Advanced · Grammar Reference
Unit 3 — Verb Patterns
infinitive · gerund · verb + that clause · no change of meaning
3.1 Verb patterns with the infinitive
Verb + infinitive
The pattern of verb + infinitive is used:
- After certain verbs: agree · ask · offer · promise · refuse · want — He asked to do it.
- After certain verbs + object: ask · beg · encourage · order · persuade · tell · want — They asked him to do it.
📌 Note
Some verbs can take both patterns: ask · beg · want · help
The passive of
make takes
to:
I was made to do it. The passive of
let is
be allowed to.
Verb + infinitive without to
helpletmake
They made me do it. We let her stay.Adjective + infinitive
The infinitive form is used after adjectives.
Are you happy to see me? You'll be disappointed to hear my news.3.2 Verb patterns with the gerund
The gerund or -ing form is used:
- After certain verbs: admit · deny · regret · suggest — He admitted stealing the money.
- After prepositions, prepositional verbs, and phrasal verbs: After leaving school, he joined the army. She apologized for arriving late.
📌 Note
The preposition
to (not as part of the infinitive) can cause problems. This is because
to +
-ing seems a strange combination:
I'm looking forward to seeing you. I'm not used to driving on the left.3.3 Verb + that + clause
In some (not all) of the above examples, a that clause can be used after the main verb in place of a gerund or infinitive. There is no change in meaning. That itself can be omitted.
She admitted (that) she had made a mistake.He promised (that) he would do it.📌 Note
Suggest has special problems. These constructions are also possible:
They suggested (that) we have a long break. They suggested (that) we had a long break.*He wanted that I do it is a common mistake.
3.4 Verb + infinitive or gerund with little or no change of meaning
The verbs begin, continue, and start can take either the infinitive or gerund and mean the same.
| began | continued | started | to rain / raining |
|---|
| It | began | continued | started | to rain / raining |
Many verbs that express feelings and attitudes (like, love, prefer, can't stand, etc.) can be followed by either the infinitive or gerund, and the distinction in meaning is small.
I like travelling by train. (general truth)I like to travel by train when I go to my grandmother's. (a little more particular)📌 Note
Like + gerund can mean
enjoy.
Like + infinitive can express what you think is the right thing to do.
The infinitive is always used with
would like/prefer, etc.:
I'd like to travel by train when I next visit her. (one particular occasion)