In English, if you want to follow a verb with another action, you must use a gerund or
infinitive. For example:
● We resumed talking. (gerund – verb + ing)
● I want to see a movie. (infinitive – to + base verb)
There are certain verbs that can only be followed by one or the other, and these
verbs must be memorized. Many of these verbs are listed below.
COMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND:
Example: He misses playing with his friends.
● abhor ● consider ● evade
● acknowledge ● defend ● explain
● admit ● delay ● fancy
● advise ● detest ● fear
● allow ● discontinue ● feel like
● anticipate ● discuss ● feign
● appreciate ● dislike ● finish
● avoid ● dispute ● forgive
● be worth ● dread ● give up
(stop)
● can’t help ● endure
● keep
● celebrate ● enjoy (continue)
● confess ● escape ● keep on
● mention ● prevent ● risk
● mind (object ● put off ● shirk
to)
● recall ● shun
● miss
● recollect ● suggest
● necessitate
● recommend ● support
● omit
● report ● tolerate
● permit
● resent ● understand
● picture
● resist ● urge
● postpone
● resume ● warrant
● practice
COMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE:
Example: She threatened to quit if she didn't get a raise.
● agree ● can/can’t ● dare
wait
● appear ● decide
● care
● arrange ● demand
● chance
● ask ● deserve
● choose
● attempt ● determine
● claim
● beg ● elect
● come
● can/can’t ● endeavor
afford ● consent
● expect ● offer ● seem
● fail ● pay ● shudder
● get ● plan ● strive
● grow (up) ● prepare ● struggle
● guarantee ● pretend ● swear
● hesitate ● profess ● tend
● hope ● promise ● threaten
● hurry ● prove ● turn out
● incline ● refuse ● venture
● learn ● remain ● volunteer
● manage ● request ● wait
● mean ● resolve ● want
● need ● say ● wish
● neglect ● seek ● would like
● yearn
VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND OR INFINITIVE WITH LITTLE
TO NO CHANGE IN MEANING:
Example: It started to rain. / It started raining.
● begin ● can’t stand
● can’t bear ● continue
● hate ● prefer
● like ● propose
● love ● start
VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND OR INFINITIVE WITH A CHANGE IN
MEANING:
go on ● He went on to learn English and French.
● (He ended one period of time before this.)
● He went on learning English and French.
● (He continued learning the languages.)
quit ● She quit to work here.
● (She quit another job in order to work here.)
● She quit working here.
● (She quit her job here. She doesn’t work here
anymore.)
regret ● I regret promising to help you.
● (I’m sorry that I made the promise.)
● I regret to tell you that we can't hire you.
● (I’m telling you now, and I’m sorry.)
remember ● She remembered to visit her grandmother.
● (She didn’t forget to visit.)
● She remembered visiting her grandmother.
● (She had memories of this time.)
stop ● I stopped to call you.
● (I interrupted another action in order to call you.)
● I stopped calling you.
● (I stopped this activity. Maybe we had a fight.)
try ● I tried to open the window.
● (I attempted this action but didn’t succeed.)
● I tried opening the window.
● (This was one option I sampled. Maybe the room
was hot.)
