Gerunds and Infinitives with Verbs Part 1

Perfect English Grammar

Download the complete list in PDF here
See this page for verbs which change their meaning when followed by the gerund or the infinitive.

Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by the gerund.

  • enjoy: I enjoyed living in France.
  • fancy: I fancy seeing a film tonight.
  • discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.
  • dislike: I dislike waiting for buses.
  • finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.
  • mind: I don't mind coming early.
  • suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
  • recommend: They recommended meeting earlier.
  • keep: He kept working, although he felt ill.
  • avoid: She avoided talking to her boss.
And here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive.
  • agree: She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting.
  • ask*: I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early.
  • decide: We decided to go out for dinner.
  • help*: He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the kitchen.
  • plan: She plans to buy a new flat next year.
  • hope: I hope to pass the exam.
  • learn: They are learning to sing.
  • want*: I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party.
  • would like*: I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her tonight.
  • promise: We promised not to be late.

*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

(Note that 'help' can also be followed by the infinitive without 'to' with no difference in meaning: 'I helped to carry it' = 'I helped carry it'.)

Try an exercise about gerunds and infinitives with these verbs here.

See the list of verbs part 2 here
See the list of verbs part 3 here
See the list of verbs part 4 here