Verb Lists: Infinitives and Gerunds

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

She agreed to speak before the game.
agree
aim
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
be able
beg
begin
care
choose
condescen
d

consent
continu
e
dare
decide
deserve
detest
dislike
expect
fail
forget
get
happen

have
hesitat
e
hope
hurry
intend
leap
leave
like
long
love
mean
neglect

offer
ought
plan
prefer
prepare
proceed
promise
propose
refuse
remembe
r
say

shoot
start
stop
strive
swear
threate
n
try
use
wait
want
wish

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive

Everyone expected her to win.
advise
allow
ask
beg
bring
build
buy
challenge

choose
command
dare
direct
encourage
expect
forbid
force

have
hire
instruct
invite
lead
leave
let
like

love
motivate
order
pay
permit
persuade
prepare
promise

remind
require
send
teach
tell
urge
want
warn

Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above

and may be used without an object.

Verbs Followed by a Gerund

They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
can't help
complete
consider

delay
deny
detest
dislike
enjoy
escape
excuse

finish
forbid
get through
have
imagine
mind
miss

permit
postpone
practice
quit
recall
report
resent

resist
resume
risk
spend (time)
suggest
tolerate
waste (time)

Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund

We concentrated on doing well.
admit to
approve of
argue about
believe in
care about
complain about
concentrate on
confess to

depend on
disapprove of
discourage from
dream about
feel like
forget about
insist on
object to

plan on
prevent (someone) from
refrain from
succeed in
talk about
think about
worry about

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES: THEIR NOUN ROLES

Both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything that a noun
can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name activities rather than people
or objects. Here are five noun-uses of gerunds and infinitives (and one additional non-noun use, the
adjective complement, that we throw in here, free of charge).
Gerunds and infintives can both function as the subject of a sentence:
a. Playing basketball takes up too much of her time.
b. To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.
It is not impossible for an infinitive to appear at the beginning of a sentence as the subject (as in Ib),
but it is more common for an infinitive to appear as a Subject Complement:
a. Her favorite fantasy is to play basketball for UConn.
The gerund can also play this role:
b. Her favorite fantasy is playing basketball for UConn.
Both of these verbal forms can further identify a noun when they play the role of Noun Complement
and Appositive:
a. Her desire to play basketball for UConn became an obsession.
b. I could never understand her desire to play basketball for UConn.
c. Her one burning desire in life, playing basketball for UConn, seemed a goal within
reach.
The infinitive is often a complement used to help define an abstract noun. Here is a very partial list of
abstract nouns, enough to suggest their nature. Try following these adjectives with an infinitive phrase
(their desire to play in the championship game, a motivation to pass all their courses, her permission to
stay up late, a gentle reminder to do your work) to see how the phrase modifies and focuses the noun.
advice
appeal
command
decision
desire
fact
instruction
motivation

opportunity
order
permission
plan
possibility
preparation
proposal
recommendation

refusal
reminder
request
requirement
suggestion
tendency
wish

Infinitive phrases often follow certain adjectives. When this happens, the infinitive is said to play the
role of Adjective Complement. (This is not a noun function, but we will include it here nonetheless.)
a. She was hesitant to tell the coach of her plan.
b. She was reluctant to tell her parents, also.
c. But she would not have been content to play high school ball forever.
Here is a list of adjectives that you will often find in such constructions.
ahead
amazed
anxious
apt
ashamed
bound
careful
certain
content
delighted

determined
disappointed
eager
eligible
fortunate
glad
happy
hesitant
liable
likely

lucky
pleased
proud
ready
reluctant
sad
shocked
sorry
surprised
upset

Although we do not find many infinitives in this next category, it is not uncommon to find gerunds
taking on the role of Object of a Preposition:
a. She wrote a newspaper article about dealing with college recruiters.
b. She thanked her coach for helping her to deal with the pressure.
Two prepositions, except and but, will sometimes take an infinitive.
a. The committee had no choice except to elect Frogbellow chairperson.
b. What is left for us but to pack up our belongings and leave?
And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object:
Here, however, all kinds of decisions have to be made, and some of these decisions will seem
quite arbitrary. The next section is about making the choice between gerund and infinitive forms as
direct object.
Verbs that take other verb forms as objects are called catenatives (from a word that means to link, as in
a chain). Catenatives can be found at the head of a series of linked constructions, as in "We agreed to
try to decide to stop eating between meals." Catenatives are also characterized by their tendency to
describe mental processes and resolutions. (Kolln)
Although it is seldom a serious problem for native English speakers, deciding whether to use a gerund
or an infinitive after a verb can be perplexing among students for whom English is a second language.
Why do we decide to run, but we would never decide running? On the other hand, we might avoid
running, but we would not avoid to run. And finally, we might like running and would also like to run. It
is clear that some verbs take gerunds, some verbs take infinitives, and some verbs take either. The
following tables of verbs should help you understand the various options that regulate our choice of
infinitive or gerund.

The verbs in the table below will be followed by an infinitive. We decided to leave. He manages,
somehow, to win. It is threatening to rain. Notice that many, but not all, of these verbs suggest a
potential event.
Some of the verbs in the following table may be followed by a gerund if they are describing an "actual,
vivid or fulfilled action" (Frodesen). We love running. They began farming the land. These are described,
also, below.
Emotion
care
desire
hate

hate
like
loathe

love
regret
yearn

hope
intend
need
plan
prefer

prepare
propose
refuse
want
wish

Choice or Intent
agree
choose
decide
decide
expect

Initiation, Completion, Incompletion

begin
cease
commence
fail

get
hesitate
manage
neglect

start
try
undertake

learn

remember

promise
swear

threaten
vow

seem

tend

claim
continue

pretend
wait

Mental Process
forget
know how
Request and Promise
demand
offer
Intransitives
appear
happen
Miscellaneous
afford
arrange

The verbs in the next table will often be followed by an infinitive, but they will also be accompanied by
a second object. We asked the intruders to leave quietly. They taught the children to swim. The teacher
convinced his students to try harder.
The verbs in blue, with an asterisk, can also follow the same pattern as the verbs in the table above
(i.e., the second object is optional). We all wanted to go. They promised to be home early.
Communication
advise
ask*
beg*
challenge
command
convince

forbid
invite
order
permit
persuade
promise*

remind
require
tell
warn
urge

instruct
teach

train

force
get
hire

need*
would like*

trust
prepare*

want*

Instruction
encourage
help
Causing
allow
cause
choose
Miscellaneous
dare*
expect*

Gerunds accompany a form of the verb to go in many idiomatic expressions: Let's go shopping. We
went jogging yesterday. She goes bowling every Friday night.
The following verbs will be followed by a gerund. Did I mention reading that novel last summer? I
recommend leaving while we can. I have quit smoking These verbs tend to describe actual events.
Initiation, Completion and Incompletion
anticipate
avoid
begin
cease
complete

delay
finish
get through
give up
postpone

quit
risk
start
stop
try

encourage
mention
recommend

report
suggest
urge

Communication
admit
advise
deny
discuss

Continuing Action
continue
can't help

practice
involve

keep
keep on

love
mind
don't mind
miss
prefer

regret
can't stand
resent
resist
tolerate

imagine
recall
remember

see
can't see
understand

Emotion
appreciate
dislike
enjoy
hate
like
Mental Process
anticipate
consider
forget

The verbs in the following table can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, and there will be
virtually no difference in the meaning of the two sentences. I like to play basketball in the park. I like
playing basketball in the park.
attempt
begin
continue
hate

like
love
neglect
prefer

regret
can't stand
stand
start

The verbs in this next, very small table can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but there will
be a difference in meaning. I stopped smoking means something quite different, for instance, from I
stopped to smoke. The infinitive form will usually describe a potential action.
forget

remember

stop

Finally, the verbs below will be followed by either a gerund or a simple verb and a second subject will
be required. I saw the team losing its composure. I overheard my landlord discussing a rent increase. (I
heard Bill sing/singing.) These verbs involve the senses.

Verbs Involving Senses

feel
hear
listen to

look at
notice
observe

overhear
see
watch

Verbs of perception hear, see, watch and a handful of other verbs help, let, and make will
take what is called the bare infinitive, an infinitive without the particle "to." This is true of these verbs
only in the active voice.
a. We watched him clear the table.
b. They heard the thief crash through the door.
c. She made me do it.

d. We helped her finish the homework.

Using Possessives with Gerunds
Do we say "I can't stand him singing in the shower," or do we say "I can't stand his singing in the
shower"? Well, you have to decide what you find objectionable: is it him, the fact that he is singing in
the shower, or is it the singing that is being done by him that you can't stand? Chances are, it's the
latter, it's the singing that belongs to him that bugs you. So we would say, "I can't stand his singing in
the shower."
On the other hand, do we say "I noticed your standing in the alley last night"? Probably not, because it's
not the action that we noticed; it's the person. So we'd say and write, instead, "I noticed you standing
in the alley last night." Usually, however, when a noun or pronoun precedes a gerund, that noun or
pronoun takes a possessive form. This is especially true of formal, academic writing.
There are exceptions to this. (What would the study of language be without exceptions?)

When the noun preceding the gerund is modified by other words, use the common form of
that noun, not the possessive.
a. Federico was pleased by Carlos's making the Dean's List for the first time.
but
b. Federico was pleased by Carlos, his oldest son, making the Dean's List for the
first time.
When the noun preceding the gerund is plural, collective, or abstract, use the common
form of that noun, not the possessive.
c. Professor Villa was amazed by her students working as hard as they did.
d. The class working collaboratively was somebody else's idea.
e. It was a case of old age getting the better of them.
There are certain situations in which the possessive and the gerund create an awkward
combination. This seems to be particularly true when indefinite pronouns are involved.
f.

I was shocked by somebody's making that remark.

This would be greatly improved by saying, instead . . .

g. I was shocked that somebody would make that remark.

This is also true when the "owner" of the gerund comes wrapped in a noun phrase:
a. I was thankful for the guy next door shoveling snow from my driveway.

GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

Gerund-Infinitive Patterns:

Verb +
Gerund

Verb +Preposition
+Gerund

Be
+Adjective
+Preposition
+Gerund

acknowledge

adapt to

be accustomed to

agree

attempt

admit

adjust to

be afraid of

aim

begin

advise

agree (with) on

be angry about

afford

can/can't bear

anticipate

apologize for

be ashamed of

appear

can/can't stand

appreciate

approve of

be capable of

arrange

cease

avoid

argue about

be certain about

ask

continue

consider

ask about

be concerned with

care

forget

defend

believe in

be critical of

choose

go on

defer

blame for

be discouraged from

claim

hate

delay

care about

be enthusiastic about

consent

like

deny

complain about

be familiar with

dare

love

detest

consist of

be famous for

decide

neglect

discuss

decided on

be fond of

decline

prefer

dislike

depend on

be glad about

demand

regret

endure

disapprove of

be good at

deserve

propose

enjoy

discourage from

be happy about

desire

remember

escape

engage in

be interested in

expect

see

excuse

forgive for

be known for

fail

start

feel like

give up

be nervous about

guarantee

stop

finish

help with

be perfect for

happen

try

go

inquire about

be proud of

hope

imagine

insist on

be responsible for

intend

involve

interfere with

be sad about

know

keep

keep on

be successful in

learn

mention

look forward to

be suitable for

manage

Verb +
Infinitive

Verb
+Inifinitive or
Gerund

mind (object
to)

object to

be tired of

need

miss

participate in

be tolerant of

offer

need (passive) persist in

be upset about

plan

omit

plan on

be used to

pledge

postpone

prepare for

be useful for

prepare

practice

profit from

be worried about

pretend

prevent

prohibit from

promise

quit

put off

refuse

recall

result from

resolve

recollect

succeed in

seem

recommend

suffer from

tend

regret

talk about

struggle

resent

take part in

swear

resist

there's no point in

volunteer

resume

think about

wait

risk

warn about

want

suggest

work on

wish

tolerate

worry about

would like

understand

Part 1. Using GERUNDS

1.1. A gerund is an -ing form of a verb that is used as a noun rather than as a verb. Because it is
used as a noun, it can appear in any sentence position that any noun can occupy.
Examples:
GERUND = swimming

SENTENCE POSITION

Swimming is good exercise.

SUBJECT of the sentence

She likes swimming every day.

DIRECT OBJECT of the VERB like

She is crazy about swimming in the

ocean.

OBJECT of the PREPOSITION

about

1.2. Many common verbs are followed by gerunds. These verbs may be one-word verbs or twoword verbs.
Examples:
GERUND = swimming

VERB TYPE

She investigated swimming with the team.

One-word investigated

She looked into swimming with the team.

Two-word looked into

List of Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds

admit

enjoy

regret

advise

finish

remember

anticipate

forget

resent

appreciate

keep

resist

avoid

mention

risk

complete

mind

stop

consider

miss

suggest

delay

postpone

tolerate

deny

practice

understand

discuss

quit

dislike

recommend

1.3. Many common adjectives (and prepositions) are followed by gerunds. Make note of the
preposition that follows each adjective.
Examples:
GERUND = joining

PREPOSITION

She is interested in joining the team.

in

She is excited about joining with the team.

about

List of Common Adjectives Followed By Gerunds

accustomed to

done with

limited to

afraid of

envious of

patient with

angry at

excited about

prepared for

annoyed with

exposed to

proud of

aware of

familiar with

related to

bored with

filled with

relevant to

capable of

finished with

remembered for

committed to

fond of

responsible for

concerned about

grateful for

satisfied with

connected to

guilty of

scared of

content with

innocent of

terrified of

convinced of

interested in

tired of

crowded with

involved in

upset with

dedicated to

jealous of

used to

disappointed in

known for

worried about

1.4. In the negative form, the word not comes before the gerund.
Examples:
GERUND = cycling

VERB TYPE

She considered cycling up the mountain.

affirmative

She considered not cycling up the mountain.

negative

Part 2. Using INFINITIVES

2.1. An infinitive is the word to and the SIMPLE/BASE/DICTIONARY form of a verb.
Examples:
INFINITIVE = to swim

It is good to swim every day.

She likes to swim in the morning.

2.2. Many common verbs are followed by infinitives.

List of Common Verbs Followed By Infinitives
agree

fail

prepare

appear

forget

pretend

ask

hesitate

promise

beg

hope

refuse

care

learn

regret

claim

manage

remember

consent

mean

seem

decide

need

threaten

demand

offer

wait

deserve

plan

wish

expect

prepare

want

2.3. Many verbs that are followed by an infinitive may take a noun or pronoun between them.
Examples:
INFINITIVE = to join

NOUN OR PRONOUN

She convinced him to join the team.

PRONOUN him

She convinced Bob to join the team.

NOUN Bob

List of Common Verbs Followed By Noun/Pronoun and Infinitive

advise

expect

permit

allow

forbid

persuade

ask

force

remind

beg

hire

require

cause

instruct

teach

challenge

invite

tell

convince

need

urge

dare

order

want

encourage

warn

2.4. In the negative form, the word not comes before the infinitive.
Examples:
INFINITIVE = to cycle

VERB TYPE

She promised to cycle up the mountain.

affirmative

She promised not to cycle up the mountain.

negative

She promised us not to cycle up the mountain.

pronoun + negative

Part 3. Using GERUNDS or INFINITIVES - no change in meaning

3.1.Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, with little or no change in
meaning.
List of Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds or Infinitives - Same
Meaning
afford

(can't) bear

begin

cease

commence

continue

dread

hate

like

loathe

love

neglect

prefer

propose

(can't) stand

start

Part 4. Using GERUNDS or INFINITIVES - big change in meaning

4.1.Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, with A BIG change in
meaning.
Examples:
VERB
FOLLOWED
BY:

SENTENCE

MEANING

INFINITIVE

I forgot to
eat lunch.

I DID NOT eat lunch today.

GERUND

I forgot
eating lunch.

I DID eat lunch today. I just did not

remember at the time you asked me.

List of Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds or Infinitives Different Meaning

attempt

forget

mean

regret

remember

try