Verb patterns

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive

Some verbs can be followed immediately by a to-infinitive:

afford demand like promise I can’t afford to go on holiday.

agree fail love refuse
arrange forget manage remember It began to rain.
ask hate need start
begin help offer try She hopes to go to university next year.
choose hope plan want
continue intend prefer Would like My mother never learnt to swim.
decide learn pretend tell
Did you remember to ring Mary?

Verbs followed by -ing

admit dislik imagin practis I always enjoy cooking.
e e e
avoid enjoy involv Put off Not: I always enjoy to cook.
e
conside finish mind risk We haven’t finished eating yet.
r
deny Give miss Not: We haven’t finished to eat.
up
 Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing
Hate, like, love, prefer

Verbs followed by an infinitive without to

Let, make
Let me show you this DVD I’ve got.

Exercise: Choose the correct answer.

1. We tried ________________ (catching/to catch) the 9 o’clock train, but we arrived too late.
2. Jerry promised _________________ (to repair/repairing) my computer.
3. I intended __________________ (buying/to buy) some stamps yesterday, but I forgot.
4. Do your children enjoy_____________ (to play/playing) computer games?
5. He enjoys ________________ (to go/going) to an exotic holiday.
6. He’s a very funny person. He always makes me _____________ (laughing/laugh/to laugh).
7. I began ____________ (to feel/feeling) better.
8. I’m learning ______________ (to cook/cooking) Japanese food, but it’s very difficult.
9. We can’t leave until Jeremy finishes ________________ (to pack/packing) all his suitcases.
10. Joe forgot ________________ (post/to post/posting) the letter.
11. Write soon and let me ____________ (know/to know/knowing) what your plans are.
12. She told them _____________ (to wash/washing) their hands before meal.