Gerunds and Infinitives.

Verb +to + infinitive

Certain verbs are often followed by to + infinitive of another verb:

deserve expect hope manage offer promise refuse

threaten want

It's a pity he lost the race, because he deserved to win.

What did you expect to find when you opened the box?

N.B To can stand alone to avoid repeating the verb or phrase :

I'm not sure I'm going to pass my driving test first time , but certainly I
hope to .(pass)

With many verbs , an object comes before to :

The Sales Director asked the Editor to give an outline of the proposal.

Verb + object + to + infinitive

The verbs that use this construction fall roughly into two groups:

Verbs that convey the idea of asking, telling, compelling, allowing,

forcing:

advise allow ask expect forbid force permit persuade

teach tell warn

Verbs that convey the idea of wanting ,needing etc:

want need prefer would like

Note that ' that clauses' are not possible with the verbs in this group:

I really don't want (that anyone misunderstands )me.

Verb+ infinitive
The infinitive without to is used after :

had better and would rather

There's a storm coming. We had better go home.
I would rather not sit in the back of the car.

The verbs make (meaning 'force') and let (meaning 'allow') :

You can't make me do anything that I don't want to do.

If you let me borrow your car, will you expect me to pay for the petrol ?

Note that make in the passive is followed by to +infinitive:

The soldiers were made to stand for hours in the sun.

The objects of verbs of perception (see, hear, etc.):

When she was walking through the car park, she heard someone call her
name.

Verb + -ing form

Certain verbs are only followed by the -ing form of another verb. (That is,
the -ing form of the second verb acts as a gerund, the object of the first
verb.) Verbs that take – ing forms often convey likes and dislikes:

can't stand detest don't mind fancy feel like enjoy

Other verbs convey the idea of saying, thinking, describing:

admit consider deny describe imagine suggest

Other common, miscellaneous verbs are also followed by an – ing form:

avoid deny finish miss practice risk

Note that verbs that follow prepositions are always in the -ing form:

Don't apologise for arriving early. It's great to see you.

He would probably get more done if he was better at working at night.
Verb + Infinitive /-ing form
A few verbs can be followed by an infinitive or an -ing form, with little or
no change of meaning. For example :

begin continue start

When the limousine drove past the crowd, some people began to throw/
began throwing flowers onto the roof.

Some common verbs can be followed by an infinitive or an -ing form, but

with a change of meaning,e.g.

Remember: I don't care how busy you are, you must remember to pay
your credit card bill. (=remember to do something in the future)

I remember going fishing a lot when I was a boy, but I don't remember
catching many fish. (remember doing something in the past)

Regret : I regret to inform you that I am resigning as company director.

(= be sorry for a present or future action)

Neither of my parents regret getting married when they were so young.

(= regret doing something in the past)

Stop: 'Come on,' said the man in the museum. 'If you stop to look at all the
paintings,we'll never get round.' (=stop one thing to do another)

He went to China last month and he hasn't stopped talking about it since.
(=give up doing something)

Try: She tried to reach the book on the top shelf, but it was too high.
(=make an effort)

Have you ever tried doing a martial art ? (=try out as an experiment)

Mean: Oh, I meant to tell you something. But I've forgotten what it was.
(=intend)

Buying this house means paying a higher mortgage.(become necessary).