Are you looking to enhance your English language skills and expand your knowledge of common verb patterns? Look no further! In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of common verbs followed by gerunds.
Understanding these patterns is essential for mastering the nuances of the English language, and we’re here to guide you through it with engaging infographics and a downloadable PDF.
Definition of Gerunds
Gerunds are nouns that are derived from verbs by adding the suffix “-ing” to the verb. They function as nouns in a sentence, even though they originate from verbs. This means they can take on roles such as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.
For example:
- As a subject: “Running is my favorite hobby.”
- As a direct object: “I enjoy swimming.”
- As the object of a preposition: “She is good at drawing.”
Despite being formed from verbs, gerunds do not take direct objects like verbs can, and they do not have tense. However, the actions they refer to are generally understood to be happening simultaneously with the main verb of the sentence or at some unspecified time.
Common Verbs Followed by Gerund
Discussing verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives in different contexts is an excellent way to deepen your understanding of English grammar. Below are three different cases.
Case 1: Verb Followed by a Gerund OR a Noun + an Infinitive
In this case, the verb can be followed either by a gerund (verb-ing form) or by a noun/pronoun and an infinitive. This structure often indicates that the action of the infinitive is directed towards the noun/pronoun.
Examples:
1. Advise:
- Gerund: “She advises taking regular breaks.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “She advises him to take regular breaks.”
2. Allow:
- Gerund: “This permit allows parking in restricted areas.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “This permit allows residents to park in restricted areas.”
3. Encourage:
- Gerund: “The coach encourages practicing daily.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “The coach encourages players to practice daily.”
4. Forbid:
- Gerund: “The rules forbid smoking in this area.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “The rules forbid anyone to smoke in this area.”
5. Permit:
- Gerund: “The law permits hunting in this region.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “The law permits hunters to hunt in this region.”
6. Prefer:
- Gerund: “She prefers reading to watching TV.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “She prefers you to read rather than watch TV.”
7. Recommend:
- Gerund: “I recommend using public transportation.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “I recommend you to use public transportation.”
8. Require:
- Gerund: “This job requires working late hours.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “This job requires employees to work late hours.”
9. Urge:
- Gerund: “He urges trying the new method.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “He urges us to try the new method.”
10. Want:
- Gerund: “I want to go swimming in the pool.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “I want you to swim in the pool.”
11. Need:
- Gerund: “The project needs completing soon.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “The project needs someone to complete it soon.”
12. Expect:
- Gerund: “I expect arriving early.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “I expect him to arrive early.”
13. Desire:
- Gerund: “He desires winning the championship.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “He desires her to win the championship.”
14. Anticipate:
- Gerund: “They anticipate traveling next summer.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “They anticipate us to travel next summer.”
15. Appreciate:
- Gerund: “I appreciate having your support.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “I appreciate you to support me.”
16. Avoid:
- Gerund: “She avoids going out late.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “She avoids her friends to go out late.”
17. Consider:
- Gerund: “He considers moving to Canada.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “He considers you to move to Canada.”
18. Delay:
- Gerund: “They delay making a decision.”
- Noun + Infinitive: “They delay us to make a decision.”
Case 2: Verb Followed by a Gerund OR an Infinitive with a Difference in Meaning
Here, the choice between a gerund and an infinitive changes the meaning of the sentence.
Examples:
1. Remember:
- Gerund: “I remember visiting the museum.” (You recall the experience of visiting.)
- Infinitive: “I remember to visit the museum.” (You recall that you need to visit it.)
2. Stop:
- Gerund: “He stopped smoking.” (He quit smoking.)
- Infinitive: “He stopped to smoke.” (He paused his activity in order to smoke.)
3. Try:
- Gerund: “She tried speaking Japanese.” (She attempted to speak Japanese, probably to practice or test her ability.)
- Infinitive: “She tried to speak Japanese.” (She attempted to speak Japanese, perhaps in a specific situation or to communicate with someone.)
4. Regret:
- Gerund: “I regret telling you the secret.” (I feel sorry that I told you the secret.)
- Infinitive: “I regret to tell you the secret.” (I feel sorry to inform you about the secret now.)
5. Forget:
- Gerund: “He forgot meeting her last year.” (He doesn’t remember the occasion of their meeting.)
- Infinitive: “He forgot to meet her last year.” (He failed to meet her as planned.)
6. Need:
- Gerund: “The house needs cleaning.” (The house requires cleaning.)
- Infinitive: “You need to clean the house.” (You are required to clean the house.)
7. Go on:
- Gerund: “He went on talking.” (He continued talking.)
- Infinitive: “He went on to talk about his trip.” (He moved on to talk about another topic, his trip.)
8. Mean:
- Gerund: “This means spending more money.” (This will result in more money being spent.)
- Infinitive: “I mean to spend more money.” (I intend to spend more money.)
9. Start:
- Gerund: “It started raining.” (Rain began.)
- Infinitive: “She started to rain on his parade.” (She began to spoil his plans; metaphorical use.)
10. Advise:
- Gerund: “I advise taking a break.” (I suggest the action of taking a break.)
- Infinitive: “I advise you to take a break.” (I suggest that you, specifically, should take a break.)
Case 3: Verb Followed by a Gerund OR an Infinitive with Little Difference in Meaning
In these instances, both gerunds and infinitives can be used with little to no change in the overall meaning.
Examples:
1. Begin:
- Gerund: “He began reading the book.”
- Infinitive: “He began to read the book.”
2. Continue:
- Gerund: “She continued talking.”
- Infinitive: “She continued to talk.”
3. Start:
- Gerund: “The movie started playing.”
- Infinitive: “The movie started to play.”
4. Love:
- Gerund: “I love swimming in the ocean.”
- Infinitive: “I love to swim in the ocean.”
5. Prefer:
- Gerund: “They prefer hiking in the mountains.”
- Infinitive: “They prefer to hike in the mountains.”
6. Hate:
- Gerund: “She hates cleaning the house.”
- Infinitive: “She hates to clean the house.”
7. Like:
- Gerund: “We like watching movies on weekends.”
- Infinitive: “We like to watch movies on weekends.”
8. Can’t Stand:
- Gerund: “He can’t stand waiting in long lines.”
- Infinitive: “He can’t stand to wait in long lines.”
9. Cease:
- Gerund: “The company ceased operating in Europe.”
- Infinitive: “The company ceased to operate in Europe.”
10. Dread:
- Gerund: “I dread going to the dentist.”
- Infinitive: “I dread to go to the dentist.”
Additional Cases
- Verbs Only Followed by Gerunds: Some verbs only take gerunds after them. E.g., “Enjoy,” “Avoid.”
- Verbs Only Followed by Infinitives: Certain verbs are only followed by infinitives. E.g., “Decide,” “Hope.”
Related: List of Powerful Verbs in English
Related: List of Verbs Followed by Prepositions
List of Verbs Followed By Gerunds
Verb + Gerund
- Recollect
- Recommend
- Regret
- Discuss
- Consider
- Dislike
- Omit
- Practice
- Deny
- Imagine
- Recall
- Quit
- Prevent
- Defend
- Enjoy
- Mention
- Postpone
- Suggest
- Appreciate
- Detest
- Go
- Risk
- Keep
- Endure
- Resent
- Anticipate
- Understand
- Involve
- Tolerate
- Resume
- Resist
- Acknowledge
Verb + Preposition + Gerund
- Look Forward To
- Discourage From
- Disapprove Of
- Believe In
- Complain About
- Care About
- Adapt To
- Put Off
- Prepare For
- Result From
- Think About
- Take Part In
- Prohibit From
- Warn About
- Work On
- There’s No Point In
- Help With
- Blame For
- Plan On
- Participate In
- Succeed In
- Worry About
- Give Up
- Profit From
- Suffer From
- Engage In
- Ask About
- Approve Of
- Consist Of
- Persist In
- Talk About
- Apologize For
- Forgive For
Infographics (List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds)
Download this lesson of Verbs Followed by gerund in english grammar PDF (Download Here)
