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3. Verb + gerund or infinitive

Verb + gerund or infinitive

When we use two verbs together in a sentence, the second verb will be either a gerund or an infinitive.

  • They enjoy being with each other (verb + gerund)
  • I really want to go out today. (verb + to infinitive)

These are some of the common verbs which take the gerund. We form the negative by putting not before the gerund.

admit, advise, avoid, can't help, can't imagine, can't stand, complete, consider, discuss, dislike, don't mind, enjoy, finish, give up, imagine, keep, mention, mind, miss, practise, recommend, report, resist, risk, suggest

  • I miss going to parties with him.
  • Do you enjoy meeting new people?
  • I can't stop eating chocolate!

These are some of the common verbs which take to + the infinitive. We form the negative by putting not before to + infinitive.

 afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, choose, dare, decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, threaten, wait, want, wish, would like.
  • Would you like to come to the cinema with us?
  • She promised to make dinner to this evening.
  • I didn't attempt to run the London marathon.

Some verbs (e.g. begin, hate, like, love, prefer and start) take the gerund or the infinitive with no change in meaning.

  • I love learning French. / I love to learn French.

However, there are some verbs, such as forget, go on, mean, regret, remember, stop and try, which can take either the gerund o 'to + infinitive' but with different meanings.


remember

+to infinitive

Not forget

+ gerund

Have a memory of
something in the past

  • I must remember to buy some pizza for dinner.
  • I remember travelling abroad for the first time.
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