English---Infinitive

[edit] Verb patterns with the gerund
Verbs that are normally followed by a gerund include admit, adore, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider, contemplate, delay, deny, describe, detest, dislike, enjoy, escape, fancy, feel, finish, give up, hear, imagine, include, justify, keep (on), listen to, mention, mind, miss, notice, observe, perceive, postpone, practice, quit, recall, report, resent, resume, risk, see, sense, stop, suggest, tolerate, and watch.

Additionally, the prepositions "into" and "out of" can be followed by a gerund.

For example:

We postponed making any decision.
I simply adore reading what you write.
I detest going to the cinema.
We heard whispering.
His physician advised leaving home for a week.
They denied having avoided me. (= They denied that they had avoided me.)
He talked me into coming to the party.
They frightened her out of voicing her opinion.

[edit] Verbs followed by a gerund or a to-infinitive
With little change in meaning

begin, continue, start; hate, like, love, prefer

With would, the verbs hate, like, love, and prefer are usually followed by the to-infinitive.

For example:

I hate to work. or I hate working.
I love to sleep. or I love sleeping.
I would like to work there. (more usual than working)
In these examples, if the subject of the verb is not the subject of the second verb, the second verb must be a gerund (instead of an infinitive)

If I am watching sports on television, for example, I can react to the programs only as follows:

I hate boxing.
I love swimming.
With a change in meaning

dread and hate:

These two verbs are followed by a to-infinitive when talking hypothetically (usually when using to think), but by a gerund when talking about general dislikes.

I dread / hate to think what she will do.
I dread / hate seeing him.
forget and remember:

When these have meanings which are used to talk about the future from the given time, the to-infinitive is used, but when looking back in time, the gerund.

She forgot to tell me our plans. (She did not tell me, though she should have.)
She forgot telling me our plans. (She told me, but then forgot having done so.)
I remembered to go to work. (I remembered that I needed to go to work, and so I did.)
I remembered going to work. (I remembered the action of previously going to work.)
can't bear:

I can't bear to see you suffer like this. (You are suffering now.)
I can't bear being pushed round in crowds. (I never like that.)
go on:

After winning the semi-finals, he went on to play in the finals. (He completed the semi-finals, then later played in the finals.)
He went on giggling, not having noticed the teacher enter. (He continued doing so.)
mean:

I didn't mean to scare you off!
Her having got a new job in the city meant leaving behind her familiar surroundings.
advise, recommend and forbid:

These are followed by a to-infinitive when there is an object as well, but with a gerund otherwise.

The police advised us not to enter the building, for a murder had occurred. (us is the object)
The police advised against our entering the building.
regret:

We regret to inform you that you have failed your exam. (a polite or formal form of apology)
I very much regret saying what I said. (I wish I hadn't said that.)
consider, contemplate and recommend:

These verbs are followed by a to-infinitive only in the passive or with an object pronoun.

People consider her to be the best. – She is considered to be the best.
I'm considering sleeping over, if you don't mind.
try:

When a to-infinitive is used, it means the subject makes an effort at; attempt or endeavor to do something. If a gerund is used, it means the subject attempts to do something in testing to see what might happen.

Please try to remember to post my letter.
I have tried being stern, but to no avail.