This document discusses the differences between verbs followed by -ing or infinitives in English. It provides lists of verbs that can be followed by -ing or infinitives, noting some verbs that change meaning depending on the construction. For example, "forget" followed by -ing refers to memories of past actions, while followed by an infinitive it refers to future planned actions. The document aims to help the reader understand the differences and provides examples for many of the verb constructions.

1. -ING OR INFINITIVE
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENCE?
Carmen María Fernández
Rodríguez
EOI A Coruña

2. Verbs followed by –ing or a
noun:
AVOID, BE WORTH, DISLIKE, ENJOY,
FANCY, HELP[1], KEEP, MIND, MISS,
PRACTICE, RISK, CAN’T STAND
I don’t fancy going out this evening
[1] I cannot help laughing

3. ADMIT, CONSIDER, DENY, IMAGINE, RECOLLECT,
REPORT, SUGGEST
All can be followed by a
that-clause.
Jack admitted stealing the
money
Jack admitted that he had
stolen the money

4. Some verbs can be followed either by an –ing
form or an infinitive with a little or no change of
meaning.
ATTEMPT, BEGIN,
CONTINUE, DREAD,
NOT BEAR, HATE,
INTEND, LIKE, LIVE,
PREFER, START
I attempted to
leave/leaving but the
police stopped me.

5. Attention: WOULD LIKE, WOULD
PREFER+ infinitive (I would like to
have a coke)
Besides, LIKE +infinitive means
habitual action whether or not it
gives us pleasure.
Ex. On Sunday I like to get up early
and go for a swim

6. Verbs followed by –ing
or infinitive: change of
meaning

7.  FORGET+-ing means
memories of the past,
the action has already
happened
 FORGET+ infinitive for
actions someone is
supposed to do, the
action is going to
happen.
I forgot meeting you
I won’t forget to go there

8.  GO ON+-ing when we
continue doing sth
 GO ON+-infinitive when
we move to do sth
else
Diana went on working
all night
The director went on to
say that the strike was
over

9.  MEAN+ -ing when one
thing results or
involves the other
 MEAN+ -infinitive
expresses an intention
This means leaving at
6:30.
I meant to phone you
but I forgot.

10.  REGRET+-ing when
we are sorry about sth
that happened in the
past
 REGRET+-infinitive
when we are giving
bad news
Kate regretted not
buying the house
I regret to tell you that
you have failed

11.  STOP+-ing when we
finish an action
 STOP+-infinitive when
we give the reason for
stopping
I stopped going to English
classes
I stop on the road to buy
some coffee

12. TRY+ -ing when we do sth and see what happens
TRY+ -infinitive when we make an effort to do sth
but don’t necessarily succeed.
 Why don’t you try getting up early?
 I tried to get up early, but I couldn’t.

13. Verbs followed by the infinitive
 AFFORD, APPEAR,
CHOOSE, FAIL, HAPPEN,
HELP[1], LONG, MANAGE,
OFFER, PREPARE,
REFUSE, TEND, WAIT,
WANT.
I chose not to go to
university
[1] He helped me to do my
homework

14. ASK, TELL, ADVISE, ORDER
+object +infinitive
He asked me to give this to you

15. AGREE, ARRANGE, DECIDE, DEMAND, DESIRE,
EXPECT, HOPE, INTEND, LEARN, PLAN,
PRETEND, PROMISE, SEEM, THREATEN, WISH
+infinitive /that-clause
 Tom agreed to meet us
outside the cinema
 Tom agreed that he
would meet us outside
the cinema

16. Verbs followed by –ing, or infinitive
without to
There is a change of meaning
and can be followed by a
that-clause (I’ve just heard
that the match is off).
Verbs of perception: FEEL,
HEAR, LISTEN TO,
NOTICE, SEE, WATCH
+ing when we experience
part of the action or if it
continues
I felt the train moving

17.  FEEL, HEAR, LISTEN
TO, NOTICE, SEE,
WATCH +infinitive
when we experience
the WHOLE action
I felt the train move

18. NOW IT IS UP TO YOU
If you go on, you will ONLY FIND
LISTS (but some of you like
them)

19. VERBS DIRECTLY FOLLOWED
BY INFINITIVE
 Agree, aim, appear,
arrage, ask, attempt,
bother, care, choose,
claim, condescend,
consent, decide,
decline, demand,
determine, endeavour,
fail, forget, guarantee,
happen, hesitate, hope,
learn, long, manage
 Neglect, offer, plan,
prepare, be prepared,
pretend, proceed,
promise, prove, refuse,
remember, resolve,
seem, swear, tend,
threaten, trouble, try,
undertake, volunteer,
vow.

20. NOUNS FOLLOWED BY
INFINITIVE
 Ability, ambition,
anxiety, attempt,
decision, demand,
desire, determination,
eagerness, effort,
 Failure, offer, plan,
promise, refusal,
request, scheme,
willingness, wish

21. VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE
GERUND
 Admit, anticipate,
appreciate, avoid,
consider, defer, delay,
deny, detest, dislike,
dread, enjoy, escape,
excuse, fancy, finish,
forgive, imagine,
involve
 Keep, loathe, mean,
mind, pardon,
postpone, practice,
prevent, propose,
recollect, remember,
resent, resist, risk,
save, stop, suggest,
understand

22. This information was taken
from :
 Thompson, A.J. and A.V. Martinet. A
Practical English Grammar. Oxford: OUP,
1991 (lessons 23 and 24).
 Vince, Michael. First Certificate language
Practice. Fourth Edition. Oxford: Macmillan,
2009 (Grammar 23).