Study · Academic grammarModule 09

Verb Patterns: Gerunds and Infinitives

Level B1–B2

Learning goals

  • In this module, you will practise choosing between a verb ending in -ing and an infinitive with to. You will learn common patterns after academic verbs and expressions, and notice how a change in pattern can sometimes change meaning.

Step 1 — Read and discover

Read the passage. Notice the bold verb patterns and the words that come before them.

How can cities encourage people to use public transport?

A research group set out to investigate why some residents avoid public transport. The team began by interviewing commuters in three neighbourhoods and continued to collect information through an online survey. Many participants admitted avoiding buses during busy periods because they expected long delays. Others preferred to travel by train when a station was nearby.

The researchers decided to compare travel times at different hours. They avoided asking leading questions and encouraged participants to describe their usual journeys in their own words. Several residents reported waiting a long time for connections, while others remembered being offered useful travel information by station staff. The team stopped to check a timetable when one route appeared to have changed; after that, they stopped checking every route individually and used the transport authority’s updated database instead.

The report recommends improving information at bus stops and proposes creating a simple journey-planning guide. However, the researchers caution against assuming that one solution will suit every neighbourhood. They plan to test the guide with a larger group before making a final recommendation. Their aim is to identify practical changes that can help residents feel more confident about using public transport.

Check your understanding

1. What did the research group want to find out?Try again

1. What did the research group want to find out?

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2. Why did the researchers avoid asking leading questions?Try again

2. Why did the researchers avoid asking leading questions?

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3. What will the researchers do before making a final recommendation?Try again

3. What will the researchers do before making a final recommendation?

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Step 2 — Understand the grammar

Study the grammar cards for common verb patterns, including verbs followed by -ing, verbs followed by to + infinitive, and verbs that can take either form with a change in meaning.

Grammar cards

avoid

verbB1–B2

To choose not to do something.

“Researchers avoid asking leading questions.”

  • avoid doing
  • avoid making
  • avoid using

Word family: avoid, avoidance

Follow with a gerund (-ing), not an infinitive.

admit

verbB1–B2

To acknowledge that something is true, often reluctantly.

“Participants admitted missing the first announcement.”

  • admit doing
  • admit making
  • admit forgetting

Word family: admission, admitted

Follow with a gerund when acknowledging an action.

recommend

verbB1–B2

To suggest that something is suitable or useful.

“The report recommends improving signs at bus stops.”

  • recommend doing
  • recommend that
  • highly recommend

Word family: recommendation, recommended

Use a gerund or a that-clause; do not normally use recommend to do.

consider

verbB1–B2

To think carefully about a possibility.

“The team considered introducing a new guide.”

  • consider doing
  • carefully consider
  • consider the possibility

Word family: consideration, considerable

Follow with a noun or gerund.

finish

verbB1–B2

To complete an activity.

“The team finished analysing the responses.”

  • finish doing
  • finish reading
  • finish writing

Word family: finished, finishing

Follow with a gerund, not an infinitive.

postpone

verbB1–B2

To arrange for something to happen later.

“The authors postponed releasing the report.”

  • postpone doing
  • postpone a meeting
  • postpone until

Word family: postponement, postponed

Follow with a noun or gerund.

suggest

verbB1–B2

To put forward an idea or possible action.

“The evidence suggests changing the survey design.”

  • suggest doing
  • suggest that
  • strongly suggest

Word family: suggestion, suggestive

Use a gerund or a that-clause, not suggest to do.

enjoy

verbB1–B2

To get pleasure or satisfaction from an activity.

“Participants enjoyed discussing the results.”

  • enjoy doing
  • enjoy reading
  • really enjoy

Word family: enjoyment, enjoyable

Follow with a gerund.

decide

verbB1–B2

To make a choice after considering options.

“The researchers decided to compare travel times.”

  • decide to do
  • decide whether
  • decide against

Word family: decision, decisive

Follow with to + infinitive when naming the chosen action.

aim

verbB1–B2

To have a particular purpose or goal.

“The study aims to identify causes of delay.”

  • aim to do
  • aim at
  • aim to improve

Word family: aim, aimed

Aim to + infinitive expresses a goal.

hope

verbB1–B2

To want something to happen and believe it is possible.

“The team hopes to recruit more participants.”

  • hope to do
  • hope for
  • hope that

Word family: hope, hopeful

Follow with to + infinitive for an intended action.

agree

verbB1–B2

To have the same opinion or give consent.

“The participants agreed to take part in a second interview.”

  • agree to do
  • agree with
  • agree on

Word family: agreement, agreeable

Agree to do something; agree with a person or view.

promise

verbB1–B2

To say that you will certainly do something.

“The team promised to publish the results later.”

  • promise to do
  • promise someone
  • keep a promise

Word family: promise, promising

Follow with to + infinitive when stating a commitment.

plan

verbB1–B2

To intend or arrange to do something.

“The council plans to test the system next year.”

  • plan to do
  • plan for
  • carefully plan

Word family: plan, planned

Follow with to + infinitive for a future intention.

encourage

verbB1–B2

To give someone support or confidence to do something.

“The survey encourages residents to describe their journeys.”

  • encourage someone to do
  • encourage participation
  • strongly encourage

Word family: encouragement, encouraging

Use object + to + infinitive: encourage people to respond.

persuade

verbB1–B2

To cause someone to agree to do something through reasoning or advice.

“The team persuaded the council to extend the trial.”

  • persuade someone to do
  • persuade someone that
  • persuade into

Word family: persuasion, persuasive

Use object + to + infinitive.

manage

verbB1–B2

To succeed in doing something, especially with difficulty.

“The researchers managed to contact most participants.”

  • manage to do
  • manage a project
  • successfully manage

Word family: management, manageable

Follow with to + infinitive.

fail

verbB1–B2

To be unsuccessful in doing something.

“The first survey failed to capture seasonal differences.”

  • fail to do
  • fail an exam
  • fail to identify

Word family: failure, failed

Follow with to + infinitive when describing an unsuccessful action.

stop

verbB1–B2

To cease an activity, or pause in order to do something else.

“They stopped checking each route; later, they stopped to check the timetable.”

  • stop doing
  • stop to do
  • stop someone from doing

Word family: stop, stopping

Stop doing means end an activity; stop to do means pause another activity for a purpose.

remember

verbB1–B2

To keep something in mind, or to recall a past action.

“Remember to check the figures before publishing the report.”

  • remember to do
  • remember doing
  • remember clearly

Word family: remembrance, memorable

Remember to do concerns a task still to be done; remember doing recalls a past experience.

Step 3 — Meaning in context

Choose the best answer, then check your choices.

1. The team decided _to compare_ travel times.Try again

1. The team decided _to compare_ travel times.

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2. Several participants admitted _avoiding_ buses at busy times.Try again

2. Several participants admitted _avoiding_ buses at busy times.

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3. The researchers stopped _to check_ the timetable.Try again

3. The researchers stopped _to check_ the timetable.

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4. They stopped _checking_ every route individually.Try again

4. They stopped _checking_ every route individually.

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5. The report recommends _improving_ information at bus stops.Try again

5. The report recommends _improving_ information at bus stops.

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Step 4 — Complete the sentences

Type the missing word or phrase. More than one answer may be accepted when it fits the sentence.

1.The team hopes (identify) the main causes of delay.Try again✓

2.Researchers should avoid (use) leading questions.Try again✓

3.The participants agreed (take) part in a follow-up interview.Try again✓

4.Several commuters reported (experience) long waits.Try again✓

5.The council is considering (introduce) a new travel guide.Try again✓

6.The study aims (provide) practical recommendations.Try again✓

7.Before (publish) the results, the team checked the figures.Try again✓

8.The researchers encouraged residents (describe) their journeys in detail.Try again✓

Step 5 — Choose the correct form

Choose the best correction or answer.

1. The researchers agreed … the survey again.Try again

1. The researchers agreed … the survey again.

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2. The report suggests … clearer signs at the station.Try again

2. The report suggests … clearer signs at the station.

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3. Participants were asked … their travel habits.Try again

3. Participants were asked … their travel habits.

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4. The team finished … the responses before lunch.Try again

4. The team finished … the responses before lunch.

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5. The council plans … the new system next year.Try again

5. The council plans … the new system next year.

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Step 6 — Match the sentence beginnings and endings

Match each beginning with the best ending.

1. The researchers postponedTry again

1. ✓

2. The council hopesTry again

2. ✓

3. The survey encourages participantsTry again

3. ✓

4. The team is interested inTry again

4. ✓

5. Before publishing the report, the authors consideredTry again

5. ✓

Step 7 — Quick review

Choose the best answer for each question.

1. Which verb is normally followed by an -ing form?Try again

1. Which verb is normally followed by an -ing form?

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2. Which sentence is correct?Try again

2. Which sentence is correct?

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3. Which sentence means that the researchers paused another activity in order to check the data?Try again

3. Which sentence means that the researchers paused another activity in order to check the data?

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4. Which sentence is correct?Try again

4. Which sentence is correct?

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5. Which sentence uses the infinitive correctly?Try again

5. Which sentence uses the infinitive correctly?

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