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-Ing or to + infinitive

When two actions appear together, you need two verbs. In this case, the second verb should be either an -ing form or an infinitive. As you have read in the section CleverCookie's notes, there is a historical reason for this, and, although practising would lead you to success, lists are quite handy in this case (thanks, Cambridge Dictionary Online).

Followed by -ing

admit

​

deny

​

finish

​

mind

​

avoid

​

dislike

​

give up

​

miss

​

(can’t) help

​

enjoy

​

suggest

​

imagine

​

practise

​

(can’t) stand

​

fancy

​

involve

​

put off

​

consider

​

feel like

​

keep (on)

​

risk

Followed by to + infinitive

afford

​

demand

​

like

​

pretend

​

agree

​

fail

​

love

​

promise

​

arrange

​

forget

​

manage

​

refuse

​

ask

​

hate

​

mean (= intend)

​

remember

​

begin

​

help

​

need

​

start

CleverCookie_Pose_02(1).png

choose

​

hope

​

offer

​

try

​

continue

​

intend

​

plan

​

want

​

decide

​

learn

​

prefer

¿Necesitas esta explicación en castellano? 
- Ing or to + infinitive (versión en castellano)

There are also some special cases you must consider.

Some verbs can be followed by - ing or  a to + infinitive with no change in meaning:

I begin to work.       =    I begin working.

It started to rain.      =      It started raining.

Or little difference in meaning:

I love, hate, prefer, like cooking       =    emphasis on the process.

I love, hate, prefer, like to cook.   =       emphasis on the result.

But others do make a difference: go on, need, remember, forget, try, mean, regret, stop, and want.

She forgot to call.      =    She did not call because she forgot she had to do it.

She forgot calling.     =       She did not have a memory of calling before.

She remembered to call.      =   She called because she remembered she had to do it.

She remembered calling.     =     She had a memory of calling before.

She tried to call.      =    Calling was difficult, but she tried.

She tried calling.     =        Calling was an option among others.

She stopped to call.      =    She stopped an action to call.

She stopped calling.     =       She gave up the action of calling.

Some verbs can also be followed by an infinitive without to, with both or by either an -ing or to + infinitive:

Followed by an infinitive without to (always with an object):

She let me enter the room.

 

My teacher made it happen.

Followed by either:

They help me finish. -------- with an object.

 

They help to finish. ---------- without an object.

Followed by an infinitive without to or by -ing: feel, notice, see, hear, overhear, and watch.

To emphasise the action in progress: I saw him falling from the building. 

 

To emphasise the whole event: I saw him fall from the building.

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