Verbs Followed by Gerunds

• Verbs can be followed by different verb forms: gerunds (verb + -ing), full infinitives (to + verb), or bare infinitives (verb without 'to'). The choice depends on the specific verb.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

• Gerunds function as nouns

• These verbs are often related to enjoyment, avoidance, completion, or habits

• Common verbs followed by gerunds:

  • admit: He admitted stealing the cookies.
  • advise: I advise practicing regularly.
  • appreciate: I appreciate you helping me.
  • avoid: She avoids going to the dentist.
  • celebrate: We celebrated finishing the project.
  • consider: They considered moving to Canada.
  • delay: He delayed doing his homework.
  • deny: She denied taking the money.
  • detest: I detest waking up early.
  • dislike: He dislikes doing chores.
  • enjoy: I enjoy reading novels.
  • finish: She finished writing the report.
  • imagine: Can you imagine living on Mars?
  • involve: The job involves traveling a lot.
  • keep: He keeps complaining about the weather.
  • mention: She mentioned seeing him at the party.
  • mind: Would you mind closing the window?
  • miss: I miss traveling.
  • postpone: They postponed having the meeting.
  • practice: She needs to practice playing the piano.
  • quit: He quit smoking last year.
  • recall: I don't recall meeting him before.
  • recommend: I recommend visiting the museum.
  • resent: She resents him not helping her.
  • resist: I couldn't resist eating the cake.
  • risk: He risked losing everything.
  • suggest: I suggest trying the new restaurant.
  • tolerate: I can't tolerate him being late.
  • understand: I'm having trouble understanding quantum physics.

Verbs Followed by Full Infinitives

• Full infinitives usually express purpose, intention, or possibility

• Common verbs followed by full infinitives:

  • afford: I can't afford to buy a new car.
  • agree: He agreed to help me.
  • appear: He appears to be nervous.
  • arrange: They arranged to meet at 7 pm.
  • ask: She asked to leave early.
  • attempt: He attempted to climb the mountain.
  • claim: She claims to be an expert.
  • consent: He consented to the search.
  • decide: I decided to go to college.
  • demand: He demanded to speak to the manager.
  • deserve: You deserve to win.
  • expect: I expect to hear from you soon.
  • fail: He failed to pass the exam.
  • hesitate: Don't hesitate to ask for help.
  • hope: I hope to see you soon.
  • learn: I want to learn to play guitar.
  • manage: He managed to finish the work on time.
  • mean: I didn't mean to hurt you.
  • need: I need to study for the exam.
  • offer: He offered to help me with my homework.
  • plan: I plan to travel next year.
  • prepare: I need to prepare to present in the meeting.
  • pretend: He pretended to be sick.
  • promise: I promise to be on time.
  • refuse: He refused to help me.
  • seem: He seems to be happy.
  • tend: I tend to procrastinate.
  • threaten: He threated to call the police.
  • want: I want to eat!
  • wish: I wish to see you again.

Verbs Followed by Bare Infinitives

• Bare infinitives are used without "to."

• Common verbs followed by bare infinitives:

  • let: Let me help you.
  • make: He made me laugh.
  • see: I saw him leave.
  • hear: I heard her sing.
  • feel: I felt the house shake.
  • help: He helped me carry the bags. (Can also be 'to help')
  • watch: I watched him play.

• Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) are also followed by a bare infinitive:

  • I can speak Spanish.
  • You should study more.

Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives (with a change in meaning)

• Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or a full infinitive, but the meaning changes slightly:
  • remember:
    • I remember doing that. (recollection of a past action)
    • I remember to do that. (remembering an obligation)
  • forget:
    • I forgot doing that. (past action forgotten)
    • I forgot to do that. (failure to remember an obligation)
  • regret:
    • I regret saying that. (past action of saying)
    • I regret to say that. (expressing apologies for what I'm about to say)
  • try:
    • I tried doing that. (experimenting)
    • I tried to do that. (attempting)
  • stop:
    • I stopped smoking. (ceasing the action)
    • I stopped to smoke. (interrupting an activity for the purpose of smoking)

Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives (with little or no change in meaning)

• Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or a full infinitive with little to no difference in meaning:
  • begin: He began to study / He began studying.
  • start: I started to read / I started reading.
  • continue: They continued to work / They continued working.
  • like: I like to swim / I like swimming.
  • love : I love to eat / I love eating.
  • hate: I hate to wait / I hate waiting.
  • prefer: I prefer to walk / I prefer walking.

Test ideas

• Fill in the blank: Use the correct form of the verb in parentheses

  • I enjoy __________ (read) books in my free time.
  • She agreed __________ (help) me with the project.
  • They let me __________ (go) to the party.
  • I remember __________ (meet) her last year
  • He stopped __________ (smoke) last year.

• Multiple choice: Choose the correct form of the verb:

  • I want __________ (to eat/eating) pizza tonight.
  • She avoids __________ (to go/going) to crowded places.
  • He made me __________ (to laugh/laugh) with his joke.
  • I forgot __________ (to buy/buying) milk when I went to the store.
  • He tried __________ (to open/opening) the window, but it was stuck.

• Error correction: Identify and correct the error in the sentence:

  • I enjoy to play tennis on the weekends.
  • She made me to do the dishes.
  • I regret to said that.
  • He told me stop to talk.
  • I can to swim very fast.

• Sentence completion: Complete the sentence using a verb from the box, in the correct form:

  • Let, enjoy, advise, make, want
  • I __________ to travel to Europe next summer.
  • They __________ me laugh with their funny stories.
  • I __________ reading novels in my free time.
  • He __________ me to exercise regularly.
  • __________ me help you with this heavy bag.