Grammar LexFizz Team 9 min read
Part of the Grammar Series

Practise with our Grammar Quiz and Complete the Sentence. See also Gerunds and Infinitives and Modal Verbs Guide.

Key Takeaways
  • Some verbs are followed by the infinitive (want to do, decide to do).
  • Some verbs are followed by the -ing form (enjoy doing, avoid doing).
  • Some verbs take both, sometimes with a meaning change (remember, stop).
  • Some verbs take an object + infinitive (want someone to do).
  • The pattern depends on the first verb, so these are best learned in groups.

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One of the trickiest areas of English grammar is verb patterns — deciding whether a verb is followed by the infinitive (to do), the -ing form (doing), or something else. There is no single rule; the pattern depends on the first verb. This guide groups the most common verbs by their pattern and shows you the cases where both forms are possible, sometimes with a change in meaning.

Verb + Infinitive

Many verbs are followed by the full infinitive (to + base verb).

I want to go home.

They decided to leave early.

She hopes to pass the exam.

Common examples: want, decide, hope, agree, promise, refuse, plan, learn, manage, offer.

Verb + -ing

Other verbs are followed by the -ing form (the gerund).

I enjoy reading.

He avoided answering the question.

They finished working at six.

Common examples: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, consider, admit, deny, imagine, practise.

Verbs Taking Both Forms

Some verbs accept both the infinitive and the -ing form with little or no change in meaning, such as begin, start, continue and like.

It started to rain. / It started raining.

Meaning Changes

A few verbs take both forms but with a clear change in meaning. These are worth memorising carefully.

Meaning Changes

+ infinitive+ -ing
remember to lock (do it)remember locking (recall it)
stop to rest (pause in order to)stop resting (end the activity)
try to open (attempt)try opening (experiment)

Verb + Object + Infinitive

Some verbs take an object followed by the infinitive: want, tell, ask, advise, allow, encourage.

I want you to call me.

She told him to wait.

Tip: After make and let, use the bare infinitive (no to): make him go, let her stay.

Common Mistakes

A very common mistake is choosing the wrong form, such as enjoy to read instead of enjoy reading. Another is forgetting that some verbs change meaning between forms, as with remember and stop. A third is using to after make and let, which take the bare infinitive. Because there is no overarching rule, the best approach is to learn the verbs in groups and review them often.

A Quick Reference Table

Keeping a short reference of the main patterns, with one clear example each, makes it easy to check yourself while writing or speaking. Add new verbs to the right group as you meet them.

Pattern Summary

PatternExample
verb + infinitiveShe decided to stay.
verb + -ingHe enjoys cooking.
verb + object + infinitiveI asked her to help.
make / let + bare infinitiveThey let us go.
both forms, same meaningIt began to snow / snowing.

When you learn a new verb, the most useful information to record is not just its meaning but which pattern it takes. Writing avoid + -ing or refuse + to alongside the definition saves you from guessing later. Over time this turns the seemingly random patterns into a set of familiar groups, and choosing the right form becomes a matter of recognition rather than rule-checking.

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Related Articles

GRAMMAR Gerunds and Infinitives GRAMMAR Modal Verbs Guide GRAMMAR Stative Verbs Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What are verb patterns in English?
Verb patterns describe what kind of word follows a verb — for example, the infinitive (want to go), the -ing form (enjoy reading), or an object plus infinitive (tell him to wait). The correct pattern depends on the first verb and must usually be learned.
Which verbs are followed by the infinitive?
Common verbs followed by the full infinitive include want, decide, hope, agree, promise, refuse, plan, learn, manage and offer. For example, “They decided to leave early” or “She hopes to pass the exam.”
Which verbs are followed by the -ing form?
Common verbs followed by the -ing form (gerund) include enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, consider, admit, deny, imagine and practise. For example, “I enjoy reading” or “He avoided answering the question.”
Which verbs can take both the infinitive and -ing?
Verbs such as begin, start, continue and like accept both forms with little or no change in meaning. For example, “It started to rain” and “It started raining” are both correct and mean essentially the same thing.
Which verbs change meaning with the infinitive or -ing?
Verbs like remember, stop and try change meaning. “Remember to lock” means do it, while “remember locking” means recall it; “stop to rest” means pause in order to rest, while “stop resting” means end resting.
What does “remember to do” versus “remember doing” mean?
“Remember to do” means not to forget a future or required action, as in “Remember to lock the door.” “Remember doing” means to recall a past action, as in “I remember locking the door.” The form changes the meaning entirely.
What is a verb + object + infinitive pattern?
Some verbs take an object followed by the infinitive, such as want, tell, ask, advise, allow and encourage. For example, “I want you to call me” or “She told him to wait.” The object comes before the infinitive.
Why is there no “to” after make and let?
After make and let, English uses the bare infinitive without to, as in “make him go” and “let her stay.” This is a fixed feature of these verbs, so adding to after them is incorrect.
Why are verb patterns so difficult?
Verb patterns are difficult because there is no single rule that predicts which form follows a verb — it depends on the individual verb. Some verbs even change meaning between forms, so learners must memorise the patterns in groups rather than deriving them logically.
How can I learn English verb patterns?
Learn the verbs in groups according to their pattern, study the meaning-change verbs carefully, and practise them in full sentences. LexFizz’s Grammar Quiz and Complete the Sentence exercises offer free practice.