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-ing forms after verbs: I enjoy travelling.

Verbs that can be followed by -ing forms​

After some verbs we can use an -ing form (gerund), but not normally an infinitive.

  • I enjoy travelling. (not I enjoy to travel.)
  • He’s finished repairing the car. (not He’s finished to repair …)
  • She’s given up smoking. (not … given up to smoke.)
  • The doctor suggested taking a long rest. (not The doctor suggested to take …)

Some common verbs that are normally followed by -ing forms:

  • admit
  • appreciate
  • avoid
  • burst out (crying/laughing)
  • consider
  • contemplate
  • delay
  • deny
  • detest
  • dislike
  • endure
  • enjoy
  • escape
  • excuse
  • face
  • fancy
  • feel like
  • finish
  • forgive
  • give up
  • (can’t) help
  • imagine
  • involve
  • keep (on)
  • leave off
  • mention
  • mind
  • miss
  • postpone
  • practise
  • put off
  • resent
  • resist
  • risk
  • (can’t) stand
  • suggest
  • understand

Some verbs can be followed by both -ing forms and infinitives (see here) below).

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to decide which structures are possible after a particular verb. It is best to check in a good dictionary.

Verb + object + -ing form: I dislike people telling me …​

Some of the verbs listed above, and some others, can be followed by object + -ing form.

  • I dislike people telling me what to think.
  • I can’t imagine him working in an office.
  • Nobody can stop him doing what he wants to.
  • He spends all his time gardening.
  • I caught the next-door children stealing my apples.
  • We found a dead mouse lying on the kitchen floor.

Stop (in an informal style) and prevent are often followed by object + from + -ing form.

  • Try to stop/prevent them (from) finding out.

Note that after many verbs we can use possessive + -ing form rather than object + -ing form, especially in a formal style. (see here) for details.)

-ing form with passive meaning: Your hair needs cutting.​

After deserve, need and require, the -ing form has a passive sense. This structure is more common in British than American English.

  • I don’t think his article deserves reading. (= … deserves to be read.)
  • Your hair needs cutting. (= … needs to be cut.)

In informal British English, want can also be used like this.

  • The car wants servicing. (= … needs to be serviced.)

-ing form or infinitive​

After some verbs, either an -ing form or an infinitive can be used. These include:

  • advise
  • allow
  • can’t bear
  • begin
  • continue
  • forbid
  • forget
  • go
  • go on
  • hate
  • hear
  • intend
  • like
  • love
  • permit
  • prefer
  • propose
  • regret
  • remember
  • see
  • start
  • stop
  • try
  • watch

In some cases there is a difference of meaning: (see here), (see here).