.
Ill do the shopping when Ive finished cleaning the flat.
He tried to avoid answering my question.
I dont fancy going out this evening
.
Note that the negative form: not + v-ing
When Im on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.
2. The following verbs can have the structure: verb + preposition + v-ing
3.
on
living like this.
go on (carry on) We cant go
Everybody put
off
discussing it till next week.
put off
He has given
up
smoking.
give up
Dont keep
(on)
interrupting me.
keep (on)
We talked
about
going to America.
talk about
She apologised
for
not telling the truth.
apologise for
Have you succeeded
in
fiding a job yet?
succeed in
They insisted
on
paying for the meal.
insist on
Im thinking
of
buying a new house.
think of
I wouldnt dream
of
asking them for the money.
dream of
She doesnt approve
of
gambling.
approve of
Weve decided
against moving to London.
decide against
Do you feel
like
going out tonight?
feel like
meeting her again.
look forward to Im looking forward to
Do you object
to
working on Sunday?
object to
Thefollowing verbs can have the structure: verb + object + preposition + v-ing

congratulate on
accuse of
suspect of
prevent from
stop from
thank for
forgive for
warn against

verb +
I congratulated
They accused
Nobody suspected
What prevented
The police stopped
I forgot to thank
Please forgive
They warned

object +
Ann
me
the man
him
everyone
them
me
us

preposition +
v-ing
on
passing the exam.
of
telling lies.
of
being a spy.
from
coming to see us?
from
leaving the building.
for
helping me.
for
not writing to you.
against buying the car.

VERB + TO + INFINITIVE
Page 1

Verb + v-ing or Verb + to + infinitive

GRAMMAR
1. Structure: verb + to + infinitive :

offer
agree
refuse
ask

decide
plan
arrange
expect

hope
aim
learn
want

deserve
afford
forget
manage

attempt
wish
fail
pretend

try
threaten
swear
promise

claim
tend
appear
seem

It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.

They seem to have plenty of money.
Tom was in a difficult situation, so I agreed to lend him I like George but I think he tends to talk so much.
some money.
Ann pretented not to see me as she passed me in the
He is going to learn to drive next month.
street.
I waved to Mary but failed to attract her attention.
The robbers threatened to kill all workers in the bank.
The thief refused to stop at the red light.
I swear not to tell you a lie.
John expected to pass the exam.
They deserved to be sent to prison.
We offered to leave.
2. After dare / help you can use the infinitive with or without to:
I wouldnt dare to tell him.
or
I wouldnt dare tell him.
But after darent (or dare not) you must use the infinitive without to:
I darent tell him what happened. (without to)
Can you help me to move this table. or Can you help me move this table.
3. After the following verbs you can use a question word (what,where,how,whether ) + to

Ask decide know

We asked
Have you decided
I dont know
Do you understand

remember

forget

how
where
whether
what

explain

learn

understand

wonder

to get to the station.

to go for your holiday?
to apply for the job or not.
to do?

Also: show / tell / ask/ advise / teach somebody what / how / where to do something:
Can you show me how to answer this question?
Ann will tell you what to do.
He taught us what to know about the country.
4. After make and let we use : verb + object + infinitive (without to )
The customs officer made him to open his case.
My parents didnt let me go out alone when I was a baby.
Hot weather makes me feel tired.
Let me carry your bag for you.
We make somebody do, but the passive is be made to do( infinitive with to )
He was made to open his case.
5. These verbs have two possible structures. Compare:

Advise

recommend

encourage

Verb + V-ing (without an object)

I wouldnt recommend staying in that hotel.
She didnt allow smoking in her house.
Passive:
Smoking isnt allowed in her house.
Page 2

allow

permit

forbit

Verb + object + to + infinitive

I wouldnt recommend anybody to stay in that hotel.
object
She didnt allow us to smoke in her house.
Passive:
We arent allowed to smoke in her house

Verb + v-ing or Verb + to + infinitive

Verb + v+ing