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GERUNDS & INFINITIVES AFTER VERBS 

 A gerund is the –ing form of a verb used as a noun—writing, studying,eating.

 An infinitive is to+the simple form of the verb—to write, to study, to eat .

Some verbs are followed by gerunds; others are followed by infinitives. The following aresome common verbs which are followed by gerunds:

1. admit The child a dm i t t ed b r e a k i n g   the lamp.2. advise Doctors a d v i se w a l k i n g   for exercise.3. anticipate We an t i c i p a t e l ea v i n g   at 8:00.4. appreciate I app r e c i a t e   your h e l p i n g   me.5. avoid The two cars barelya v o i d ed h i t t i n g   each other.6. complete He com p l et ed w r i t i n g   his paper at 2:00 a.m.

7. consider W i l l    you please co n s i d er l en d i n g   me some money?8. delay D o n’t d el a y w r i t i n g   for the information.9. deny She d en i e d m a k i n g   the long-distance phone calls.10. dislike Most people d i sl i k e p a y i n g   bills.11. discuss We d i scussed do i n g  something this weekend.12. enjoy I en j o y ed m eet i n g   your family.13. finish Have you f i n i sh e d r ea d i n g   the newspaper?14. give up Didn’t you g i v e u p smo k i n g  ?15. can’t help I co u l d n ’ t h e l p h ea r i n g   your conversation.16. imagine I can’t i m a g i n e b ei n g   that wealthy.17. include Our vacation plans i n c l u d e f i sh i n g  .

18. keep (on) She keeps hop i n g  he will call back.19. mention D i d  he m en t i on k n o w i n g   your friend?20. mind Wo u l d   you m i n d com i n g   back later?21. miss I m iss seei n g  my friends since I moved.22. postpone Let’s not pos t pon e d i s cus si n g  this any longer.23. practice You s h ou l d   p r a c t i ce g i v i n g   your speech before class.24. put off I p u t o ff w r i t i n g   my paper for three weeks.25. quit Please q u i t c a l l i n g   me the wrong name!26. recall D o  you r e c a l l ever mee t i n g   him?27. recommend Doctors r ecom m en d ea t i n g   a balanced diet.28. regret I r eg r et t el l i n g   him my problem.29. resent I r esen t bei n g  asked these questions.30. resist I r esi st ed an sw er i n g   her nosy questions.31. resume Drivers r esum ed d r i v i n g   fast after the police passed.32. risk You r i sk f a i l i n g   if you don’t do your assignments.33. suggest I sug gest a sk i ng  your teacher about the problem.34. talk about They’r e  t a l k i n g a b ou t g o i n g   to the movie tonight.35. tolerate My mother w o n’t t o l er a t e l y i n g  .36. understand I d o n’t u n d er st a n d b ei n g   angry about that.

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The following are some common verbs followed by infinitives:

1. afford I can’t a f f or d t o b u y   anything right now.2. agree We ag r eed t o t a l k   tomorrow.3. appear It appea r s t o b e  foggy outside.

4. arrange We’ll a r r a n g e t o t a k e   care of it.5. ask* Please don’t a sk  me t o s i n g  .The student as ked t o l ea ve .

6. beg* We begged  our teacher not t o g i v e   us a test.The dog begged t o go  outside.

7. care Would you ca r e t o c ome  with me?8. claim She cl a im s t o h a v e   the information we need.9. consent I co n s en t ed t o d r i v e   to the airport.10. decide We deci d ed to sta y  home.11. demand He d em a n d e d t o k n ow  what we wanted.12. deserve She deser v e s t o w i n .

13. expect* I expec t t o h ea r  from them soon.I expect  them t o ca l l   soon.14. fail She f a i l ed t o r em em ber  .15. hesitate Don’t hesi t a t e t o ca l l   if you need anything.16. hope We hop e t o l ea ve  soon.17. learn I’m l ea r n i n g t o sp ea k   English.18. long I l o n g t o see  my family again.19. manage The swimmerm an aged t o g et   to the shore safely.20. mean She didn’t m ea n t o h u r t   your feelings.21. need* Do you need t o t a l k   to me about something?

Do you need  someone t o he l p  you?22. offer My parents o f f er ed t o p a y   for my books.23. plan They had p l a n n ed t o l ea v e   on Friday.24. prepare The crew p r ep a r ed t o d ep a r t  .25. pretend The children p r et e n d ed t o b e  asleep.26. promise He p r om i sed t o ca l l   as soon as he got home.27. refuse The criminal r ef u s ed t o t a l k   to the police.28. resolve He r eso l v ed t o do  better on the next test.29. seem You seem to b e  upset about something.30. struggle The fish st r u g g l ed t o b r ea t h e   on land.31. swear Do you sw ea r t o t el l   the whole truth?32. threaten The workers t h r ea t e n ed t o st r i k e  .33. volunteer She v o l u n t eer ed t o h el p   us.

34. wait I can’t w a i t t o l i s t en   to my new CD.35. want* Do you w a n t t o g o   somewhere tonight?

Do you w a n t   me t o d r i v e  ?36. wish He w i s hes t o speak  to you.37. would like* Wo u l d   you l i k e t o com e  with us?

I’d  l i k e   him t o q u i t   talking about himself so much.

*A noun or pronoun can be placed between this verb and the infinitive.

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The following verbs require a noun or pronoun between the verb and infinitive:

1. advise The doctor adv i sed  the patient t o l o se  weight.2. allow I a l l o w ed   my sister t o u se  my car.3. invite They i n v i t e d   us t o com e   for dinner.4. cause The loud noise caused  the baby t o cr y  .

5. challenge That teacher cha l l e nges  students t o excel .6. convince You conv i n c ed  me t o see  that movie.7. dare You shouldn’t d a r e   people t o d o   something risky.8. encourage She en c ou r a g e d  me t o a p p l y   for the scholarship.9. forbid My parents f o r b a d   me t o st a y   out late.10. force No one i s f o r c i n g    you t o g o  .11. help Can you he l p  me t o ca r r y   this?12. hire The company h i r e d   John t o w o r k   this summer.13. instruct She i n s t r u c t e d   me not t o t e l l   anyone her secret.14. invite I i n v i t e d   some friends t o p l a y   golf with me.15. order The manager o r d e r e d   the loud customers t o l e a ve .

16. permit Would you p e r m i t   me t o u se  your car this afternoon?17. persuade They pe r s uaded  me t o t a k e   a little taste.18. remind Rem i n d   me t o ca l l   home before we leave.19. require The law r e q u i r e s   children t o a t t e n d   school until age 16.20. teach My friend t a u g h t   me t o d r i v e  .21. urge The coach u r g e d   the athlete t o r u n   faster.22. warn The lifeguardw a r n e d   the children not t o r u n  . 

Revised 2004

at Meramec