Infinitive or -ing


Verb + -ing :

admit, avoid, can´t help /laughing/,carry on, consider, delay, deny, dislike, can´t stand .enjoy,
fancy, finish, give up, go on, imagine, involve, keep on, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off,
risk, suggest

Examples:

He tried to avoid answering my question.

I don´t fancy going out this evening.

Have you ever considered going to live in another country?

When I´m on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.(negative form!)

She wants to go on/carry on working.

Keep(on) smiling! 😊


NOTE: when talking about finished actions, you can say having done…

Examples: They admitted having stolen the money. They admitted stealing the money.


NOTE: with some verbs you can use the structure verb+somebody+-ing

Examples: I can´t imagine George riding a motorbike.

Sorry to keep you waiting so long.


NOTE: after some verbs (especially admit, deny, suggest), you can also use that

Examples: they denied that they had stolen the money/ stealing the money.

verb + to:

afford, agree, aim, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, claim, dare, decide, decide, deserve,
enable, expect, fail, force, forget, help, hope, invite, learn, let, make, manage, offer, order,
persuade, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, remind, seem, teach, tell, tend, threaten, want, warn

Examples: We decided to take a taxi home.

I decided to help him.

We promised not to be late (negative)

They seem to have plenty of money.


NOTE: we can also use a continuous infinitive (to be doing), and a perfect infinitive (to have
done)

Examples: Martin seems to be enjoying his new job.

You seem to have lost weight.


NOTE: after “dare” and “help” you can use infinitive with or without “to”

Examples: I wouldn´t dare (to) tell him.

Can you help me (to) carry this bag?

! negative daren´t + infinitive without “to”

I daren´t tell him what happened.

! can´t help ALWAYS with -ing! I couldn´t help laughing.


NOTE: after some verbs you can use a question word + to

We asked how to get to the station.

I don´t know whether to apply for the job or not.


NOTE: after have, let make you use an object + infinitive without “to”

Examples: His exam results made him work harder.

I had her clean up her bedroom before I let her go out.

! the passive of  make + to: he was made to work harder.


NOTE: you cannot use suggest with the structure verb + object + to

Example: Jane suggested that I should ask your advice.



both -ing + infinitive:

begin, start, intend, continue, bother, love, like, hate, can´t bear /no difference in meaning/

Examples: I like swimming. I like to swim.

 difference in meaning:

stop + ing = give up the activity /he stopped smoking/

stop + inf. = intent /he stopped to smoke = with the aim to smoke/

advise, recommend, encourage, allow, permit, forbid:

verb + -ing /without an object/                                 verb + object + to:

Examples: I recommend waiting                                       I recommend you to wait

They don ´t allow parking here.                                   They don´t allow people to park
here.


remember + -ing = I did it and now I remember /I remember posting the letter/

remember – to…= not to forget or to realise /please remember to post the letter/


regret + -ing = I am sorry about what I did /I regret saying it/

regret + to…= I´m sorry that I have to…/We regret to inform you…/


go on + -ing = continue /He went on talking/

go on + to.. = do or say something new /After discussing it he went on to talk about economy/


try + -ing = testing /try pressing the button

try + to.. = attempt, effort /I tried to move the table/


need + -ing = something needs to be done /the floor needs cleaning/

need + to.. = it is necessary /I need to take more exercise/


NOTE: would is followed by infinitive: I would like to go.

               I would like to have done something= I regret I couldn´t do it