Blog about English
Verb + infinitive, verb + gerund and other common verb patterns.
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.
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.
Some verbs are normally followed directly by a gerund.
Common examples include enjoy reading, avoid driving, finish working, consider moving, and suggest waiting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Enjoy is followed by a gerund.
For example, I enjoy reading and She enjoys working with children.
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.
Recommend can be followed by a gerund or a that-clause.
For example, I recommend booking early and I recommend that you book early.
Advise can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive when giving advice to a particular person.
For example, I advised him to wait.
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.
Allow is commonly followed by an object plus to-infinitive.
For example, They allowed us to leave early.
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.
Permit can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive.
For example, The rules do not permit visitors to enter this area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Teach can be followed by an object plus to-infinitive when describing instruction or training.
For example, She taught me to use the software.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.