Verbs + -ing

like

love

adore

 enjoy

prefer

hate

can't stand

don't mind

finish

look forward to

doing

cooking

sightseeing

Note

Like, love, adore, prefer, hate are

sometimes used with to but -ing is more usual and more general in meaning.

I like cooking.

I like to cook beef on Sundays.

Verbs + to + infinitive

agree

choose

dare

decide

expect

forget

help

hope

learn

manage

need

offer

promise

refuse

seem

want

would like

would love

would prefer

would hate

to do

to come

to cook

Notes

1. Help and dare can be used without to.

We helped tidy the kitchen.

They didn’t dare disagree with him.

2. Have to for obligation

I have to wear a uniform.

3. Used to for past habits.

I used to smoke but I gave up last year.

Verbs + somebody + to + infinitive

advise

allow

ask

beg

encourage

expect

help

need

invite

order

remind

tell

want

warn (+ not)

would like

would love

would prefer

would hate

me

him

them

someone

to do

to go

to come

Verbs + somebody + infinitive

(no to)

let

make

help

her

us

do

Notes

1.  To is used with make in the passive. We were made to work hard.

2.  Let cannot be used in the passive. Allowed to is used instead.

She was allowed to leave.

Verbs + -ing or to + infinitive

(with no change in meaning)

begin

start

continue

raining

to rain

Verbs + -ing or to + infinitive cjnn'

(with a change in meaningly

remember

stop

try

doing

to do

Notes

1.  I remember posting the letter.= I have a memory now of a past action: posting the letter.

I remembered to post the letter. = I reminded myself to post the letter.

2.  I stopped smoking.= I gave up the habit.

I stopped to smoke. = I stopped doing something else in order to have a cigarette.

3. I tried to sleep.= I wanted to sleep but it was difficult.

I tried counting sheep and taking sleeping pills.= these were possible ways of getting to sleep