V + bare infinitive (infinitive without ‘to’):
The following verbs are followed by the bare infinitive:
- Help can be used with or without ‘to’.
I helped Sarah (to) carry the bags.
- Make and expressions with make.
They made me leave.
In the passive, to is used.
I was made to leave.
- Let and expressions with let.
They didn’t let me leave.
Let me go!
- V + infinitive or gerund:
- Certain verbs can be followed by gerunds or infinitives, but their meaning changes. The most common ones are:
stop |
+ infinitive |
I stopped to write the report |
I stopped what I was doing in order to write the report |
+ gerund |
I stopped writing the report |
I was writing the report, then I stopped |
|
remember |
+ infinitive |
He must remember to buy the presents |
He has the obligation of buying the presents in the future |
+ gerund |
He remembers buying the presents |
He bought the presents earlier and he remembers doing so |
|
forget |
+ infinitive |
They forgot to book the room |
They did not remember to do it and the room is not booked |
+ gerund |
They forgot having booked the room |
They booked the room but do not remember doing so |
|
try |
+ infinitive |
He tried to study for about 8 hours a day |
He made an effort to do so |
+ gerund |
He had even tried working at weekends |
He tried as an experiment |
|
regret |
+ infinitive |
I regret to tell you that I cannot come |
I am sorry to have to tell you that I can’t come now |
+ gerund |
I now regret being so mean |
I regret something I have done |
|
go on |
+ infinitive |
The President went on to praise the Minister |
He continued his speech by praising the Minister |
+ gerund |
She went on working even though it was late |
She continued working |
|
mean |
+ infinitive |
I only meant to tell you about the party |
Synonym of intend |
+ gerund |
If we leave at 6:00 it will mean getting up at 4:15 |
Synonym of involve |
|
consider |
+ infinitive |
He is considered to be the best tennis player |
Reporting an opinion |
+ gerund |
At one point I considered emigrating. |
Meaning ‘think about’ |
|
require |
+ infinitive |
They required him to fill out a form |
He was obliged/asked to do so |
+ gerund |
These letters require typing |
It needs to be done |
|
hear, see, watch |
+ infinitive |
We watched all the cars cross the finishing line |
The action is complete |
+ gerund |
I heard someone coming up the stairs |
The action is still in progress |
|
allow, forbid, permit |
+ object + infinitive |
The school forbids the students to smoke |
These verbs are followed by ‘to’ infinitive if an object is in between. If not, they are followed by gerund. |
+ gerund |
The school does not allow smoking |
||
like |
+ infinitive |
We like to go out to lunch on Sunday |
Habitual specific preferences |
not like |
+ infinitive |
I don’t like to disturb colleagues at home |
‘think it is wrong’ |
- The verbs attempt, begin, continue, intend, plan, propose, start can be followed by gerund or infinitive, without changing the meaning:
There is no difference in meaning whether we use gerund or infinitive. Intend, plan and propose can be followed that + clause. This may include should.
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