Gerund or Infinitive

Verb Complementation Patterns and Examples

• Verb + Gerund Constructions:

  • imagine (getting): Demonstrates the use of a gerund immediately following the verb imagine.

  • suggest (visiting): Demonstrates the use of a gerund following suggest.

  • enjoy (losing): Demonstrates the use of a gerund following enjoy.

  • keep (asking): Demonstrates the use of a gerund following keep.

  • hate (missing): Demonstrates the use of a gerund following the dual-pattern verb hate.

  • prefer (keeping): Demonstrates the use of a gerund following the dual-pattern verb prefer.

  • start (playing): Demonstrates the use of a gerund following the dual-pattern verb start.

• Verb + Infinitive Constructions:

  • decide (to meet): Demonstrates the use of a full infinitive following decide.

  • expect (to win): Demonstrates the use of a full infinitive following expect.

  • want (to get): Demonstrates the use of a full infinitive following want.

  • hate (to touch): Demonstrates the use of a full infinitive following the dual-pattern verb hate.

  • prefer (to keep): Demonstrates the use of a full infinitive following the dual-pattern verb prefer.

  • start (to show): Demonstrates the use of a full infinitive following the dual-pattern verb start.

Verbs That Exclusively Take the Gerund

• Comprehensive Inventory:

  • dislike: Takes only the gerund form.

  • enjoy: Takes only the gerund form (e.g., enjoy (losing)).

  • finish: Takes only the gerund form.

  • imagine: Takes only the gerund form (e.g., imagine (getting)).

  • keep: Takes only the gerund form (e.g., keep (asking)).

  • mind: Takes only the gerund form.

  • miss: Takes only the gerund form.

  • practice: Takes only the gerund form.

  • suggest: Takes only the gerund form (e.g., suggest (visiting)).

Verbs That Exclusively Take the Infinitive

• Comprehensive Inventory:

  • agree: Takes only the infinitive form.

  • decide: Takes only the infinitive form (e.g., decide (to meet)).

  • expect: Takes only the infinitive form (e.g., expect (to win)).

  • hope: Takes only the infinitive form.

  • offer: Takes only the infinitive form.

  • plan: Takes only the infinitive form.

  • want: Takes only the infinitive form (e.g., want (to get)).

Verbs That Can Take Either the Gerund or the Infinitive

• Dual-Category Inventory:

  • begin: May take either complement type.

  • hate: May take either complement type (e.g., hate (missing) or hate (to touch)).

  • like: May take either complement type.

  • love: May take either complement type.

  • prefer: May take either complement type (e.g., prefer (keeping) or prefer (to keep)).

  • start: May take either complement type (e.g., start (playing) or start (to show)).

Modal Exception Rule: The "Would" Construction

• Rule Application:

  • When verbs expressing preference or affection are preceded by the modal auxiliary would, the dual-category flexibility is suspended.

  • Mandatory Infinitive: Only the infinitive is permitted following:

  • would like

  • would love

  • would hate

  • would prefer