Verbs Followed by -ing or a Noun

Some verbs can be followed either by another verb in the -ing form or by a noun.

 Examples:

o Try to avoid walking as much as possible.

o I managed to avoid an argument.

Verbs in this list include:

 avoid, be worth, dislike, enjoy, fancy, can't help, keep, mind, miss, practise, risk, can't
stand

 It's not worth waiting for a bus at this time of day.

 I dislike having to get up early.

 Do you enjoy meeting people from other countries?

 I don't fancy going out this evening.

 George can't help laughing when he sees you!

 I wish you wouldn't keep interrupting.

 I don't mind helping you with the washing-up.

 Jane misses going for long country walks.

 You should practise introducing yourself.

 We can't risk starting a fire in the forest.

 I can't stand going to office parties.

Verbs Followed by -ing, a Noun, or a That-Clause

Some verbs can be followed by another verb in the -ing form, by a noun, or by a that-clause.

 Examples:

o Jack admitted stealing the money.

o When accused of stealing the money, Jack admitted it.

o Jack admitted that he had stolen the money.

Verbs in this list include:

 admit, consider, deny, imagine, recollect, report, suggest

 Have you considered taking up jogging?

 You must consider that Jim has never driven abroad before.

 Peter denied stealing the money.

  I don't recollect meeting you before.

 Suddenly I recollected that I had another appointment.

 Helen reported losing her watch to the director.

 I suggested going to the beach.

 I suggested that we go to the beach.

Verbs Followed by -ing or Infinitive: Little Change in Meaning

Some verbs can be followed by either the -ing form or the infinitive with little or no change in
meaning.

Verbs in this list include:

 attempt, begin, continue, dread, not bear, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, start

 I attempted to leave/leaving, but the police stopped me.

Note: The forms would like, would love, and would prefer are followed by an infinitive.

 I'd like to come to your party, but I'll be away then.

Like to can have its usual meaning of something that gives pleasure. But it can also describe a
habitual action, whether or not it gives pleasure.

 On Sundays, I like to get up early and go for a swim.

Verbs Followed by -ing or Infinitive: Change in Meaning

Some verbs can be followed by either the -ing form or the infinitive, but there is a change in
meaning. Study the examples below carefully and check more examples in a dictionary.

Forget and Remember:

 We use forget/remember doing for memories of the past (the action happens before
the remembering).

 We use forget/remember to do for actions someone is/was supposed to do (the

remembering happens before the action).

o I won't forget meeting you.

o I forgot that I had invited ten people to lunch.

o I forgot to buy any coffee.

o I won't forget to go there.

o I remember locking the door.

o I remembered that I had left my keys behind.

o Please remember to lock the door.

Go On:

 We use go on doing when we continue doing something.

 We use go on to do when we move on to do something else.

o Diana went on working all night.

o The director went on to say that the strike was over.

Mean:

 We use mean doing when one thing results in or involves another.

 We use mean to do to express an intention.

o This means leaving at 6:00. (involves)

o This means that we will have to leave at 6:00! (has a result)

o I meant to phone you, but I forgot. (intended)

Regret:

 We use regret doing when we are sorry about something that happened in the past.

 We use regret to inform/tell when we are giving bad news. This use is formal.

o Kate regretted not buying the house.

o Kate regretted that she hadn't bought the house.

o I regret to tell you that you have failed.

Stop:

 We use stop doing when we end an action.

 We use stop to do when we give the reason for stopping.

o I stopped going to evening classes. (gave up going)

o I stopped to buy some coffee. (in order to buy)

Try:

 We use try doing when we do something and see what happens.

 We use try to do when we make an effort to do something but don't necessarily

succeed.

o Why don't you try getting up early?

o I tried to get up early, but I couldn't.

Verbs Followed by the Infinitive

Some verbs can only be followed by the infinitive. These include:

  afford, appear, choose, fail, happen, help, long, manage, offer, prepare, refuse, tend,
wait, want

 I can't afford to go on holiday abroad this year.

 The car appears to have broken down.

 I chose not to go to university.

 Gerry failed to arrive on time.

 I happened to be passing, so I dropped in.

Verbs Followed by the Infinitive or a That-Clause

Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive or a that-clause. These include:

 agree, arrange, decide, demand, desire, expect, hope, intend, learn, plan, pretend,
promise, seem, threaten, wish

 Tom agreed to meet us outside the cinema.

 Tom agreed that he would meet us outside the cinema.

 We arranged that we would leave at 5:30.

 John decided to take the bus.

 John decided that he would take the bus.

Verbs Followed by -ing or Infinitive Without to

Some verbs can be followed by an object + -ing or an infinitive without to. There is a change in
meaning. These verbs are sometimes called "verbs of perception" and include: feel, hear, listen
to, notice, see, watch.

 If we see or hear only part of the action, or it continues, we use the -ing form.

 If we see or hear the whole action from beginning to end, we use the infinitive without
to.

Compare:

 I felt the train moving. (continuing action)

 I felt the train move. (one completed action)

Some of these verbs can be used with a that-clause, with a change in meaning.

 I feel that you should look for another job. (believe)

 I've just heard that the match is off. (receive news)

 See that you lock up when you leave. (make sure)