VERBS WITH INFINITIVES AND GERUND

VERBS WITH INFINITIVES

There are some verbs and expressions in English that must be followed by infinitives
as complements. The kinds of verbs and expressions can be found in the list below.
Study the following examples:

NO. SUBJECT VERB VERB AS COMPLEMENT

1. I want to go.
2. She plans to buy a house.
3. He agrees to sign the agreement.
4. The president will attempt to reduce the price.

NO. SUBJECT BE EXPRESSION VERB AS COMPLEMENT

1. It is hard to find a job nowadays
2. He is the first to come
3. It is nice to meet old friends
4. It is the place to register

Here are the common verbs and expressions that can be followed by INFINITIVES

 agree  forbid  It is difficult

 guarantee  force hard
 undertake  get easy
 ask  invite interesting
necessary
 decline  order
nice
 demand  persuade possible
 attempt  try  (reason or purpose)
 seek  wait In order to
 beg  remind  I'm determined
 consent  require fortunate
 refuse  tell happy
 offer  urge lucky
 promise  want ready
 attempt  warn  It is the place
 fail  allow  It is time
 manage  permit  the first
 aim  claim second
third
 arrange  pretend
last, etc.
 plan  seem
 can't afford
 prepare  appear
 know how
 mean (plan)  learn
  advise  teach
 cause  be left
 convince  remain
 encourage

VERBS WITH GERUND

The gerund is the -ing form of a verb functioning as a noun. Gerund can be placed as a subject of a
sentence or as an object either of certain verbs or of prepositions (Frank, 1985).

1. Gerund as a subject of a sentence

NO. GERUND AS SUBJECT VERB COMPLEMENT

1. Talking to friends Is nice.
2. Being alone is also enjoyable.
3. Making ice cream Needs a lot of cream.

2. Gerund as an Object
 After Certain Verbs

NO SUBJECT CERTAIN VERB GERUND AS COMPLEMENT

1. I don’t mind telling you the answer.
2. She avoids meeting her boyfriend.
3. He enjoys playing music.
4. She can’t help loving you.
5. They admit stealing the motorbike.

 After Preposition
Gerund forms must also be used after verbs + prepositions, adjectives +
preposition, or nouns + prepositions. (See the list below.)

Examples:
 The Rogers are happy about having a baby.
 The idea of working abroad appeals to me.
 Because of his illness, he gave up smoking.
 We are thinking of going to Australia next holiday.
 If the gerund after preposition is preceded by a noun or a pronoun, the
noun/pronoun must be in the possessive form.

Examples:
 John's coming to the party makes us happy.
 I insist on his going to the show.

Here are some verbs and expressions followed by gerund

 appreciate  include  prevent … from

 favour  omit  stop …. from
 mind  delay  thank …. for
 avoid  postpone  forgive … for
 anticipate  resist  warn …. against
 miss  angry about  can't help
 regret  bored with  look forward to
 detest  feel bad about  give up
 dislike  happy about  take turns
 resent  interested in  be busy
 tolerate  jealous of  be engaged in
 keep  sad about  spend time
 finish  tired of  can't stand
 give up  worried about  get accustomed to
 enjoy  fed up with  be/get used to
 admit  succeed in  be committed to
 consider  feel like  be opposed to
 quit  think of/about  have a good/hard
 stop  dream of time
 practice  (dis)approve of  have difficulties
 deny  decide against  have fun
 escape  apologize for  have problems
 suggest  apologize for
 discuss  accuse ….. of
 evade  suspect …. of
 contemplate  congratulate … on