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Verb + infinitive, verb + gerund and other common verb patterns.
Practice: build the sentences →English verbs select particular grammatical patterns for the words and verb forms that follow them.
A verb may be followed by a to-infinitive, a gerund, an object plus to-infinitive, a bare infinitive, a preposition plus gerund, or another clause structure.
She wants to leave.
Она хочет уйти.
Verb + to-infinitive pattern.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Verb + gerund pattern.
They made him wait.
Они заставили его ждать.
Verb + object + bare infinitive pattern.
She apologized for being late.
Она извинилась за опоздание.
Verb + preposition + gerund pattern.
Some verbs are normally followed directly by a to-infinitive.
Common examples include want to leave, decide to stay, hope to win, plan to travel, and refuse to help.
I want to travel.
Я хочу путешествовать.
Want + to-infinitive.
She decided to stay.
Она решила остаться.
Decide + to-infinitive.
They hope to win.
Они надеются победить.
Hope + to-infinitive.
Some verbs are normally followed directly by a gerund.
Common examples include enjoy reading, avoid driving, finish working, consider moving, and suggest waiting.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
She avoids driving.
Она избегает вождения.
Avoid + gerund.
He finished working.
Он закончил работать.
Finish + gerund.
Some verbs are followed by an object and a to-infinitive.
Common examples include want someone to leave, expect someone to arrive, ask someone to help, and tell someone to wait.
I want you to come.
Я хочу, чтобы ты пришёл.
Want + object + to-infinitive.
She expected him to help.
Она ожидала, что он поможет.
Expect + object + to-infinitive.
They asked us to wait.
Они попросили нас подождать.
Ask + object + to-infinitive.
Some verbs are followed by an object and a bare infinitive.
This pattern occurs especially with make, let, and certain perception verbs. For example, They made him leave and I saw her cross the road.
They made him leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
She let him go.
Она позволила ему уйти.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
I saw her cross the road.
Я видел, как она перешла дорогу.
Perception verb + object + bare infinitive.
When a verb is followed by a preposition and then another verb, the second verb normally takes the gerund form.
For example, She apologized for being late and They insisted on paying.
She apologized for being late.
Она извинилась за опоздание.
Apologize for + gerund.
They insisted on paying.
Они настояли на том, чтобы заплатить.
Insist on + gerund.
Some verbs require a particular preposition before a noun or pronoun, and the same preposition remains before a following gerund.
For example, depend on someone, depend on getting help, and insist on an answer.
You can depend on him.
Ты можешь положиться на него.
Depend on + noun.
You can depend on getting help.
Ты можешь рассчитывать на помощь.
Depend on + gerund.
Some verbs allow either a gerund or a to-infinitive, sometimes with little difference in meaning.
Common examples include begin, start, continue, like, love, and hate.
It began to rain.
Начался дождь.
Begin + to-infinitive.
It began raining.
Начался дождь.
Begin + gerund.
She continued to work.
Она продолжила работать.
Continue + to-infinitive.
She continued working.
Она продолжила работать.
Continue + gerund.
Some verbs that have similar meanings require different complement patterns.
For example, enjoy doing and want to do use different structures even though both can relate to desired or positive activities.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
I want to read.
Я хочу читать.
Want + to-infinitive.
Avoid is followed by a gerund rather than a to-infinitive.
For example, Try to avoid making mistakes, not Try to avoid to make mistakes.
Try to avoid making mistakes.
Старайся избегать ошибок.
Avoid + gerund.
She avoids driving at night.
Она избегает вождения ночью.
Avoid + gerund.
Enjoy is followed by a gerund.
For example, I enjoy reading and She enjoys working with children.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
She enjoys working with children.
Она любит работать с детьми.
Enjoy + gerund.
Suggest is commonly followed by a gerund or a that-clause, but not by object + to-infinitive in standard English.
For example, She suggested going by train and She suggested that we go by train.
She suggested going by train.
Она предложила поехать на поезде.
Suggest + gerund.
She suggested that we go by train.
Она предложила, чтобы мы поехали на поезде.
Suggest + that-clause.
Recommend can be followed by a gerund or a that-clause.
For example, I recommend booking early and I recommend that you book early.
I recommend booking early.
Я рекомендую бронировать заранее.
Recommend + gerund.
I recommend that you book early.
Я рекомендую вам бронировать заранее.
Recommend + that-clause.
Advise can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive when giving advice to a particular person.
For example, I advised him to wait.
I advised him to wait.
Я посоветовал ему подождать.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
She advised us to leave early.
Она посоветовала нам уйти рано.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
Advise can also occur with a gerund or a that-clause when the person receiving the advice is not expressed as a direct object.
For example, I advised waiting and I advised that we wait.
I advised waiting.
Я посоветовал подождать.
Advise + gerund.
I advised that we wait.
Я посоветовал, чтобы мы подождали.
Advise + that-clause.
Allow is commonly followed by an object plus to-infinitive.
For example, They allowed us to leave early.
They allowed us to leave early.
Они позволили нам уйти рано.
Allow + object + to-infinitive.
She allowed him to use her car.
Она разрешила ему воспользоваться своей машиной.
Allow + object + to-infinitive.
Allow can be followed by a gerund when the construction does not express a specific object receiving permission.
For example, The school does not allow smoking.
The school does not allow smoking.
Школа не разрешает курение.
Allow + gerund.
They do not allow parking here.
Здесь не разрешается парковка.
Allow + gerund.
Permit can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive.
For example, The rules do not permit visitors to enter this area.
The rules do not permit visitors to enter this area.
Правила не разрешают посетителям входить в эту зону.
Permit + object + to-infinitive.
They permitted him to leave.
Они разрешили ему уйти.
Permit + object + to-infinitive.
Permit can be followed by a gerund when the activity is the focus rather than a particular person.
For example, The building does not permit smoking.
The building does not permit smoking.
В здании не разрешается курение.
Permit + gerund.
They do not permit parking on this street.
На этой улице не разрешается парковка.
Permit + gerund.
Force is followed by an object plus to-infinitive to express that someone causes another person to perform an action.
For example, The weather forced us to cancel the trip.
The weather forced us to cancel the trip.
Погода вынудила нас отменить поездку.
Force + object + to-infinitive.
They forced him to resign.
Они вынудили его уйти в отставку.
Force + object + to-infinitive.
Persuade is followed by an object plus to-infinitive when someone convinces another person to perform an action.
For example, She persuaded him to apply for the job.
She persuaded him to apply for the job.
Она убедила его подать заявку на работу.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive.
I persuaded her to stay.
Я уговорил её остаться.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive.
Remind can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive to tell someone not to forget a future action.
For example, Please remind me to call her.
Please remind me to call her.
Пожалуйста, напомни мне позвонить ей.
Remind + object + to-infinitive.
She reminded him to lock the door.
Она напомнила ему запереть дверь.
Remind + object + to-infinitive.
Teach can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive when describing instruction or training.
For example, She taught me to use the software.
She taught me to use the software.
Она научила меня пользоваться программным обеспечением.
Teach + object + to-infinitive.
He taught his son to ride a bike.
Он научил сына ездить на велосипеде.
Teach + object + to-infinitive.
Wait can combine with for + object + to-infinitive when another person is expected to perform the action.
For example, We waited for him to arrive.
We waited for him to arrive.
Мы ждали, пока он приедет.
Wait for + object + to-infinitive.
She waited for the bus to come.
Она ждала, когда придёт автобус.
Wait for + object + to-infinitive.
Expect commonly takes an object followed by a to-infinitive when expressing an expectation about another person or thing.
For example, We expect the team to win.
We expect the team to win.
Мы ожидаем, что команда победит.
Expect + object + to-infinitive.
She expects him to call.
Она ожидает, что он позвонит.
Expect + object + to-infinitive.
Want commonly takes an object followed by a to-infinitive when expressing a desired action by another person.
For example, I want you to stay.
I want you to stay.
Я хочу, чтобы ты остался.
Want + object + to-infinitive.
She wants him to help.
Она хочет, чтобы он помог.
Want + object + to-infinitive.
Help can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive.
For example, She helped me to move and She helped me move.
She helped me to move.
Она помогла мне переехать.
Help + object + to-infinitive.
She helped me move.
Она помогла мне переехать.
Help + object + bare infinitive.
Perception verbs can be followed by an object plus a bare infinitive or an -ing form depending on whether the event is viewed as a whole or as ongoing.
For example, I saw him cross the road and I saw him crossing the road.
I saw him cross the road.
Я видел, как он перешёл дорогу.
Perception + object + bare infinitive: complete action.
I saw him crossing the road.
Я видел, как он переходил дорогу.
Perception + object + -ing: action in progress.
Make and let are followed by an object plus a bare infinitive in their active constructions.
For example, They made me wait and She let him leave.
They made me wait.
Они заставили меня ждать.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
She let him leave.
Она позволила ему уйти.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
Some verbs can be followed by an object plus an -ing form when the object is understood as performing the activity.
For example, I caught him stealing and She found them waiting outside.
I caught him stealing.
Я поймал его на краже.
Catch + object + -ing.
She found them waiting outside.
Она обнаружила их ждущими снаружи.
Find + object + -ing.
Different complement patterns can occur with related meanings depending on whether the action is treated as an activity or associated with a particular person.
Compare I suggested leaving with I advised him to leave.
I suggested leaving.
Я предложил уйти.
Suggest + gerund.
I advised him to leave.
Я посоветовал ему уйти.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
When a verb requires a preposition, the preposition remains before a following noun or gerund.
For example, apologize for being late, insist on paying, and succeed in finding the solution.
She apologized for being late.
Она извинилась за опоздание.
Apologize for + gerund.
They insisted on paying.
Они настояли на том, чтобы заплатить.
Insist on + gerund.
Some verb patterns must be learned as fixed constructions because their complement cannot be predicted reliably from general grammar rules.
Examples include look forward to doing, object to doing, and cope with doing.
I look forward to seeing you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Look forward to + gerund.
She objects to being treated unfairly.
Она возражает против несправедливого обращения.
Object to + gerund.
Some alternative complement patterns vary according to formality, dialect, or style.
For example, help someone do and help someone to do are both standard, while some patterns are preferred in formal or informal contexts.
She helped me do my homework.
Она помогла мне сделать домашнее задание.
Help + object + bare infinitive (informal).
She helped me to do my homework.
Она помогла мне сделать домашнее задание.
Help + object + to-infinitive (more formal).
Verb patterns are best learned together with the verb rather than as isolated infinitive or gerund rules.
For example, learn decide to do, avoid doing, persuade someone to do, and insist on doing as complete patterns.
I decided to leave.
Я решил уйти.
Learn "decide to do".
I avoid making mistakes.
Я избегаю ошибок.
Learn "avoid doing".
She persuaded him to apply.
Она убедила его подать заявку.
Learn "persuade someone to do".
They insisted on paying.
Они настояли на том, чтобы заплатить.
Learn "insist on doing".
Use the complement pattern selected by the preceding verb and preserve required objects and prepositions.
Common mistakes include using suggest + object + to-infinitive, using an infinitive after a preposition, omitting the object in object-control patterns, and confusing bare infinitives with to-infinitives.
She suggested going by train.
Она предложила поехать на поезде.
Correct: suggest + gerund.
She suggested us to go by train.
Она предложила нам поехать на поезде.
Incorrect: suggest not followed by object + to-infinitive.
I look forward to seeing you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Correct: preposition + gerund.
I look forward to see you.
Я с нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.
Incorrect: "to" is a preposition here, so gerund needed.
They made him leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Correct: make + object + bare infinitive.
They made him to leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Incorrect: no "to" after "make" in active.