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Use a gerund or an infinitive?
Gerunds and infinitives are not always interchangeable. The main verb of the sentence determines whether or not you should use a gerund or infinitive.
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These verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive:
begin, can't bear, can't stand, continue, hate, hesitate, intend, like, love, prefer, pretend, start |
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These verbs can only take a Gerund
admit (I admit stealing your purse)
adore (I adore listening to classical music.)
appreciate
avoid
consider
deny
detest
discuss
dislike
enjoy
escape
finish
imagine
keep
mind
miss
postpone
practice
put off
quit
recall
recollect
resent
resist
risk
suggest
tolerate
understand |
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These verbs can only take an Infinitive
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agree (I agree to work for you)
ask (He asked to mow my lawn.)
assent
beg
claim
decide
expect
have
hope
manage
mean
offer
plan
pretend
promise
refuse
say
wait
want
wish |
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Complete meaning change:
forget, remember, stop, try
He stopped to eat.
He stopped eating.
He remembered to eat.
He remembered eating. |
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The Parts of Speech
