English Language Resources for Speakers of Spanish
-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
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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.