1) 2)

Verb + -ing Verb + to infinitive Modal auxiliary verbs

3)

4)

Verb + ing or verb + to infinitive

When we use two verbs together, the first verb often decides the form of the second verb.

I want to go.
1st 2nd

=>

Whats the rule?

verb + ing Like* Love* enjoy hate* not mind cant stand Prefer* begin* Start* Stop* finish Continue* keep on delay put off give up practise spend time

admit deny mention consider imagine look forward to recommend suggest think of

cooking swimming

miss avoid involve risk cant help

negative (-) I hate not getting somewhere on time. (uncommon) Perfect The thief admitted having stolen the painting. Passive I like being told that I am handsome. He hates being told what to do.

verb + to + infinitive
agree choose decide Forget* learn Remember* want need wish aim arrange offer prepare promise seem hope expect plan help

appear pretend seem tend

to go to work

manage would like attempt afford ask deserve fail Try*

verb + infinitive (modals)

can could will would might may must

arrive
read

negative (-) He pretends not to know anything about the case. Continuous She seems to be studying on her exam. Perfect They appear to have finished the job. Passive You are right! I deserve to be punished for this!

like doing / love doing =>

expresses a general enjoyement I like working as a teacher. = I am a teacher and I enjoy it. I love dancing. = In general. Its one of my hobbies.

would like to do =>

express a preference now or at a specific time.

Id like to be a teacher. = When I grow up, in the future.

Id like a hamburger please = In a restaurant. I want it now. She would prefer not to go out tonight.

I would love to go somewhere quieter. I would hate to break your heart.

I would prefer to have a coffee. (specific) I prefer drinking coffee. (general)

I would rather die than kneeling before you. He would rather finish his thesis first.

They would rather go somewhere cheap. They would rather they went somewhere cheap.
If the subject is the same!

With some verbs, we can add an obj btw the 1st verb and infinitive. I want to study French. I want you to study French. (obj.pro) He intends to stay with us. He intends his cat to stay with us.
Both*

Ask , beg, dare, expect, help*, intend, mean, need, require, want, wish, would like/love/hate/prefer

Advise, allow, cause, encourage, forbid, force, invite, permit, persuade, recommend, remind, teach, tell, order, warn I advised to stay. I advised him to stay. The earthquake caused to run away. The earthquake caused villagers to run away. I recommend to work harder. I recommend you to work harder. * see transitive verbs.

We expect Man Utd to win this game. We expect Man Utd not to lose this game. They promised to come. They promised not to be late. He reminded the staff not to sleep during office hours.

Always with obj, and followed by inf w/o to. Jack made his little brother cry. (forced)

The boss let us go on holiday early. (allow)

You didnt let me finish my sentence. In passive, however: Jacks little brother was made to cry. For let allowed We were allowed to go on holiday early.
Not let

verb + -ing

or

to + infinitive

begin
start

raining / to rain

Some verbs have little or no difference:

Begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, start

It began raining. / It began to rain. He continued to write. / He continued writing.

I prefer to drink green tea. / I prefer drinking green tea.

He intends to kill us. / He intends killing us.

Forget / remember: (-ing)

Past memory

I never forget getting my first pay check. I remember getting my first check.
Do not forget to lock the doors! Remember to turn off the oven.
You should do

regret

Past regret

I regret having broken up with my gf. I regret not studying at high school. I regret to inform you that your uncle passed away. We regret to tell you that you didnt get the job.
Sorry (formal)

Stop They stopped smoking.

Finish action, quit

They stopped to have a chat with their neighbours.

Take a break from something

Try

Do smt. alternative

If you cant log on, try re-entering your password. Did you try restarting the computer? I will try to help you. I tried to persuade him, but in vain.
Attempt to do smt. difficult