There are a few verbs which appear in more than one combination: with the Gerund and the Infinitive. These particular verbs have different patterns assosiated with meanings.
| Verbs | Gerund | Infinitive |
| begin – íà÷èíàòü | a) The predicate indicates an activity or process (but the infinitive is also possible). She began crying (to cry). When did you begin learning (to learn) English? | a) The predicate denotes a state of mind or mental activity. I began to feel dizzy. He began to realize that he had made a mistake. b) The grammatical subject is lifeless. The barometer began to fall. ñ) The verb is used in a continuous form. It's beginning to freeze. |
| start– íà÷èíàòü, áðàòüñÿ çà ÷òî- ëèáî | It started raining. | It is starting to snow. |
| stop – îñòàíàâëè- âàòüñÿ, ïðåêðàùàòü | He stopped smoking on his doctor's advice. (= He doesn't smoke anymore) | He stopped to smoke. (= in order to smoke) |
| cease – ïðåêðàùàòü, ïðèîñòàíàâëèâàòü | The factory has ceased making bicycles. | The old German Empire ceased to exist in 1918. |
| continue – ïðîäîë- æàòü | How long will you continue working? | He continued to live with his parents after his marriage. |
| like (love) – íðàâèòüñÿ | I like cooking (= enjoy in general) | I like to cook my meals. (= find it good or right) |
| dread – ñòðàøèòüñÿ, áîÿòüñÿ, îïàñàòüñÿ | I dread having to visit the dentist. | I dread to think what may happen. |
| loathe – ÷óâñòâî- âàòü îòâðàùåíèå, íåíàâèäåòü | He loathes travelling by air. (in general) | I loathe to have to put up here, (in particular) |
| hate – íåíàâèäåòü, íå õîòåòü, èñïûòûâàòü íåëîâêîñòü | She hates getting to the theatre late. (= strong dislike) | I hate to trouble you. (= regret) |
| remember – ïîìíèòü, íàïîìèíà- íèå ("íå çàáóäü") | I remember posting your letter. (= have a memory of the act) | He remembered to post the letter. (= didn't forget to do it) |
| forget – çàáûâàòü | I forgot calling you the the day before. (about the past action) | Don't forget to call me tomorrow. (the action occurs at the same time or later) |
| regret – ñîæàëåòü | I regret saying (having said) that you were mistaken. (the action I earlier in time) | I regret to say that you were mistaken. (= I am sorry that I must now tell you ...) |
| try – ïûòàòüñÿ, ñòàðàòüñÿ | Try knocking at the back door if nobody hears you at the front door. (= do smth as an experiment) | Try to get here early. (= make an effort) |
| prefer – ïðåäïî÷èòàòü | I prefer walking to cycling. (in general) | I prefer to wait here. (in particular/now) |
| be afraid (of) – áîÿòüñÿ | I don’t like dogs. I’m always afraid of being bitten. (= there is a possibility that smth bad will happen) | He was afraid to tell his parents that he had broken the neighbour’s window. (= don’t want to do smth because it is dangerous or the result might be unpleasant). |
| You are afraid to do smth because you are afraid of smth happening as a result. I was afraid to stay in the sun because I was afraid of getting I burnt. |
Would like is followed by the Infinitive. Notice the difference in meaning between I like and I would like. I would like is a polite way of saying I want.
I like playing tennis. (= I enjoy it in general)
I would like to play tennis today. (= I want to play)
We can also use I would love/prefer/hate + Infinitive.
Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?
I’d love to be able to travel round the world.
There are some verbs which can be followed by the Gerund or “that-clause”
| Verb | Gerund | “that-clause” | |
| admit – ïðèçíàâàòü | He admitted having done wrong. | He admitted (that) he had made the same mistake again. | |
| Report – ñîîáùàòü | He reported having seen the escaped convict. | It is reported that the expedition has already come back. | |
| Deny– îòðèöàòü | He denied knowing anything about the plan. | I denied (that) the statement was true. | |
| Suggest – ïðåäëàãàòü | I suggest going home. | I suggested that he should see a specialist immediately. | |
| Acknowledge – äîïóñêàòü, ïðèçíàâàòü | Íå acknowledged having been frightened. | He refused to acknowledge that he had been defeated. | |
| anticipate, foresee – îæèäàòü, ïðåäâèäåòü | We didn't anticipate being treated like that. | The directors anticipated that demand would fall. |
| fancy – íðàâèòüñÿ, âîîáðàæàòü, ïðåäñòàâëÿòü ñåáå | She didn't fancy going out. (= like the idea) | I fancy thathe is in for a disappointment. (= get the idea) |
| imagine – âîîáðàæàòü | I can't imagine marrying a girl of that sort. (= form a picture in the mind) | Don't imagine that I can lend you money every time you need it. (= get the idea) |
With a number of verbs and word-groups both the Gerund and the Infinitive can be used. There is no change in meaning. They can also be followed by a "that-clause"
| love – ëþáèòü | She loves having/to have a lot of dogs and young men around her. |
| regret – ñîæàëåòü | I regret being unable to help you. He regretted to have said that. I regretted that I couldn't help. |
| intend– íàìåðåâàòüñÿ, ïëàíèðîâàòü | What do you intend doing/to do today? We intended that they should do it. (= have in mind as a plan) |
| forget – çàáûâàòü | I shall never forget hearing Chaliapin in that part. He has forgotten to pay me. Did you forget that I was coming? |
| propose – ïðåäëàãàòü | I propose starting early/to start early/that we should start early. |