After some verbs:
1. Infinitive only: want, need, …
2. Gerund only: admit, deny, …
3. Both with no change in meaning: like, love, start, begin, prefer, …
4. Both but with change in meaning: try, stop, remember, forget
5. Simple form of verb: let, help (in American), make (meaning force sb to do sth)
Verbs commonly followed by a gerund:
admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, be worth, can’t help, celebrate, confess, consider, defend, delay,
detest, discontinue, discuss, dislike, dispute, dread, endure, enjoy, escape, evade, explain, fancy, fear,
feel like, feign, finish, forgive, give up (stop), keep , keep on, mention, mind (object to), miss,
necessitate, omit, permit, picture, postpone, practice, prevent, put off, recall, recollect, recommend,
report, resent, resist, resume, risk, shirk, shun, suggest, support, tolerate, understand, urge, warrant.
Verbs commonly followed by an infinitive:
agree, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, can/can’t wait, care, chance, choose, claim, come, consent, dare,
decide, demand, deserve, determine, elect, endeavor, expect, fail, get, grow (up), guarantee, hesitate,
hope, hurry, incline, learn, manage, mean, need, neglect, offer, pay, plan, prepare, pretend, profess,
promise, prove, refuse, remain, request, resolve, say, seek, seem, shudder, strive, struggle, swear, tend,
threaten, turn out, venture, volunteer, wait, want, wish, would like.
Verbs followed by both infinitive and gerund with no change in meaning:
Begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, propose, start
Verbs followed by both infinitive and gerund with some change in meaning:
I tried to catch him, but I couldn’t. This means I made and attempt.
If you can’t go to sleep, try taking a shower. This means test it to see if it works.
I forgot to do something. It means I didn’t do it.
I forgot doing something. It means I did it but I forgot that I did it.
When you go out remember to lock the door. It means to do it in future.
Do you remember going on a picnic last years? It means remember something in the past.
I was cleaning the house; then, I stopped to drink coffee.
I stopped drinking coffee and I answered the phone.
