VERBS FOLLOWED BY TO INF AND GERUND

THE FULL INFINITIVE (+TO) is used: THE –ING FORM is used:

1. To express purpose
He went to buy some bread.
2. after would love / like / prefer
I’d love to see you tonight.
I’d love to go to the disco. NOW
THE FULL INFINITIVE (+TO) is used:
3. after certain adjectives:
AFRAID AMAZED ANXIOUS
ASTONISHED CAREFUL DETERMINED
GLAD HAPPY LUCKY PLEASED
PREPARED READY RELIEVED
SAD SHOCKED SORRY
SURPRISED UPSET WILLING
Examples
I’m happy to see you here.
Pleased to meet you.
I am willing to help you.
She is willing to study for the exam.
1. as a noun
Smoking is dangerous.
2. after love, like, dislike, hate
and enjoy
I love going to discos. TASTE
I love to swim (AmE)/ I like to
play tennis (AmE)
THE –ING FORM is used:
3. after certain expressions:
I’m busy finishing some reports.
It’s no use telling him about it
now. (=it’s useless)
It’s no good apologising now.
It’s worth seeing that film.
What’s the use of hiring her?
There’s no point in asking him.
I can’t help falling asleep after
12. (=I can’t avoid)
I can’t stand hearing her sing.
(=I can’t tolerate ; bear)
I had difficulty finding a hotel
She spends most of her time
sleeping.

4. with TOO or ENOUGH 4. after GO for physical activities

She went skiing last week.
TOO + ADJECTIVE + TO Do you go running every day?
(Negative meaning) Go surfing
He’s too old to drive Go sailing
The room is too small to host 400 people. Go canoeing
ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH + TO Go fishing
(Positive meaning) Go clubbing
She’s clever enough to understand it.

5. after certain verbs 5. after certain verbs

VERB + TO VERB + ING
AFFORD AGREE APPEAR ASK AVOID ADMIT APPRECIATE
ARRANGE BEG CLAIM DECIDE CONSIDER CONTINUE CONFESS (TO)
DELAY DENY DISCUSS ENJOY
DEMAND DESERVE EXPECT FAIL ESCAPE EXCUSE FANCY FINISH
FORGET HAPPEN HESITATE HOPE FORGIVE IMAGINE INVOLVE KEEP
INTEND LEARN MANAGE NEED LOOK FORWARD TO MENTION MIND
OFFER PLAN PREPARE PRETEND MISS OBJECT TO POSTPONE
PROMISE REFUSE SEEM SEEK PRACTISE PREVENT QUIT RECALL
RECOLLECT REPORT RESENT RESIST
SWEAR TEND TRAIN THREATEN RISK SAVE STAND SUGGEST
VOLUNTEER WANT TOLERATE UNDERSTAND
 Examples Examples
I hope to meet you again. I don’t mind helping you.
He decided not to come. She objects to smoking in public.
I am looking forward to seeing
you.

6. after certain verbs 6. BE / GET USED TO + ING

VERB + OBJECT (me, him, etc) + TO = Be or get accustomed
ADVISE ALLOW ASK ASSIST BEG I am used to getting up early. (A
BRIBE CAUSE CHALLENGE habit in the present)
COMMAND CONVINCE EMPLOY I’ve got used to speaking in
ENCOURAGE public. (Process)
ENABLE EXPECT FORBID FORCE
HIRE INVITE INSTRUCT NEED
ORDER PERMIT PERSUADE REMIND
REQUIRE REQUEST SEND SELECT
TEACH TELL URGE WANT WARN 7. after prepositions
He’s left without taking his coat.
Examples She was tired of doing it.
She advised me to study.
She urged me to leave.

HELP can be followed by FULL (to inf) or

BARE infinitive (without to)
Examples
My brother helped me to open it.
My brother helped me open it.

7. after question words (where, how, 8. after hear, see, feel to

what, who, which. NOT with WHY) emphasise an action in
I don’t know what to do. progress (partial perception
She told us where to go. of the action)
I saw her crossing the street.
THE INFINITIVE (WITHOUT TO) is used:
1. after MODAL VERBS (must, can, etc.)
We must leave soon.

2. after LET / MAKE + object

Let me go or I’ll make you regret it.
She made me study hard.

After HEAR / SEE / NOTICE (complete perception of the action)

I heard him say “I saw her kill him.”
I saw him cross the street.

To work out: do exercise ; a workout (n)

  DO + disciplines ; karate, judo, yoga, exercise, pilates
 PLAY + team sports ; board games : play basketball ; play tennis/ football,
baseball, etc ; play cards ; play chess
 GO + ing : go surfing, sailing, fishing, etc

TO : 1) to inf ; 2) preposition + noun/ ing

I look forward to the summer. OK
I look forward to SEEING you on Friday.
I am used to DRIVING in the city centre.
I got used to drivING on the left.
WE FLIRTED
RESIGN
SELF-FAREWELL
WASHING MACHINE

I saw him cross the street (whole action)

I saw him crossing the street (part of the action)

VERBS TAKING THE INFINITIVE OR THE GERUND WITH LITTLE OR NO

CHANGE IN MEANING
Start Begin
She started dancing when she was 2. She has begun studying English.
She started to dance when she was 2. She has begun to study English.

VERBS TAKING THE INFINITIVE OR THE GERUND WITH A CHANGE IN

MEANING
Remember / Forget Regret
+ THE INFINITIVE (remember or forget to + THE INFINITIVE (be sorry to)
perform an action – future reference) I regret to inform you that you are
Remember to pay the bills. no longer needed for the job.
I forgot to lock the car.
+ THE GERUND (have second
+ THE GERUND (recall or forget a past thoughts about sth already done)
event) I regret insulting my teacher.
I will never forget visiting that city.
I don’t remember meeting you before.

Mean Want / Need

+ THE INFINITIVE (intend to) + THE INFINITIVE (wish / have the
She means to change her job. necessity of)
I want to change my job.
+ THE GERUND (involve) I need to save money.
Studying means reading and understanding
the material. + THE GERUND (sth needs to be
done)
This house wants painting.
The house needs cleaning.
Go on Stop
+ THE INFINITIVE (finish doing sth and start + THE INFINITIVE (pause for a
doing sth else) purpose)
After finishing school, she went on to study She stopped to buy some bread.
Literature at university.
+ THE GERUND (finish, not do any
+ THE GERUND (continue) more)
She went on studying hard. She stopped smoking before the
interview.
Try
+TO INFINITIVE : effort

Susan tried to quit smoking, but she couldn’t.

+ The GERUND : experiment ; do sth to see

what will happen
Why don’t you try taking a Tylenol for the
headache ?