Verbs as Complements

Verbs followed by InfinitiveVerbs followed by Gerund

Verbs + Prepositions followed by GerundAdjectives + Prepositions followed by Gerund

Nouns + Prepositions followed by GerundAdjectives followed by Infinitive

Pronouns before Gerund or Infinitive

Verbs followed by Infinitive

• John expects to begin studying law next semester.

• Mary learned to swim when she was very young.

• The soldiers are preparing to attack the village.

• The budget committee decided to postpone this meeting.

Agree hope tendAttempt intend wantClaim learn wishDecide needDemand offerDesire planExpect prepareFail refuseForget seemHesitate strive

Verbs followed by Gerund• John admitted stealing the

jewels.• We enjoyed seeing them again

after so many years.• Would you mind not smoking

in this office?• Michael was considering

buying a new car until the prices went up.

NOTE: These sentences are made negative by adding the negative particle NOT before the infinitive or gerund.• John decided not to buy the

car.• We regretted not going to the

party last night.

Admit postponeAppreciate practiceAvoid quitCan’t help recallConsider reportDelay resentDeny resistEnjoy resumeFinish riskMind suggestMiss

The Verbs can be followed by either Infinitive or Gerund

• He started to study after dinner.

He started studying after dinner.

• John hates to ride her bicycle to school.

John hates riding her bicycle to school.

Begin can’t stand continue dreadHate like love preferRegret start try

Verbs + Prepositions followed by Gerund

• John gave up smoking because of his doctor’s advice.

• Mary insisted on taking the bus instead of the plane.• We are not looking forward to going back to school.

• Fred confessed to stealing the jewels.

Approve of be better off count on depend onGive up insist on keep on put offRely on succeed in think about think ofWorry about look forward to object to confess to

Adjectives + Prepositions followed by Gerund

• Craig is fond of dancing.• We are interested in seeing this film.• Alvaro is intent on finishing school next year.• Mary is afraid of getting married now.

Accustomed to afraid of capable ofIntent on successful in fond ofInterested in tired of

Nouns + Prepositions followed by Gerund

• George has no excuse for dropping out of school.• There is no reason for leaving this early.

Any time a preposition is followed directly by a verb,

the verb will be in the gerund form.• After leaving the party, Ali drove home.• He should have stayed in New York instead of

moving to Maine.

Choice of excuse for intention of method forPossibility of reason for (method of)

Adjectives followed by Infinitive

• These students are not yet able to handle such difficult problems.

• These students are not yet capable of handling such difficult problems.

• Muhammad is eager to see his family.• It is dangerous to drive in this weather.• We are ready to leave now.

Anxious boring dangerous hard goodEager easy prepared ready strangePleased usual common difficult able

• Some verbs can be followed by either infinitive or gerund, but the meaning changes.

EX: Stop, remember, forget

• John stopped studying.

(John is not going to study anymore.)

• John stopped to study.

(John stopped doing something in order to study.)

Exercise: Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses in the following sentences.

1. The teacher decided (accepting/to accept) the paper.2. The appreciate (to have/having) this information.3. His father doesn’t approve of his (going/to go) to Europe.4. We found it very difficult (reaching/to reach) a decision.5. Donna is interested in (to open/opening) a bar.6. George has no attention of (to leave/leaving) the city now.7. We are eager (to return/returning) to school in the fall.8. You would be better off (to buy/buying) this car.9. She refused (to accept/accepting) the gift.10. Mary regrets (to be/being) the one to have to tell him.11. George pretended (to be/being) sick yesterday.12. She is looking forward to (return/returning) to her country.13. Gerald returned to his home after (to leave/leaving) the game.14. Carlos hopes (to finish/finishing) his thesis this year.15. There is no excuse for (to leave/leaving) the room in this

condition.

Pronouns before Gerund or Infinitive

• Joe asked Mary to call him when she woke up.• I urge you to consider your decision.• The teacher permitted them to turn their

assignments in late.

Allow ask beg convince expect instructInvite order permit persuade prepare Remind urge want promise

Subject + verb + complement form {pronoun/noun} + [to +verb]

• He regrets her leaving.• We are looking forward to their coming next

year.• We don’t approve of John’s buying this

house.• We object to their calling at this hour.• We understand your not being able to stay

together.• We resent the teacher’s not announcing the

test sooner.

Subject + verb + {possessive form of noun/possessive adjective} + Verb + ing

Exercise: choose the correct form of the pronoun in each of the following sentences.

1. Richard is expecting (us/our) to go to class tomorrow.2. You shouldn’t rely on (him/his) calling you in the

morning.3. They don’t approve of (us/our) leaving early.4. We understand (him/his) having to leave early.5. George asked (me/my) to call him last night.6. John resented (George/George’s) losing the paper.7. We object to (the defense attorney/the defense

attorney’s) calling the extra witness.8. We are expecting (Henry/Henry’s) to call us.9. They are looking forward to (us/our) visiting them.10. Sudan regrets (John/John’s) being in trouble.