Verbs Followed by Infinitives and Gerunds

Verbs Followed by Infinitives or Gerunds

Verbs + to Infinitive

Afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, be about, be up to (you), beg, claim, choose, consent, dare, decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, get ready, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, threaten, turn out, volunteer, wait, want, wish.

Verbs + Object + to Infinitive

Bold verbs from the previous list and:

Cause, convince, enable, forbid, force, get, help, hire, inspire, instruct, invite, order, persuade, remind, require, teach, tell, warn, would hate/like/love/prefer.

Verbs + Gerund

Admit, appreciate, avoid, be used to, can’t help, can’t stand, can’t imagine, can’t face, complete, consider, delay, detest, discuss, don’t mind, feel like, finish, get used to, give up, imagine, involve, keep, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, recall, report, resist, risk, suggest, understand.

Verbs + to Infinitive or Gerund

No Change in Meaning

Begin, cease, continue, start.

Like, love, hate, prefer + -ing (general), + to infinitive (specific)

Object or No Object

Advise, allow, permit, recommend

Verb + object + to infinitive                      verb + gerund

Change in Meaning

Forget + gerund: forget a past action

Forget + to infinitive: forget a present or future action

Go on + gerund: continue doing the same action

Go on + to infinitive: do the next action in a process, change the action

Regret + gerund: regret a past action

Regret + to infinitive: regret a present or future action

Remember + gerund: remember a past action

Remember + to infinitive: remember a present or future action

Stop + gerund: stop doing something as a habit or action, not do it anymore

Stop + to infinitive: stop in order to do something

Try + gerund: experiment with an action, a different approach

Try + to infinitive: make an effort, do something difficult

Verb + Object + Infinitive (Without To)

Make, let, help (help with or without to)

Sense verbs: feel, hear, listen to, see, smell, watch (+ infinitive without to or a gerund)