Infinitive or Gerund?
Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive, a gerund or both. If both are possible, then there is usually a difference in meaning. Here is a list of some of these verbs:
| + inf | + inf with to | + gerund | + inf or gerund | + inf with to or gerund | + object + inf with to or gerund | + object + to | + that + clause |
| help | agree | appreciate | hear | attempt | admit | advise | admit |
| make | appear | avoid | see | begin | allow | assist | advise |
| let | arrange | burst out | watch | can't bear | consider | beg | agree |
| ask | can't stand | continue | forbid | bribe | appear | ||
| attempt | contemplate | forget | imagine | command | appreciate | ||
| choose | delay | go on | permit | dare | arrange | ||
| dare | deny | hate | require | employ | decide | ||
| decide | detest | intend | enable | demand | |||
| demand | dislike | love | encourage | deny | |||
| deserve | endure | mean | instruct | expect | |||
| expect | enjoy | plan | invite | fancy | |||
| fail | escape | prefer | lead | forget | |||
| grow | excuse | propose | order | happen | |||
| happen | face | regret | persuade | hope | |||
| hasten | fancy | remember | select | intend | |||
| help | feel like | start | send | learn | |||
| hope | finish | stop | teach | mean | |||
| hurry | give up | try | tell | mention | |||
| learn | involve | train | order | ||||
| long | it's no good/use | urge | persuade | ||||
| make (passive) | keep on | warn | plan | ||||
| manag |
leave off | pledge | |||||
|
neglect |
mention | pretend | |||||
| offer | mind | promise | |||||
| pay | miss | propose | |||||
| plan | postpone | regret | |||||
| pledge | practise | remember | |||||
| pretend | put off | resent | |||||
| promise | resent | resolve | |||||
| refuse | risk | seem | |||||
| resolve | spend/waste time | suggest | |||||
|
seek |
suggest | swear | |||||
| seem | want (coll.) | teach | |||||
| struggle | tell | ||||||
| swear | threaten | ||||||
| threaten | vow | ||||||
| vow | warn | ||||||
| want | wish | ||||||
| wish |
Back to `Cool Links for Learners`
©Karen's
Linguistics Issues 2002. All rights reserved.