Gerunds and infinitives

We use verb-ing…
…after some verbs
admit appreciate avoid burst out consider contemplate continue
delay deny detest dislike endure enjoy escape
excuse face fancy feel like finish forgive give up
(can’t) help imagine involve keep (on) leave off mention mind
miss postpone practise prefer propose put off resent
resist risk suggest (can’t) stand understand
…after some verbs with passive meanings
deserve need want e.g. This car wants cleaning!
…after some verbs with objects
dislike imagine prevent/stop* see spend
*can also have ‘from’: We’d better stop Peter from giving us more homework.
…after all prepositions
e.g. After waiting for half an hour, I went home. I went from waiting patiently to phoning furiously.

We use to verb…
…after some verbs
afford agree appear arrange (for) ask (for) attempt (can’t) bear
beg begin care choose consent continue dare
decide expect fail happen hate help hesitate
hope intend learn like love manage mean
neglect offer prefer prepare pretend promise refuse
seem start swear want wish
...after some verbs with objects (can also be used with passive meaning)
allow ask (can’t) bear beg cause command compel
encourage expect force get hate help instruct
intend invite leave like love need oblige
order persuade prefer remind recommend request teach
tell tempt trouble want warn wish
…in some phrases
leave it to sb to verb sth e.g. I’ll leave it to you to finish off, then.
find sth adj to verb e.g. I find it difficult to talk to Bob.
have to verb sth e.g. I have to go now, I’m afraid.
be to verb e.g. You are to be here tomorrow at 6, or there will be trouble!
…after some adjectives
pleased surprised anxious happy shocked worried concerned
delighted overjoyed scared difficult easy expensive boring
irritating
…after superlatives
e.g. He’s the first/tallest/oldest person to sail across the Atlantic in an egg cup.
…after nouns to show purpose
e.g. I need a hat to wear. (object) I need a key to open the door. (subject)
…after indefinite pronouns
e.g. We don’t have anywhere to go.
…after quantifiers
e.g. We don’t have enough cash to buy it.

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