Verb + -ing (gerund)
These verbs are always followed by -ing, never to + infinitive:
enjoymindsuggest
stopfinishavoid
consideradmitdeny
missrecommendrisk
quitpostponekeep on
give upput off
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| enjoy | I enjoy reading in the evenings. (✗ enjoy to read) |
| mind | Would you mind closing the door? |
| suggest | She suggested going to the movies. |
| avoid | He tried to avoid answering my question. |
| finish | I'll call you when I've finished cleaning. |
| keep on / keep | You keep interrupting when I'm talking! |
| give up | Paula has given up trying to lose weight. |
Verb + to + infinitive
These verbs are followed by to + infinitive:
decidewanthope
agreeofferpromise
refusemanageafford
failforgetlearn
planarrangeseem
appeartend
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| decide | We decided to take a taxi home. |
| agree | David agreed to help me. |
| manage | We managed to get to the airport on time. |
| afford | They can't afford to eat out very often. |
| refuse | She refused to tell me her name. |
| promise | I promised not to be late. |
| seem / appear / tend | He seems to have plenty of money. |
Verbs that take both — with a meaning change
| Verb | + -ing | + to |
|---|---|---|
| stop | He stopped smoking. (he no longer smokes) |
He stopped to smoke. (he paused in order to smoke) |
| remember | I remember seeing her. (I have a memory of it) |
Remember to call him. (don't forget to do it) |
| try | Try adding some lemon. (experiment — see if it helps) |
She tried to open the door. (attempt — it may not work) |
| forget | I'll never forget meeting you. (memory of a past event) |
Don't forget to lock the door. (task you must do) |
Exercises
Verb + -ing or verb + to?
1. When I'm tired, I enjoy ___ (watch) television.
2. It was a nice day, so we decided ___ (go) for a walk.
3. There was a lot of traffic, but we managed ___ (get) to the airport on time.
4. I'm not in a hurry. I don't mind ___ (wait).
5. Sam ___ (suggest) going to the movies. Which sentence is correct?
6. He stopped ___. (= He no longer smokes.)