Verbs taking only one form
Some verbs take a to-infinitive, and others take a gerund.
To-infinitive:
Gerund:
+ to-infinitive
To-infinitive or gerund after a verb
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afford |
expect |
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ought |
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agree |
fail |
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plan |
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aim |
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get (= succeed) |
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prepare |
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appear |
grow |
pretend |
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arrange |
guarantee |
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promise |
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ask |
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happen |
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prove |
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attempt |
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hasten |
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refuse |
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be |
have |
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seek |
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be dying |
help |
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seem |
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beg |
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hesitate |
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swear |
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can't
wait |
hope |
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tend |
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care (= want) |
learn |
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threaten |
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choose |
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long |
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train |
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claim |
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manage |
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turn out |
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come |
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neglect |
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undertake |
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dare |
offer |
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used |
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decide |
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omit |
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wish |
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demand |
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+ gerund |
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admit |
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escape |
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permit |
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advise |
excuse |
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postpone |
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allow | face |
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practise |
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anticipate |
fancy (= want) |
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put off |
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appreciate |
finish |
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quit |
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avoid |
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give up |
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recommend |
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can't
help |
imagine |
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resent |
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confess |
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involve |
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resist |
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consider |
justify |
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resume |
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delay |
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keep
(on) |
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risk |
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deny |
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leave
off |
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save |
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detest |
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mention |
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stand |
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dislike |
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mind |
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suggest |
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enjoy |
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miss |
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tolerate |
NOTE
Afford (= have enough money/time) and stand (= tolerate) go after can/could or be able to. They are often in a negative sentence or a question.
Do you think we'll be able to afford to go to India? I can't stand sitting around doing nothing.
We can use agree with a to-infinitive but not accept.
Brian agreed to pay half the cost. NOT Brian accepted to pay half.
We use be dying (= want very much) only in the continuous. I'm dying to have a swim./I'm dying for a swim.
Care and mind are normally in a negative sentence or a question.
Would you care to come along with us? Do you mind carrying this bag for me?
After help we can leave out to.
We all helped (to) put up the tent.
When advise, recommend, allow or permit
has another object, it takes a to-infinitive.
I advised taking a taxi.
They don't allow
sunbathing here.
I advised the girls to take a taxi.
They don't allow people to sunbathe here.
2
Verbs taking either form
Some verbs can take either a to-infinitive or a
gerund with almost no difference in meaning.
I hate to leave/hate leaving everything
to the last minute.
When the
President appeared, the crowd began to
cheer/began cheering.
We intend to take/intend taking immediate
action.
These verbs are begin,
bother, can't bear, cease, commence, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start.
NOTE
With verbs of liking and hating,
sometimes the gerund gives a sense of the action really happening, while the
infinitive often points to a possible action.
I hate doing the same thing all
the time. It gets really boring sometimes. I'd hate to do the same thing all
the time. I'm lucky my job is so interesting.
Like, love and hate usually take a
gerund, but would like, would love and would hate normally take a
to-infinitive.
I love swimming. I swim nearly
every day.
I'd love to go for a swim. It's
such a lovely day.
Like takes a to-infinitive when it means that something is a good idea, rather than a pleasure.
I like to keep all these papers in order.
Compare these two sentences.
I didn't like to complain. (= I didn't complain because it wasn't a good idea.)
I didn't like complaining. (= I complained, but I didn't enjoy
it.)
When the main verb has a
continuous form, we normally avoid using another ing-form after it.
The spectators were already beginning to arrive. NOT beginning arriving
After start, begin and continue,
a state verb usually has the to-infinitive form.
soon began to understand what the problems were.
3 Either
form but different meanings
The to-infinitive and gerund have different
meanings after remember, forget; regret; dread; try; stop; mean; go on; need,
want, require and deserve.
We use remember and forget with a to-infinitive to talk about necessary actions and whether we do them or not
Did you remember to turn off the electricity? Youforgot to sign the cheque. ~ Oh, sorry.
We use a gerund to talk about memories of the past.
I'll
neverforget breaking down in the
middle of Glasgow. It was awful.
I don't
know. I can't remember turning it
off.
NOTE
We can
use a finite clause instead of a gerund clause.
I'll never forget (the time) when
we broke down.
I can't remember if/whether I turned it off.
We use regret + to-infinitive for a present
action, especially when giving bad news. We use a gerund to express regret
about the past.
We regret to inform you that
your application has been unsuccessful.
I regret wasting/regret having wasted so
much time last year.
Verb + object + to-infinitive
We use dread + to-infinitive mainly in the
expression I dread to think/imagine...
We use a gerund for something that causes fear.
I dread to think what might happen to you all alone in a big city. I always dreaded being kissed by my aunts.
Try + to-infinitive means 'attempt to do' and try + gerund means 'do something which might solve the problem'.
I'm trying to light a fire, but this wood won't burn. ~ Why don't you try pouring some petrol on it?
NOTE
In informal English we can use try and instead of try to.
Let's try and move the cupboard away from the wall.
After stop we often use the to-infinitive of purpose. But stop + gerund means to end an action.
At the next services he stopped to buy a newspaper. You'd better stop dreaming and get on with some work.
Mean + to-infinitive
has the sense of 'intend'. But mean + gerund
expresses result, what is involved in
something.
I'm
sorry. I didn't mean to step on
yourfoot.
I have to
be at the airport by nine. It means
getting up early.
Go on + to-infinitive
means to do something different, to do the next thing. Go on + ing-form means to continue doing something.
After
receiving the award, the actor went on
to thank all the people who had helped him in his career.
The band went on playing even after everyone had
left.
We
usually use need, want and deserve with a to-infinitive.
We need to leave at eight. Tony wants
to borrow your typewriter.
A gerund after these verbs has a passive meaning.
The
typewriter needs/wants cleaning.
