Verbs followed

by the gerund
or the infinitive
 Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund (also known as the –ing

form) or an infinitive. Sometimes the meaning is the same, whichever
form is used, but sometimes the form chosen affects the meaning.

“I remember being really worried about our oceans from a very early age.”

It refers to a memory of the past.

gerund

“Please remember to hand in your paper on Monday.”

It refers to an action someone is/was

supposed to do. infinitive
 Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or by an infinitive with no

difference in meaning: attempt; begin; like; continue; love; hate;
prefer; intend and start.

I started to read/ reading a new novel today.

The forms would like, would love and would prefer are always
followed by an infinitive.

I would like to be a part of your project.

 Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive

Some verbs can be followed either by the gerund or the infinitive, and
there is a change in meaning.

FORGET AND
REMEMBER
He won’t forget being in your project.

-Forget/ remember + gerund. Meaning: you did it and you now you
forget/ remember it.

He forgot to buy water for his next expedition.

-Forget/ remember + infinitive. Meaning: you forget/ remember

that you had to do something.
 Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive

GO
ON
Boyan went on working all night.
-Go on + gerund. Meaning: continue doing the same thing.

His sponsor thanked him for his project, and went on to say that it
was amazing.
-Go on + infinitive. Meaning: do or say something new.

MEAN
This timetable means getting up really early tomorrow.
-Mean + gerund. Meaning: to have or represent a particular meaning.

I meant to phone you but I forgot.

-Mean + infinitive. Meaning: to intend to do something.
 Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive
REGR
ETBoyan regretted not building more booms for his project.
-Regret + gerund. Meaning: you did it and now you regret it.

I regret to say that you have cheated in this science exam.

-Regret + infinitive. Meaning: you regret that you have to do/ say
something.
STO
P Boyan stopped going to evening classes because he lost interest in
them.
-Stop + gerund. Meaning: if you stop doing something, you do not
continue to do it.

His mother stopped at the local supermarket to buy some groceries.

-Stop + infinitive. Meaning: you pause in an activity, journey, etc in
order to do something before you continue.
 Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive

TR
Y Why don’t you try getting more funds for your next project?
-Try + gerund. Meaning: do something like an experiment or test.

Boyan’s parents tried to help their son and were very successful.
-Try + infinitive. Meaning: attemp to, make an effort to.

HELP AND CAN’T

HELP
I can’t help thinking that you are hiding something.
-Can’t help + gerund. Meaning: you can’t stop yourself from doing
something.

Could you help me (to) undo these knots? My fingers are frozen.
-Help + infinitive. Meaning: you help someone do something.
Verbs which tend to be followed by the gerund
Verbs which tend to be followed by the infinitive
Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in
brackets.

to work (work) as a volunteer in a project like the

1. I would like ____________
one Boyan started.

blaming
2. During times of drought I can’t help ____________ (blame) human
intervention in nature.

3. Do you recall ____________

reporting (report) the oil spill caused by Prestige
in 2002?

4. The company promised not

____________
to discharge(not discharge) waste and
residues at sea.