VERB + infinitive or -ing

VERB + (OBJ) + BASE FORM

make Fairy Godmother, please make me look pretty for the royal ball!
In the English language, some verbs are followed by the infinitive, some by the let I’ll let you know as soon as I have more information.
-ing, some by both, some by the base form. Unfortunately, there is no rule modals Pete can’t drive, so he must take a bus and a train to work.
indicating which verb belongs to which category, so using your memory and doing would I would rather starve than eat Jack’s food.
exercises is highly recommended. rather
VERB + TO + VERB had better You had better go now if you want to avoid traffic jams.
want Mary wants to change jobs. help* Steve will help you to use the copier.
(to is Steve will help you use the copier.
plan What do you plan to do after you graduate?
optional)
hope I hope to get vaccinated soon!
intend Mr. Batista intended to become the richest man in the world.
VERB + INFINITIVE OR –ING WITH NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN MEANING
expect John expected to be promoted to manager in two years.
start James started to work / working at the age of 17.
prefer Do you prefer to see a ghost or an alien?
begin Susan began to cook / cooking at 5 o’clock.
other verbs: need, can afford, be allowed to, be supposed to, choose, wish,
love Bill loves to work out / working out.
would like, struggle, refuse, manage
hate I hate to wake up / waking up early.
like Do you like to read / reading books in English?
VERB + OBJECT + TO + VERB
want We want Brazil to win the next World Cup.
VERB + INFINITIVE OR –ING WITH CHANGE IN MEANING
expect People expect athletes to be tall and strong.
stop Sarah stopped smoking three years ago. (She quit smoking.)
need My dog needs me to walk him every day.
At noon, Jim stopped to have lunch. (He interrupted one action in
ask Jane asked her grandmother to take her medication.
order to do something else.)
persuade The policeman persuaded the man not to jump off the bridge.
remember Remember to do homework, kids! (Action is in the future.)
other verbs: allow, invite, encourage, remind
I don’t remember watching this movie. (Action is in the past.)
forget Don’t forget to do homework, kids! (Action is in the future.)
VERB + -ING
mean I meant to tell you that Kelly is back, but I forgot. (Expresses
enjoy Bob enjoyed waking up early.
intention.)
consider Have you considered studying Spanish after the end of the English
Being a flight attendant means travelling a lot! (It involves.)
course?
regret We regret to inform that the flight has been delayed due to the
recommend I don’t recommend eating sushi with a fork.
rain. (We are sorry.)
finish They have already finished doing the exercise.
I regret buying such an expensive ice cream maker, it’s terrible!
avoid As he is lactose-intolerant, Mike avoids consuming dairy products.
(The action that causes regret is already done.)
keep Even after he became a billionaire, John kept living in the same
house.
other verbs: can’t help, imagine, suggest, feel like, be worth, deny, miss,
postpone, stop, phrasal verbs
* the –ing is also used after prepositions: tired of doing, go without saying etc.