Gerund or Infinitive as Object of Verb?

FORM * MEANING * FUNCTIONS

OBJECTS OF VERBS: gerund or infinitive * gerund only * infinitive only * other

QUIZ * practice

Gerunds and infinitives can both be used as subjects, subject complements, and direct objects of verbs. The
choice of whether to use a gerund or infinitive as a subject, subject complement, or object of some verbs is left
to the speaker/writer. This choice can indicate shades of meaning.

But the choice between which to use as a direct object is sometimes dictated by the verb, leaving no choice.
Which verbs can be followed by gerunds, which by infinitives, (and which by either) must be memorized. In
addition, some verbs require that an infinitive object have a different subject (agent) from that of the first verb,
for others no other agent is possible, and for some both are possible. Again, these must be memorized. The
general meanings associated with gerunds and infinitives can offer clues, but do not always predict which forms
are possible.

Remember, the question here concerns verbs which control gerunds and infinitives as their objects. Of course, both infinitives and
gerunds can follow an unlimited number of verbs for other reasons. For example, infinitives can also follow verbs to show purpose, in
reduced adjective or adverb clauses, or with other meanings. Gerunds with noun modifiers can be the objects of many different verbs.
And present participles, which may look like gerunds, are not controlled by preceding verbs. And remember that noun clauses can
also be used as objects of many of these same verbs

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OR GERUND OBJECTS,

with little or no difference in meaning:
____ studying.
____ to study.
can afford cease dread loathe prefer start
can't bear commence hate love propose undertake
begin continue like neglect (can't) stand
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 VERBS THAT CAN HAVE GERUND OBJECTS, BUT NOT INFINITIVES:
(usually actual events, often past)
_____ (his) studying
gerund subjects (agents) are usually possessive (his , etc.)
admit deny get through mention recollect stop
anticipate detest give up (not) mind recommend suggest
appreciate discuss go on miss report take up
avoid dislike can't help postpone resent tolerate
complete enjoy imagine practice resist understand
consider escape involve put off resume
defend excuse his keep (on) quit risk
delay finish would like (him) recall (can't) see

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OBJECTS, BUT NOT GERUNDS:

(often suggesting a potential or unreal event)
_______ to study
him = infinitive must have a subject (agent)
for him = infinitive must have a subject introduced by for
(him) or (for him) = subject (agent) of infinitive is optional
(none of the above = verb is followed directly by the infinitive)
agree command train him
fail long promise
aim him trust him
force him manage refuse
appear condescend volunteer
get (him) motivate him remind him
appoint him consent vow
happen need (him) resolve
arrange (for convince him wait (for him)
hesitate oblige him seem
him) dare (him) want (him)
hire him offer select him
authorize him decide warn him
help him order him send him
ask (him) demand wish (him)
hope pay him strive
beg (him) deserve yearn
instruct him persuade him struggle
(not) care desire
intend plan swear
cause him direct him
invite him prepare (him) tell him
challenge him enable him
lead him pretend tend
choose (him) endeavor
learn proceed threaten
claim expect (him)

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 VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OR GERUND OBJECTS,
but with a difference in meaning:
________ studying ________ to study.
actual: potential:
first it happens; then there is mental first there is mental activity about a possible future
activity) > event)
attempt do it, hoping for success make an effort, hoping to do it
forget do it, then have a mental lapse have a mental lapse, and therefore not do it
mean it exists, it has a significance have an intention to do it
regret do it, then feel bad feel bad, but then do it
remember do it, then be aware of it think about it, and then do it
try do it, hoping for success make an effort, hoping to do it

VERBS THAT CAN HAVE INFINITIVE OBJECTS WITH AGENTS, OR

GERUNDS :
_______ studying
___ him to study

advise encourage
permit require teach urge
allow forbid

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Gerunds and infinitives are forms of verbs that act like nouns.

Ali quit smoking in 1977. He just decided to quit one day.

A gerund is a verb + -ing. An infinitive is to + the verb.

In both the examples above, the gerund and the infinitive are the objects of the verbs in the
sentence. However, as noun substitutes, gerunds and infinitives can also be the subject of a
sentence.

Smoking is hard habit to give up. To quit takes a lot of will power.

This lesson will focus primarily on verbs that precede infinitives and gerunds when they are used as
objects in a sentence. Click here for a list of verbs that are followed by gerunds, verbs that are
followed by infinitives, and verbs that can be followed by either.

Some common verbs are always followed by a gerund:

Jeannie admitted taking the money from the desk.

The teacher considered calling the police.
Jeannie said she was so embarrassed that she felt like dying.
The teacher finally said she would recommend giving Jeannie a light punishment.

Some verbs are always followed by infinitives.

The president said he aimed to bring down taxes.

He asked Congress to pass a tax reduction bill.
The president's party consented to lower the taxes.
However, the opposition refused to cooperate.
The president promised to fight for lower taxes in the next term.

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

Edina's husband, Bob, began taking cooking lessons last month.

Soon he began to try out all his new creations on her.
Edina said she likes eating as much as Bob likes to cook.
She loves to sample his new recipes and she loves not cooking herself.
However, she told me she regrets eating so much rich food.
She's going to try eating less of his great food...and, she's going to try not to hurt Bob's feelings!
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