INFINITIVE AND GERUNDS

There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund. If you are not
sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.

Infinitive

Use

Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause To know you is to love you.

after certain expressions (without ‘to’) Why not go to the cinema?

after certain verbs (without ‘to’) I can swim.

after certain verbs (with ‘to’) He wants to swim.

after certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive They don’t know how to swim.
constructions)

after certain verbs with objects (without ‘to’) He made her swim.

after certain verbs with objects (with ‘to’) They wanted him to swim.

after certain adjectives and their comparisons It’s easier to swim downstream.

after nouns deriving from the verbs mentioned We made a promise to swim. (derived from the
above verb ‘to promise’)

Gerund

Form
ing form of the verb

Exceptions in Spelling

See → Present Progressive – Exceptions

Use

Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause Cycling is good for your health.

after certain adjectives He’s afraid of going by plane.

after certain prepositions Before going to bed he turned off the lights.

after certain verbs I enjoy cooking.

after certain verbs with prepositions I am looking forward to seeing you again.

after certain nouns We had problems finding our way back home.

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Use and Word Lists Example

same meaning I started to read. / I started reading.

same meaning but different use She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking.

different meaning He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking.

infinitive or present participle I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs.
Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
She agreed to speak before the game.
agree consent have offer shoot
aim continue hesitate ought start
appear dare hope plan stop
arrange decide hurry prefer strive
ask  deserve intend prepare swear
attempt detest leap proceed threaten
be able dislike leave promise try
beg expect like propose use
begin fail long refuse wait
care  forget love remember want
choose get mean say wish
condescend happen neglect

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive

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

Verbs Followed by a Gerund

They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit delay finish permit resist
advise deny forbid postpone resume
appreciate detest get through practice risk
avoid dislike have quit spend (time)
can't help enjoy imagine recall suggest
complete escape mind report tolerate
consider excuse miss resent waste (time)

Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund

We concentrated on doing well.
admit to depend on plan on
approve of disapprove of prevent (someone) from
argue about discourage from refrain from
believe in dream about succeed in
care about feel like talk about
complain about forget about think about
concentrate on insist on worry about
confess to object to