Gerund & infinitive(to)

by: @cuddcloud (on twitter)

when one verb follows another, the second verb is always either an -ing form or an infinitive, with or without
to. the form of the second verb depends on the first verb.

1. Verb + to infinitive
use the infinitive (+ to)

after adjectives my flat is easy to find

to express a reason or purpose he’s saving money to buy a new car

(can/can’t) afford choose plan seem

agree* decide* learn tend

aim demand* manage threaten

appear deserve neglect (can’t) wait

arrange* fail offer wish

attempt hope* omit pretend*

prepare refuse

if you decide (not) to add nuts …

i hope (not) to see you later

the following verbs + to infinitive always have an object before the to infinitive:

advise* force permit remind*

encourage invite persuade* teach*

allow order warn* tell*

forbid

her father taught her to play tennis

the teacher reminded the children to bring their swimming things

the school allows students to wear jeans

advise, allow, encourage, forbid, and permit can also be followed by -ing when there is NO object

i advise you to add nuts OR i advise adding nuts

the following verbs + to infinitive sometimes have an object:

Gerund & infinitive(to) 1

 ask help want

beg intend

expect promise

we expected to be late OR we expected Tom to be late

we wanted to stay longer OR we wanted them to stay longer

⚠ would like, would love, would prefer, etc. are also followed by to infinitive.

2. Verb + infinitive without to

use the infinitive (without to)

after most modals and auxiliary verbs (can,

could, may, might, must, needn’t, shall, i can’t drive. we must hurry.
should, will, would, had better, would rather)

help can be followed by the infinitive with or without to:

we helped them (to) start their car

make and let (always with an object) are followed by the infinitive without to:

let the cake cool for half an hour

i made my sister help with the cooking (= i forced or obliged her to help)

3. Verb + -ing
use the gerund

i’m very good at remembering names she’s

after prepositions and phrasal verbs
given up smoking

as the subject of a sentence eating out is quite cheap here

admit* deny* give up postpone

avoid detest imagine* practice

can’t face dislike involve put off

can’t help enjoy keep (on) recommend*

can’t stand fancy mention* risk

carry on feel like (not) mind resist

consider* finish miss suggest*

delay

Gerund & infinitive(to) 2

 i enjoy making it

avoid adding the eggs all at the same time

keep beating the eggs (= kocok)

i suggest (not) adding a little lemon juice

4. Verb + to infinitive or -ing (with no difference in

meaning)
begin dislike prefer

can’t bear like propose*

continue love start

hate

continue adding the flour OR continue to add the flour

i prefer using apricots OR i prefer to use apricots

i love making cakes OR i love to make cakes

two -ing form do not usually follow each other:

i was starting to make a cake when the phone rang (not i was starting making)

⚠ like, prefer, hate, and love can be followed by the to infinitive or -ing. But would like, would prefer,
would hate, and would love are always followed by to infinitive.

like + to infinitive has a slightly different meaning from like + -ing:

i like to catch the early bus on Mondays.

(= this is a good thing to do or a habit, but not necessarily something i enjoy)

i like swimming

(= i enjoy it)

5. Verb + to infinitive or -ing (with a difference in

meaning)
the following verbs have two different meanings depending on the verb form that follows:

remember* try mean

forget* stop go on

regret*

Gerund & infinitive(to) 3

 verb + to infinitive verb + -ing

remember to check whether the cake is ready remember checking that i had my keys when i
(=remember an action you need to do left the house (=have a memory of a past action
/remember-check) /check-remember)

don’t forget to add the baking powder (= fail to i’ll never forget going to school on my own for the
remember something you need to do) first time (=lose the memory of something you did)
i regret to inform you that your application was we regret sending our daughter to that school
unsuccessful (=i am sorry to tell you…) (=we wish we hadn’t)
she stopped to have a rest (=in order to have stop beating when the mixture is pale and fluffy
a rest) (=finish doing it)
they don’t mean to upset you (=they don’t if you go by train, that means taking a taxi to the
intend to) station (=it involves)

he went on to tell us how to make a different they went on cycling until they reached the farm
cake (=the next thing he did was to tell us…) (=they continued)
try to ice the cake quickly (=attempt to do it try adding nuts as it will improve the flavor (=do it
quickly if you can) as an experiment)

6. Verb + -ing or infinitive without to (with a difference

in meaning)
the following verbs connected with the senses (=panca indra) may be followed by an object an either -ing or
the infinitive without to:

feel notice watch

hear see

i watched the boys playing football (=an activity continuing over period of time)
i watched the boy kick the football into the road (=a short completed action)

she heard her mother singing as she came downstairs (=a continuing action)

she heard the doorbell ring (=a short completed action)

7. Verb + that clause (similar with reported speech)

all the verbs marked * in this unit can also be followed by a that clause with the same meaning:

she admitted taking the money

she admitted (that) she had taken the money

imagine sitting on a tropical beach with a cool drink

imagine (that) you’re sitting on a tropical beach…

i suggest adding some lemon juice

i suggest (that) you add some lemon juice

Gerund & infinitive(to) 4

 8. Adjective + to infinitive
many adjectives can be followed by the to infinitive. these are some common ones:

afraid easy* impossible possible

cheap expensive interesting safe

dangerous* happy nice* sorry

delighted hard* pleased surprised

difficult*

i’m surprised to see you here

the book was hard to understand and at times i found it almost impossible to read

the adjective marked * can sometimes also be followed by -ing with the same meaning:

it’s nice meeting friends after school OR it’s nice to meet friends after school

Gerund & infinitive(to) 5