Verb patterns
Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing?
Verbs followed by a to-infinitive
Some verbs can be followed immediately by a to-infinitive:
afford demand like pretend
agree fail love promise
arrange forget manage refuse
ask hate mean (= intend) remember
begin help need start
choose hope offer try
continue intend plan want
decide learn prefer
I can’t afford to go on holiday.
It began to rain.
She hopes to go to university next year.
Verbs followed by -ing
Some verbs are normally followed by the -ing form, not the to-infinitive:
admit deny finish mind
avoid dislike give up miss
(can’t) help enjoy imagine practise
(can’t) stand fancy involve put off
consider feel like keep (on) risk
I always enjoy cooking.
We haven’t finished eating yet.
Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing
Hate, like, love, prefer
Hate, like, love and prefer can be followed either by -ing or a to-infinitive. The difference in
meaning is often small. The -ing form emphasizes the verb itself. The to-infinitive puts the
emphasis more on the preference for, or the results of, the action.
I love playing
I love to play.
Hate, like, love, prefer with would .
When hate, like, love and prefer are used with would or should, only the to-infinitive is used, not
the -ing form:
She would like to get a job nearer home.
Not: She’d love getting a job nearer home.
Verb +object +to-infinitive
These verbs sometimes take an object before the infinitive .
ask want Expect Help
Need
I want you to play soccer.
These verbs usually take an object before the infinitive
Allow Encourage Force remind
Warn
Teach Urge
(not)
My father taught me to drive a car.
Verb +object +ing
These verbs sometimes take and object before the gerund :
Don´t
Avoid Dread
mind
I Avoided you drinking juice with sugar.
Verb +object+ infinitive without to
Make and let take and object before the infinitive without –to
Don’t let me down
Adjectives structures
Adjective+ to -infinitive
It is difficult to understand
It is easy to love you.
I find it hard to forget.
Adjective + for + object + to infinitive
It is easy for you to love me .
Adjective + preposition
I fed with T.V.
I am good at English .
I bad at sports.
I am interested in playing soccer.
I am keen on working as a teacher.
Good to know
If we have a verb after a preposition you add –ing to the verb.
What was her reaction on hearing the news?
They are afraid of losing the match.
Camila is angry about walking in the rain.