Mastering English Verb Patterns: Infinitives and Gerunds

Verbs Followed by 'to' + Infinitive

Certain verbs are commonly followed by the infinitive form with "to." These include:

• Afford
• Expect
• Intend (plan)
• Refuse
• Agree
• Fail
• Learn
• Prepare
• Seem
• Appear
• Forget
• Manage
• Pretend
• Want
• Attempt
• Help
• Need
• Promise
• Wish
• Decide
• Hope
• Offer
• Propose
• Would like

Verbs Followed by Object + Infinitive

Some verbs require an object before the infinitive. Examples are:

• Advise
• Allow
• Ask
• Expect
• Encourage
• Forbid
• Force
• Invite
• Persuade
• Prefer
• Order
• Help
• Remind
• Recommend
• Teach
• Tell
• Want
• Warn
• Would like

For instance, "I asked them to come."

After Adjectives and Adverbs

Infinitives are used after adjectives and adverbs, especially with "too" (too much) or "enough" (sufficient).

For example, "It's easy to learn." or "She is too young to get married."

After "is/was + adjective + of + noun/pronoun"

Example: "It was very kind of you to visit us."

After "adjective + for + object"

For instance, "My brother likes math, so it was easy for him to solve the problem."

After "the only/the first/the second"

Example: "My father is always the first to get up."

With Relative Pronouns

For example, "I don't know what to say." (This is equivalent to "why + infinitive sense to.")

Infinitives Without "to"

After Modal Verbs

Modal verbs like can, could, may, must, might, have to, need to, should, and don't have to are followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive without "to").

After Object + Infinitive (Without "to")

Certain verbs, when followed by an object, use the infinitive without "to."

After Prepositions "but" and "except"

Other Verbs

Verbs of perception like see, hear, feel, smell, and watch can be followed by the base form of the verb.

Gerunds (-ing form)

After Certain Verbs

Gerunds follow verbs such as:

• Admit
• Avoid
• Consider
• Continue
• Deny
• Dislike
• Enjoy
• Fancy
• Feel
• Finish
• Give up
• Go on
• Help
• Imagine
• Involve
• It's worth
• Keep
• Like
• Mind
• Need
• Practice
• Resent
• Risk
• Stand
• Stop
• Suggest

After Prepositions

For example, "After watering the plants, it started to rain."

As the Subject of a Sentence

For instance, "Listening to music is one of my hobbies."

To Express Short Prohibitions

Example: "No smoking."

"To" + Infinitive or Gerund

Verbs Taking Either Form

Some verbs can be followed by either "to" + infinitive or a gerund, often with little change in meaning. These include:

• Attempt
• Intend
• Continue
• Like
• Begin
• Love
• Dislike
• Prefer
• Hate
• Start

Note: It's generally preferred to use "to" + infinitive with the continuous forms of "begin" and "start."

"Would like/love/hate/prefer"

These verbs are typically followed by the infinitive.

"Prefer" with Two Actions

When using "prefer" followed by two actions, use the -ing form. For example, "I prefer reading to watching TV."

"Allow/permit/forbid"

These verbs are followed by -ing (gerund) if there is no object and by the infinitive when there is an object.

Verbs with a Change in Meaning

Some verbs change their meaning depending on whether they are followed by "to" + infinitive or a gerund.

• Remember + to: To remember to do something (e.g., "Remember to buy the newspaper.")
• Remember + -ing: To recall doing something (e.g., "I remember going to France every summer.")
• Forget + to: To forget to do something
• Forget + gerund: To forget having done something
• Go on + to: To change to a different action
• Go on + -ing: To continue doing the same action
• Try + to: To attempt to do something with effort
• Try + -ing: To experiment
• Regret + to: To be sorry to inform someone of something
• Regret + -ing: To be sorry for having done something
• Stop + to: To stop doing one action in order to do another
• Stop + -ing: To stop doing an action