Part 1
In English grammar, there are different types of verbs. A transitive verb is a verb that needs an object to complete its meaning. For example, in the sentence She drank the tea, drank is a transitive verb because it requires the object the tea to make sense.
When a transitive verb is followed by another verb, the second verb has to be changed into a noun form. This change is called nominalization. This means changing the verb into a word that functions like a noun.
There are two ways to nominalize a verb. One is by using a to-infinitive, which is the form of a verb with to in front of it, such as to eat or to swim. The other is by using a gerund, which is a verb that ends in -ing, like eating or eating.
Read the following lists of selected verbs and remember which verbs fall into the to-infinitive or gerund categories.
| Verbs Followed by To-Infinitives |
Verbs Followed by Gerunds |
|---|---|
| agree, choose, decide, desire, determine, expect, fail, hope, learn, manage, mean, offer, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, resolve, seek, wish | admit, avoid, consider, deny, enjoy, escape, excuse, finish, give up, involve, mind, postpone, put off, stop |
Examples:
OK: The team agreed to submit the project report by the end of the week.
NG: The team agreed submitting the project report by the end of the week.
When agree is followed by another verb, the second verb should be nominalized with a to-infinitive, not a gerund.
OK: Due to the pandemic, they had to postpone hosting the annual charity gala.
NG: Due to the pandemic, they had to postpone to host the annual charity gala.
When postpone is followed by another verb, the second verb should be nominalized with a gerund, not a to-infinitive.
Part 2
The verbs appear, seem,, and turn out are followed by to-infinitives, not by gerunds. To-infinitives here function as complements in the sentences.
Examples:
OK: The results of the experiment appear to support the hypothesis we formulated.
NG: The results of the experiment appear supporting the hypothesis we formulated.
The verb appear should be followed by a to-inifinitive, not a gerund.
Part 3
Gerunds must be used when a verb follows a preposition and is nominalized. To-infinitives cannot be used in this case. A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between different words in a sentence, such as location, direction, or time such as in, at, on, and so forth. When a verb follows a preposition and needs to be changed into a noun form, this is usually done using a gerund.
Examples:
OK: I'm really interested in attending her seminar.
NG: I'm really interested in attend her seminar.
When the preposition in is followed by a verb, the verb should be nominalized with a gerund, not a to-infinitive.
Part 4
Remember that the following verbs are followed by 'object + to-infinitive', not by 'object + gerund'.
| Verbs Followed by 'Object + To-Infinitive' |
|---|
| advise, allow, ask, desire, enable, expect, invite, persuade, promise, recommend, remind, request, teach, tell, urge |
Examples:
OK: The mayor invited citizens to provide input at the town hall meeting.
NG: The mayor invited citizens providing input at the town hall meeting.
The verb invite is followed by 'object + to-infinitive', not 'object + gerund'.
Part 5
To-infinitives can also be used to form adverbial phrases. An adverbial phrase provides additional information about an action, often specifying its purpose, cause and so forth.
Examples:
OK: I signed up for a yoga class to improve my flexibility.
NG: I signed up for a yoga class improving my flexibility.
The verb improve begins the adverbial phrase that explains the purpose for joinging the yoga class, so it requires a to-infinitive.