This document discusses the use of gerunds (-ing form) versus infinitives (to + verb) after certain verbs and expressions in English. It provides lists of verbs that typically take gerunds or infinitives, as well as some verbs that can take either. For example, verbs like "enjoy" and "prefer" typically take a gerund object, while verbs like "want" and "try" can take either a gerund or infinitive depending on intended meaning. The document also gives examples to illustrate the different uses of gerunds and infinitives.

1. Gerund or
Infinitive?

2. We select the –ing from....
To create a NOUN from a verb to express a
general idea(Subject of the sentence in most
cases):
“Paying attention is essential in class”

3. After any preposition:
“I am looking forward to hearing from
you”

4. After certain verbal expressions (can’t stand, can’t
help, be/get used to, don’t mind/would mind, it’s no
use):
“I can’t help getting angry when pupils speak in
class”

5. • As Direct Object of a list of verbs
(continue, enjoy, like, love, prefer, suggest,
recommend, etc...):
–“I prefer going to the beach”

6. List of verbs followed by –ing form
Verbs Followed by a Gerund
“They enjoyed working on the boat”.
admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
can't help
complete
consider
delay
deny
detest
dislike
enjoy
escape
excuse
finish
forbid
get
through
have
imagine
mind
miss
permit
postpone
practice
quit
recall
report
resent
resist
resume
risk
spend
(time)
suggest
tolerate
waste
(time)

7. We select Infinitive....
To form the subject of a verb that refers to
something specific:
“To answer this question is essential”

8. After some adjectives
and/or adverbs:
“I am happy to
announce my
daughter’s wedding”
“The wall was too high
to jump for young
children”

9. After the Indirect Object of certain
verbs (advise, invite, warn, teach, ...):
“The Headmaster warned the student
not to do that again”

10. Verbs of perception(hear, feel,...) ; LET; MAKE 
INF in TO:
– “I heard him enter the house”; “Let me explain”;
“She made me to do it”.

11. List of verbs followed by Infinitive
Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
“She agreed to speak before the game.”
agree
aim
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
be able
beg
begin
care
choose
condescen
d
consent
continue
dare
decide
deserve
detest
dislike
expect
fail
forget
get
happen
have
hesitate
hope
hurry
intend
leap
leave
like
long
love
mean
neglect
offer
ought
plan
prefer
prepare
proceed
promise
propose
refuse
remember
say
shoot
start
stop
strive
swear
threaten
try
use
wait
want
wish

12. Verbs followed by Object and an
Infinitive:
Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive
“Everyone expected her to win.”
advise
allow
ask
beg
bring
build
buy
challenge
choose
command
dare
direct
encourage
expect
forbid
force
have
hire
instruct
invite
lead
leave
let
like
love
motivate
order
pay
permit
persuade
prepare
promise
remind
require
send
teach
tell
urge
want
warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above
and may be used without an object.

13. • Examples:
– “I remember attending to dance classes when
I was a child”
– “Remember to revise the questions before
handing out the exam”
– “My grandmother forgot to lock the door when
she left the house”
– “I repeated the activity because I forgot doing
it last week”

14. Verbs that can be followed by both
“INFINITIVE” or “-ING”
No change in meaning: begin, propose, forbid, intend, start..
With a difference meaning: REMEMBER, FORGET, REGRET,
STOP, TRY...
REMEMBER/FORGET/REGRET:
+ INFINITIVE Future
+ -ing  Past

15. Verbs that can be followed by both
“INFINITIVE” or “-ING”
STOP:
+ ING  NO (don’t do that anymore)
+ INFINITIVE  YES (do it, indeed)
Examples:
“You have to stop writing at 10 o’clock.”
“After five hours of hard work we stopped to have a
rest”

16. • TRY:
– +ING  “experiment”
– + INFINITIVE  “make the effort”
• Examples:
– “I was trying to open the door but I couldn’t.”
– “Why don’t you try using this key?”

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