T2-d Follow verbs with gerunds or infinitives.

Printed Page H-91

T2-d Follow verbs with gerunds or infinitives.

gerund A verb form that is used as a noun and ends with -ing: arguing, throwing.

infinitive A verb form consisting of the word to plus the base form of the verb: to run.

Printed Page H-92
  1. Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with no change in meaning:
    begin continue like prefer
    can’t stand hate love start
    • The roof began leaking.
    • The roof began to leak.
  2. Some verbs change their meaning, depending on whether a gerund or an infinitive follows:
    forget remember stop try
    • Salam remembered going to the park on Saturday. [Salam recalled a weekend visit to the park.]
    • Salam remembered to go to the park on Saturday. [Salam remembered that he had to go to the park on Saturday.]
  3. Some verbs can be followed by a gerund but not an infinitive:
    admit deny keep recall
    appreciate discuss miss resist
    avoid dislike postpone risk
    can’t help enjoy practice suggest
    consider finish put off tolerate
    delay imagine quit

    image

    Not or never can separate the verb and the gerund.
    • We discussed not having a party this year.
  4. Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive but not a gerund:
    agree expect need refuse
    ask fail offer venture
    beg have plan wait
    choose hope pretend want
    claim manage promise wish
    decide mean

    image

    In a sentence with a verb followed by an infinitive, the meaning changes depending on the placement of a negative word such as not or never
    • I never promised to eat liver. [I did not make the promise.]
    • I promised never to eat candy. [I promised not to do it.]
  5. Some verbs must be followed by a noun or pronoun and an infinitive:
    advise encourage order teach
    allow force persuade tell
    cause instruct remind urge
    command invite require warn
    convince need
    • Magda taught her parrot to say a few words.
    Use an infinitive, not that, following a verb such as want or need.

    image

  6. The verbs let, make (“force”), and have (“cause”) must be followed by a noun or pronoun and the base form of the verb (not the infinitive):
    • He let me borrow the car.
    • The drill sergeant makes the recruits stand at attention.
    • I had the children draw in their notebooks.