Verbs That Are Normally Followed by the Gerund

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

I) VERBS THAT ARE NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND

acknowledge delay finish quit admit deny imagine recall adore describe involve recommend anticipate detest keep regret appreciate discuss justify report avoid dislike mention resent celebrate dread mind resume confess endure miss risk consider enjoy omit suggest contemplate fancy postpone tolerate practise/practice understand

Examples: 1) I adore reading your books. 2) They anticipated winning the election. 3) I detest going to discos. 4) We postponed making any decision in the meeting. 5) I quit smoking. 6) Do you recall seeing someone like that? 7) I enjoy exercising. 8) I’ve considered joining a gym.

WATCH OUT: There are many common expressions with go + gerund. These expressions usually describe activities, such as shopping, fishing, skiing, swimming, and camping. For example: We often go swimming in the lake. Yesterday I went shopping for a new pair of running shoes.

II) VERBS THAT ARE FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE

1) Certain verbs can be followed by an I want to get married. infinitive (to + base form of the verb) I asked Annie to help me. 2) Some of these verbs are followed directly He decided to write to Annie. by an infinitive. I hope to get a quick reply. agree, begin, fail, plan, refuse, seem 3) Some verbs need an object (noun or I invited Mary (object) to celebrate with us. pronoun) before the infinitive. I reminded her (object) to come. advise, encourage, order, tell, urge, warn They urged John (object) to call her. 4) Some verbs can be followed by either: 1) an He wants to leave. He’s tired. infinitive or 2) an object + infinitive. He wants you to leave. You’re tired. ask, expect, help, need, want, would like 5) Form a negative infinitive by placing not Lee remembered not to call after 5:00. before the infinitive. (Lee didn’t call after 5:00) Ana told me not to go to class. (Ana: “Don’t go. The teacher is sick.”) Van told me not to give up. (Van: “Don’t give up.”) Van didn’t tell me to give up. (Van didn’t say anything.) III) VERBS WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND OR INFINITE

With NO change in meaning:

begin continue hate like love neglect prefer start try Example: 1) He began to learn English when he was eight. / He began learning English when he was eight. 2) I hate to leave early. / I hate leaving early.

With a change in meaning:

forget remember stop

Example 1: I forgot to feed the cat. (The cat is hungry. He has not been fed.) I forgot feeding the cat. (The cat is ok. I fed him and then forgot about it.)

Example 2: Marta forgot to meet Richard. (Marta has plans to meet Richard, but she didn’t meet him because she forgot about the plans.) Marta forgot meeting Richard. (Marta met Richard, but afterwards she didn’t remember the event.)

Example 3: Richard remembered to mail the invitation. (First he remembered. Then he mailed the invitation. He didn’t forget.) Richard remembered mailing the invitation. (First he mailed the invitation. Then he remembered that he did it.)

Example 4: Marta stopped to eat ice cream. (She stopped another activity in order to eat some ice cream.) Marta stopped eating ice cream. (She doesn’t eat ice cream anymore.)

IV) VERBS AFTER PREPOSTIONS

against at after by on instead of about of without for in

Examples: 1) I am against smoking in public places. 2) She is good at speaking English. 3) I went home after leaving the party. 4) You can improve your English by using the Internet. 5) We need to keep on going. 6) You should tell the truth instead of lying all the time. 7) We can talk about going home. 8) I’m tired of hearing excuses. 9) You can’t learn English without making mistakes. 10) Do you have ideas for improving life on campus? 11) She believes in (not) compromising. EXERCISE. Infinitive or Gerund ? After a main verb, you may need to use an infinitive or a gerund. 1) Do you want ______the new exhibition? in visiting to visit visiting visit

2) I adore ______coffee cake. in eating to eat eating eat

3) I was too tired ______anything. to doing to do doing do

4) I am looking forward ______University in September. to start start starting to starting

5) Would you rather ______in the country or in the city? in living to live living live

6) I started ______German when I was 40. in learning to learn learn on learning

7) You are not allowed ______in pubs and restaurants in Ireland. smoking to smoke smoke at smoking

8) I don't mind ______until you have finished. to wait wait to waiting waiting

9) We managed ______the report finished in time for the meeting. get to get getting with getting 10) I am afraid ______. of flying at flying in flying with flying

11) The rowing team expects ______at least a silver medal. win to win of winning winning

12) He has never been able to get used ______in England after spending all that time abroad. to living living to live with living

13) I used ______in Nottingham. to live living live at living

14) Would you like ______to the cinema with me? going went to go in going

15) The company decided ______its production plant to China. on moving with moving move to move

16) She arranged ______them at the airport. meeting to meet meet in meeting

17) We ought ______an answer to the customer asap. to get get getting in getting

18) You should give up ______. with smoking smoking on smoking at smoking 19) He never hesitates ______anyone who needs it. helping help to help in helping

20) We are tired ______her complain all the time. of hearing to hear hear with hearing

21) I regret ______my exams. fail to fail failing in failing

22) She risked ______herself. hurting to hurt hurt for hurting

23) He told me ______myself. to help helping to helping help

24) I wish ______a phone call. for making to make make making

25) I intend ______a new assistant. hire to hiring on hiring to hire

Sources:

FUCHS, Marjorie. & BONNER, Margaret. Grammar Express. For self-study and classroom use. Person Education Company: Longman, 2002. http://www.quia.com/jq/88783.html