Tips on Grammar and Usage - II ('-ing form' or 'to + infinitive’)

[A] Some verbs are always followed by the '-ing form'. For example 

1.	suggest	(I suggest consulting a good doctor.)
2.	enjoy	(I enjoy reading novels.),
3.	mind	(I don’t mind waiting here.),
4.	deny	(He denied having met her.)
5.	admit	(He admitted telling a lie.),
6.	fancy	(Do you fancy staying with him for a few days?),
7.	dislike	(I dislike being called a genius.),
8.	consider	(I am considering selling my old house.),
9.	avoid	(Please avoid talking to him about this.),
10.	recommend	(I strongly recommend buying this book.).

[B] Some verbs are always followed by the 'to+infinitive’. For example:

1.	want	(I want to buy a pen.)
2.	choose	(He chose to remain silent.)
3.	fail	(She failed to collect enough information.)
4.	hope	(She hopes to get success soon.)
5.	prepare	(I am prepared to do as you say..)
6.	decide	(I have decided to give up my bad habits.)
7.	plan	(I plan to complete my project within a week.)
8.	refuse	(I refuse to obey your orders.)
9.	promise	(He promised to help me.)
10.	expect	(I expect to meet her this evening.)

[C] Some verbs can be followed by either the 'ing-form' or the 'to+infinitive’, without
much difference in meaning. For example:

1.	like	(I like to play cricket OR I like playing cricket.)
2.	love	(I love to dance OR I love dancing.)
3.	continue	(He continued to talk OR He continued talking.)
4.	hate	(I hate to listen to the news OR I hate listening to the news.)
5.	start	(It started to rain heavily OR It started raining heavily.)
6.	begin	(He began to write OR He began writing.)

[D] Some verbs can be followed by either the 'ing-form' or the 'to+infinitive’, but with a
difference in meaning. For example:

1.  He stopped to talk. (i.e. He was going somewhere, he saw someone familiar and he stopped so that he can talk with that person.)
2.  He stopped talking. (i.e. He was talking, he saw someone or something and he stopped talking.)
3.  I remember to meet him. (i.e. I remember it now and so I will go and meet him.)
4.  I remember meeting him. (i.e. I met him in the past and now I remember it.)
5.  I regret to inform you that you have lost your job. (This pattern is used while giving some bad news.)
6.  I regret having lost my job. (i.e. I lost my job in the past and now I regret the loss.)


[E] The to-infinitive is used after would like, would prefer, would love etc.
For example:

1. I would like to buy a car.
2. My parents would prefer to travel by train.
3. Anyone here would love to help you.
4. She said that she would prefer to walk.
5. I would like to conclude by saying that the programme was really great.
6. My cousin would love to become pregnant again.



[F] Some groups of words are always followed by 'ing-form'. For example:

1.	look forward to	(I look forward to getting your quick reply.)
2.	can’t help	(I can’t help laughing when he speaks.)
3.	have difficulty	(Do you have difficulty getting up early in the morning?)
4.	have fun	(We had lots of fun playing on the beach.)
5.	spend one's time	(I generally spend my free time reading novels and stories.)
6.	feel like	(I don’t feel like eating anything today.)