The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with no difference in meaning

TO-infinitive or gerund: BEGIN, START, CONTINUE, CEASE, DREAD, INTEND, LOVE

These verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund with almost no difference in meaning:

I

began to learn

languages when I was ten.

He

began using

this software three years ago.

I

started wondering

what would happen if I lost my job.

After a while, I

started to wonder

why she'd said that.

Kate

continued wearing

her wedding ring after her husband's death.

You

continue to surprise

me!

Two days later, the screen

ceased to function

.

They

ceased fighting

when the commander was killed.

I

dread to think

what could have happened.

(used exclusively in the expression

I dread to think/imagine

when we don't want to think about something distressing or unpleasant)

I

dread asking

you this question, but...

(I'm afraid to ask you this question, but...)

The list of things he

intended to do

was getting longer and longer.

We

intend contacting

the company before taking any action.

I

love dancing

.

I

love to dance

.

Quotes:

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it. - Confucius

TO-infinitive or gerund: ADVISE, RECOMMEND, ALLOW, PERMIT, FORBID, REQUIRE

These verbs can be followed by either (a) a gerund or (b) a noun phrase or pronoun + to-infinitive, with almost no difference in meaning. Passive infinitives are also common:

The help desk

advised checking

the "Advanced Settings" option.

The help desk

advised me to check

the "Advanced Settings" option. (I was advised to check the "Advanced Settings" option.)

The plumber

recommended buying

a new water heater.

The plumber

recommended me to buy

a new water heater. (I was recommended to buy a new water heater.)

(the

to

-infinitive after

recommend

is less common in everyday contexts)

In many countries, they don't

allow smoking

in public places. (In many countries smoking is not allowed in public places.)

In many countries, they don't

allow people to smoke

in public places. (In many countries people aren't allowed to smoke in public places.)

The rules do not

permit keeping

pets on the premises. (Keeping pets is not permitted on the premises.)

The rules do not

permit tenants to keep

pets on the premises. (Tenants are not permitted to keep pets on the premises.)

The authorities

forbade entering

the park because of a bush fire.

The authorities

forbade everyone to enter

the park because of a bush fire. (It was forbidden to enter the park because of a bush fire.)

The project

required working

closely with other schools.

The project

required us to work

closely with other schools. (We were required to work closely with other schools.)