This document provides examples of when to use gerunds (verb + ing) versus infinitives (verb + to) after certain verbs. Gerunds are used after verbs like enjoy, avoid, suggest, and miss to indicate an ongoing action. Infinitives are used after verbs like agree, choose, decide, expect, and refuse to indicate intention or purpose. Some verbs can take either a gerund or infinitive but with a change in meaning, such as forget indicating past reference with a gerund and future reference with an infinitive.

1. Some examples or when to use the Gerund or the Infmitive after a verb
Gerund only Infmitive only
(verb+ ing) (verb+to)
.'Avoid, I avoid taking certain streets when • Agree lo do, She agreed to get help
there is a lot of traffic for her problem.
• Dlslike, Do you dislike getting up early? • Ask lo do or ask somebody lo
do...Re asked me to do him a favour.
• Enjoy, She enjoys reading novels. • Choose, They chose to tell the truth.
• Finish, Have you finished studying for your • Decide, Re decided to study law.
exam?
• Keep, Don't stop; keep going. • Expect; Sue expected him to pay for
the meaI.
• Mention, She mentioned seeing him. • Hope, We hope to see you again.
• Suggest, Re suggested phoning before we • Leam, Where did you leam to speak
arrived English.
• Mind, "object to" They didn't mind taking • Refuse, She refused to listen to his
the bus. explanation.
• Miss, We don't eat at that restaurant • Wam, Do you want to hear the end of
anymore. I miss going there. the story?
• Help, Mary can't help crying at a sad film. • Afford, I don't make enough money.
• Resent, Re resented being told what to do. I can't afford to buy it.
• Promise, Re promised to send me a
postcard.
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Verbs witb a change
Meaning with gerund Meaning with infmitive
inmeanine:
(past reference) (future reference)
• Forget She forgets seeing him Don't forget to call me.
before.
• Remember I remember going to school Remember to send the letter.
the first time.
• Regret She regrets dropping out of I regret to tell you the bad news.
the course
• Try "experiment" Why don't "mak.e an effort" Try to eat less.(do your
you try eating lesso best to eat less)
• Stop "interrupted action" Re "in order to" Re stopped to smoke a
stopped smoking last year. cigarette. Re was working then he had a
• Goon "continue" She went on cigarette.
working after she had the "make a change"She was in advertising and
baby. then she went on to a career in computer
grafics.
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