To infinitive VS V_ing

GRAMMAR
VERB + V-ING
1. These verbs are followed by v-ing (not to):
stop delay fancy consider admit mention
finish postpone imagine avoid deny continue
miss involve enjoy dislike love mind
risk practise like hate suggest quit
I enjoy dancing. (not ‘I enjoy to dance ’) Would you mind closing the door.
Ann suggested going to the cinema. Have you ever considered going to live in another country?
Suddenly everybody stopped talking. I’ll do the shopping when I’ve finished cleaning the flat.
He tried to avoid answering my question. I don’t fancy going out this evening .
Note that the negative form: not + v-ing
When I’m on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.
2. The following verbs can have the structure: verb + preposition + v-ing
3. Thefollowing verbs can have the structure: verb + object + preposition + v-ing
Page 1 Verb + v-ing or Verb + to + infinitive
go on (carry on)
We can’t go on living like this.
put off
Everybody put off discussing it till next week.
give up
He has given up smoking.
keep (on)
Don’t keep (on) interrupting me.
talk about
We talked about going to America.
apologise for
She apologised for not telling the truth.
succeed in
Have you succeeded in fiding a job yet?
insist on

They insisted on paying for the meal.
think of
I’m thinking of buying a new house.
dream of
I wouldn’t dream of asking them for the money.
approve of
She doesn’t approve of gambling.
decide against
We’ve decided against moving to London.
feel like
Do you feel like going out tonight?
look forward to
I’m looking forward to meeting her again.
object to
Do you object to working on Sunday?
verb + object + preposition + v-ing
congratulate on
I congratulated Ann on passing the exam.
accuse of
They accused me of telling lies.
suspect of
Nobody suspected the man of being a spy.
prevent from
What prevented him from coming to see us?
stop from
The police stopped everyone from leaving the building.
thank for
I forgot to thank them for helping me.
forgive for
Please forgive me for not writing to you.

warn against
They warned us against buying the car.
We asked how to get to the station.
Have you decided where to go for your holiday?
I don’t know whether to apply for the job or not.
Do you understand what to do?
GRAMMAR
VERB + TO + INFINITIVE
1. Structure: verb + to + infinitive :
offer decide hope deserve attempt try claim
agree plan aim afford wish threaten tend
refuse arrange learn forget fail swear appear
ask expect want manage pretend promise seem
It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.
Tom was in a difficult situation, so I agreed to lend him
some money.
He is going to learn to drive next month.
I waved to Mary but failed to attract her attention.
The thief refused to stop at the red light.
John expected to pass the exam.
We offered to leave.
They seem to have plenty of money.
I like George but I think he tends to talk so much.
Ann pretented not to see me as she passed me in the street.
The robbers threatened to kill all workers in the bank.
I swear not to tell you a lie.
They deserved to be sent to prison.
2. After dare / help you can use the infinitive with or without to:
I wouldn’t dare to tell him. or I wouldn’t dare tell him.
But after daren’t (or dare not) you must use the infinitive without to:

I daren’t tell him what happened. (without to)
Can you help me to move this table. or Can you help me move this table.
3. After the following verbs you can use a question word (what,where,how,whether… ) + to…
Ask decide know remember forget explain learn understand wonder
Also: show / tell / ask/ advise / teach somebody what / how / where to do something:
Can you show me how to answer this question?
Ann will tell you what to do.
He taught us what to know about the country.
4. After make and let we use : verb + object + infinitive (without to )
The customs officer made him to open his case.
My parents didn’t let me go out alone when I was a baby.
Hot weather makes me feel tired.
Let me carry your bag for you.
We ‘make somebody do…’, but the passive is ‘be made to do…’( infinitive with to )
He was made to open his case.
5. These verbs have two possible structures. Compare:
Page 2 Verb + v-ing or Verb + to + infinitive
GRAMMAR
Advise recommend encourage allow permit forbit
Verb + V-ing (without an object)
I wouldn’t recommend staying in that hotel.
She didn’t allow smoking in her house.
Passive:
Smoking isn’t allowed in her house.
Verb + object + to + infinitive
I wouldn’t recommend anybody to stay in that hotel.
object
She didn’t allow us to smoke in her house.
Passive:
We aren’t allowed to smoke in her house

Page 3 Verb + v-ing or Verb + to + infinitive
Verb + v+ing