Gerunds and Infinitives

5.4.1. Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Table 33 Verbs Followed by Gerunds

admit	anticipate	appreciate	avoid
consider	defend	delay	deny
discontinue	discuss	dislike	enjoy
explain	fear	finish	go (expression)
imagine	keep	mention	miss
practice	recommend	suggest	understand

5.4.2. Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Table 34 Verbs Followed by Infinitives

agree	appear	arrange	ask
attempt	choose	decide	demand
deserve	expect	fail	get
hope	learn	need**	offer
pay	plan	pretend	seem
strive	struggle	tend	threaten
wait	want**	advise*	allow*
ask*	encourage*	expect*	force*
invite*	order*	remind*	tell*

* verb + noun/pronoun + infinitive

** verb + infinitive or verb + noun/pronoun +infinitive

1. Geraldo wants to transfer to a university.
2. His mother wants him to stay close to home.
3. Habib offered to buy me coffee.

5.4.3. Nouns Followed by Infinitives

Table 35 Nouns Followed by Infinitives

ability	advice	arrangement	attempt
chance	choice	decision	demand
dream	failure	goal	intention
motivation	need	offer	opportunity
permission	plan	promise	proposal
reminder	request	requirement	suggestion
tendency	way	willingness	wish

*Infinitives of purpose also follow nouns; however, there is a difference. Notice in the example I went to the store to buy the missing ingredients the infinitive to buy does not describe the store. In the example I am happy with his decision to take the day off to take is describing the decision.

5.4.4. Verbs Followed by Either a Gerund or Infinitive with No Significant Change in Meaning

Table 36 Verbs Followed by Either a Gerund or Infinitive with No Significant Change in Meaning

begin	continue	hate	like
love	prefer	propose	start

5.4.5. Verbs Followed by a Gerund or Infinitive with a Significant Change in Meaning

Table 37 Verbs Followed by a Gerund or Infinitive with a Significant Change in Meaning

forget	quit	regret	remember
stop	try

5.4.6. Verb Tense in Direct and Reported Speech

Table 38 Verb Tense in Direct and Reported Speech

Number	Direct Speech	Reported Speech	Change
1.	The student said, “I study hard.”	He said *that he studied hard.	simple present to simple past
2.	The student **says, “I study hard.”	He says *that he studies hard.	no verb tense change
3.	He said, “I am studying hard.”	He said *that he was studying hard.	present progressive to past progressive
4.	He said, “I will study hard.	He said *that he would study hard.	simple future will to would
5.	He said, “I am going to study hard.”	He said *that he was going to study hard.	future “be going to” to “was/were going to”
6.	He **says, “I am going to study hard.”	He says *that he is going to study hard.	no verb tense change
7.	He said, “I can study hard.”	He said *that he could study hard.	can to could
8.	He said, “I have studied hard.	He said *that he had studied hard.	present perfect to past perfect
9.	He **says, “I have studied hard.”	He says *that he has studied hard.	no verb tense change
10.	He said, “I studied hard.”	He said *that he had studied hard.	simple past to past perfect
11.	He told them, “Do your homework.”	He told them to do their homework.	imperative to infinitive
12.	He asked, “Do you want a job?”	He asked if I wanted a job.	yes or no question to if or whether or not (for alternatives)

*The word “that” is optional in the reported speech sentences. In fact, native speakers usually do not say the “that.” It is understood to be there by native speakers, however. Common verbs used for reporting words are as follows: say, tell, ask, inquire, respond, answer, reply, state, comment, report, complain, announce, explain, remark, note. In reported speech, these verbs are almost always used in the past tense.

**When the reporting verb (for example, say) is in the simple present, present perfect, or simple future, the reported speech does not change tense from the direct speech. When the reporting verb is in the present tense, this usually indicates immediate reporting, so the indirect speech is in the simple present.