Verb Patterns: Gerund or Infinitive

In English, when a verb is followed by another verb as object, this second verb can have different forms:

verb + infinitive: He helped carry the bags.

verb + to + infinitive: They managed to solve the problem.

verb + gerund (-ing form): I enjoy cooking.

Some verbs that are followed by the to+infinitive construction are:

afford

agree

ask

choose

decide

help (with or without ‘to’)

hope

intend

manage

plan

promise

refuse

want

Some verbs that are followed by the gerund (-ing form) construction are:

admit

avoid

consider

deny

enjoy

give up

like

love

mind

risk

I’m tired of waiting.

I’m looking forward to meeting you.

He felt like dancing.

We dream about buying a cottage at the sea.

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