23.                                 Verb + Preposition. Patterns

When we use a preposition, we can follow it with the gerund:

{­verb phrase} + {­preposition} + {­gerund}

• He coughed before beginning to speak.
• They succeeded in breaking the door down.

With most prepositions this is no problem. However, when we use the preposition to, students often confuse it with the to + infinitive structure.

• I object to work.
• I object to work at night.

In the first example, work is a noun and to a preposition; in the second example, work is a verb.

If you do not know whether to is with the infinitive or gerund, try putting a noun after it:

• I object to bananas.

This is acceptable so to is a preposition and must be followed by the gerund.

• I object to working at night.

In the following case, to is not a preposition so we do not follow it with the gerund:

• I expect to...
• I expect to bananas.
• I expect to eat bananas for breakfast.

We use different patterns when we join two verbs. These are some of the more common patterns:

1) {­verb + {­to} + {­infinitive}

• I managed to leave.
• If you happen to see them, say hello' for me.

Verbs include: afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, be, bear, beg, begin, care, choose, consent, dare, decide, determine, expect, fail, forget, happen, hate, have, help, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, like, love, manage, mean, need, neglect, offer, ought, plan, prefer, prepare, pretend, promise, propose, refuse, regret, remember, seem, start, swear, threaten, trouble, try, used, want, wish.

2) {­verb} + [object] + {­to} + {­infinitive}

• I would advise you to go.
• I want you to leave.

Verbs include: advise, allow, ask, bear, beg, cause, command, compel, encourage, expect, forbid, force, get, hate, help, instruct, intend, invite, leave, like, mean, need, oblige, order, permit, persuade, prefer, press, promise, recommend, request, remind, teach, tell, tempt, trouble, want, warn, wish.

3) {­verb} + [object] + {­infinitive}

• I could feel him watch me.
• I made them go.

In the passive, we use the to + infinitive pattern:

• He was made to feel unwelcome.
• They were seen to enter the building after dark.

In this group we include most (but not all) of the modal auxiliary verbs and verbs of senses. Verbs include: could, feel, hear, help, let, make, may, might, must, notice, see, shall, should, watch, will, would.

 4) {­verb} + {­gerund}

• I considered retiring.
• I enjoy running first thing in the morning.

  Verbs include: admit, advise, appreciate, avoid, can't help, can't stand, consider, contemplate, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, go on, imagine, involve, keep, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, prefer, put off, resent, resist, risk, stop, suggest, understand.

5) Some verbs can take either the gerund or the infinitive. There is very little difference between these two:

I like skiing.

I like to ski.

In general, the gerund refers to a general activity while the infinitive refers to a specific case.

There are some important exceptions though:

Remember to visit my mother.

Remember visiting my mother.

In this case, the gerund refers to what happened before the main verb and the infinitive what happened after the main verb.

Remember visiting my mother = you visited her in the past and now I am asking you to remember it.

Remember to visit my mother = you must remember now that you will visit my mother in a while.

Verbs in this category include: advise, allow, attempt, begin, can't bear, continue, forbid, forget, go on, hate, hear, intend, like, love, permit, prefer, propose, regret, remember, see, start, stop, try, watch.