Verb + –ing Verb + infinitive VERB PATTERNS Verb + –ing Verb + infinitive
VERB + –ING The –ing is used after some verbs: Adore: I adore dancing. Can‘t stand: I can‘t stand students talking loudly. Don‘t mind: I don‘t mind helping you. Enjoy: I enjoy swimming. Finish: I have finished doing my homework. Imagine: Imagine flying to the moon. Loathe: I loathe washing windows. The –ing form also follows prepositions: I‘m good at finding things. He‘s afraid of being mugged.
VERB + INFINITIVE The infinitive is used after some verbs: Afford: I can afford to buy a new phone. Agree: Let‘s agree to disagree. Choose: He chose not to study. Dare: I dare you to jump as high as you can. Decide: She‘s decided to quit smoking. Expect: He expects to be late. Forget: They forgot to do the homework. Help: She helped (to) clean up the kitchen. Hope: I hope to be able to come to the party. Learn: You‘ve learnt to drive. Manage: I‘ve managed to learn maths. Mean: She meant to write you a letter. Need: I need to water the plants. Offer: He offered to drive me home. Plan: They planned to have the party tomorrow. Promise: I promise to call you. Refuse: She refused to work.
VERB + INFINITIVE Seem: I seem to have run out of things to say. Expect Force Want: I want to go home. Help Would hate / like / love / prefer: I would prefer to listen to different music. Invite Need Order Sometimes, a person is used between the verb and the infinitive. Persuade Remind Advise: I advise you to study harder next time. Tell Want Allow Warn Ask Would like Beg Encourage
VERB + –ING OR INFINITIVE Without change in meaning Begin Continue Hate Like Love Prefer start With change in meaning Remember I remember posting the letter. I remembered to post the letter. Stop I stopped drinking coffee. I stopped to drink a coffee. Try I tried to sleep. I tried counting sheep and drinking a glass of milk to help me fall asleep.
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