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Common ESL Errors Workbook |
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Verbs Followed by Gerunds (-ing) or Infinitives (to …) |
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When two verbs appear together, the first verb determines if the second verb will be in the gerund form (-ing form) or the infinitive form (to...). The only way to know is to memorize which verbs are followed by gerunds and which are followed by infinitives.
Example:
- The T.A. needs to go to class early.
The verb “need” can only be followed by an infinitive form (to...).- The T.A. doesn’t mind going to class early.
The verb “do not mind” can only be followed by a gerund (-ing) verb.
The verbs in the following table all need to be followed by gerunds.
Example: The students don’t enjoy going over the same rules again and again.
| admit (to) | delay | get used to | practice | risk |
| appreciate | deny | look forward to | put off | stop |
| avoid | discuss | imagine | recommend | suggest |
| be accustomed to | dislike | keep (on) | regret | tolerate |
| be used to | enjoy | (not) mind | report | understand |
| can’t help | feel like | miss | resent | |
| consider | finish | postpone | resist |
Example: I advise you to go to school early today.
| advise | encourage | instruct | *promise | *want |
| allow | *expect | invite | Remind | *warn |
| *ask | force | *need | require | *would like |
| authorize | get | order | teach | |
| cause | help | permit | Tell | |
| challenge | hire | persuade | train | |
| convince | inform | *prepare | urge |
(Words with * can be used with or without an object.)
*Some words can be used without an object as well as with an object.
Example: I want him to go. I want to go.
Sometimes the meaning changes according to the verb used.
Example:He doesn’t remember giving the homework to Mr. Young.
He didn’t remember to give the homework to Mr. Young.
| attempt | hate | start |
| begin | intend | try |
| can (not) bear | love | |
| can (not) stand | neglect | |
| continue | prefer | |
| (dis)like | remember |
Four verbs are called causative verbs. They are followed by an object; the verb after the object is always in the simple form:
I let him take my book home for one night.
I made my sister cry.
I helped him find the bookstore.
I had my teacher explain the answers.
Some verbs are called verbs of perception and are followed by either the simple form or the -ing form.
I see him going.
I notice him running to school everyday.
I watch him struggling with his homework.
I hear him singing.
Others including: look at, observe, listen to, feel, smell.
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