1. Verb + –ing Verb + infinitive
VERB PATTERNS
Verb + –ing
Verb + infinitive

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. EXERCISES

7. MORE DETAILS