The following list contains gerunds and infinitives which let you remember the use of them. A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. A gerund is used in the same ways as a noun , i.e., as a subject or as an object. An infinitive = to + the simple form of a verb.

List 1.  Some common verbs followed by a gerund.

           admit                           mind (negatives and questions)
           allow                           miss
           appreciate                   practice
           avoid                          postpone (put off)
           can't help                    quit (give up)
           can't stand                   remember (= recall)
           consider                      recent
           delay                           risk
           deny                            stop (= cease)
           discuss                        suggest
           dislike
           enjoy
           finish (get through)
           mention
           keep (keep on)

INCORRECT     I will never consider to leave this job.
    CORRECT     I will never consider leaving this job.

INCORRECT     Many people avoid to wear safety belts when they drive.
    CORRECT     Many people avoid wearing safety belts when they drive.

INCORRECT     A busy person can't stand to wait in line.
    CORRECT     A busy person can't stand waiting in line.

INCORRECT     Do you enjoy to be in the United States?
    CORRECT     Do you enjoy being in the United States?

INCORRECT     Students must practice to use different words.
    CORRECT     Students must practice using different words.

INCORRECT     John finished to iron his shirt a few minutes ago.
    CORRECT     John finished ironing his shirt a few minutes ago.

INCORRECT    Would you please stop to talk so loudly?
    CORRECT    Would you please stop talking so loudly?

INCORRECT     The speakers are discussing to go to a concert in the city.
    CORRECT     The speakers are discussing going to a concert in the city.

INCORRECT     You have to decide where you want to go to school next year. You can't postpone to make that decision much longer.
    CORRECT     You have to decide where you want to go to school net year. You can't postpone making that decision much longer.


List 2.  Some common verbs followed by an infinitive.
         
            agree                        need
          *attempt                     offer
            decide                     *plan
            demand                     prepare
            expect                       pretend
            happen                      promise
          *hesitate                      refuse
            hope                         remember (= not to forget)
          *intend                       seem
            learn                         want
            manage                     wish
            mean

INCORRECT     Do you hope getting your degree by next year?
    CORRECT     Do you hope to get your degree by next year?

INCORRECT     I hesitate saying what I mean.
    CORRECT     I hesitate to say what I mean.

INCORRECT     Birds have to learn using their wings.
    CORRECT     Birds have to learn to use their wings.

INCORRECT     Men of peace have attempted putting an end to war.
    CORRECT     Men of peace have attempted to put an end to war.

INCORRECT     Can that student demand seeing his grades?
    CORRECT     Can that student demand to see his grades?

INCORRECT     He surely expects paying all of his bills.
    CORRECT     He surely expects to pay all of his bills.

INCORRECT     My father is planning changing jobs shortly.
    CORRECT     My father is planning to change jobs shortly.

INCORRECT     Did the cook remember adding salt?
    CORRECT     Did the cook remember to add salt?

* These verbs may also be followed by gerunds

List 3.  Some common verbs followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with no change in meaning.
       
            begin                         prefer
            continue                     start
            hate                           can't stand
            like                            can't bear
            love

INCORRECT     Almost everyone loves have free time.
    CORRECT     Almost everyone loves having free time.
                                                     or
                           Almost everyone loves to have free time.

INCORRECT     The homesick child started think about his family.
    CORRECT     The homesick child started thinking about his family.
                                                     or
                           The homesick child started to think about his family.

INCORRECT     It should begin rain before midnight.
    CORRECT     It should begin raining before midnight.
                                                    or
                           It should begin to rain before midnight.

INCORRECT     After a brief interruption, the professor continue lecture.
    CORRECT     After a brief interruption, the professor continue lecturing.
                                                    or
                           After a brief interruption, the professor continue to lecture.

List 4.  Some common verb/preposition combinations followed by a gerund.

           approve of                                  look forward to
           argue about                                 insist on
           complain about                            keep on
           concentrate on                            object to
           depend on                                   plan on
           decide on                                    rely on
           feel like                                       succeed in
           forget about                                think about
           give up                                       worry about

INCORRECT    Don't worry about make a mistake.
    CORRECT    Don't worry about making a mistake.

INCORRECT    Did Paul object to pick you up?
    CORRECT    Did Paul object to picking you up?

INCORRECT     We're looking forward to visit our friends.
    CORRECT     We're looking forward to visiting our friends.

INCORRECT     I haven't succeeded in find a job yet.
    CORRECT     I haven't succeeded in finding a job yet.

INCORRECT    The Browns are planning on to buy more furniture.
    CORRECT    The Browns are planning on buying more furniture.

INCORRECT    Most teachers insist on to correct their students' mistakes.
    CORRECT    Most teachers insist on correcting their students' mistakes.

INCORRECT    He rarely complains about to have to get up early.
    CORRECT    He rarely complains about having to get up early.

INCORRECT    You must concentrate on to do your best.
    CORRECT     You must concentrate on doing your best.

List 5.  Some common adjectives followed by an infinitive.

           afraid                                lucky
           ashamed                           pleased
           considerate                       prepared
           disappointed                     proud
           eager                                qualified
           foolish                              ready
           fortunate                          sorry
           happy                              surprised

INCORRECT     I'm afraid drive alone at night.
    CORRECT     I'm afraid to drive alone at night.

INCORRECT     The actress seems eager going on stage.
    CORRECT     The actress seems eager to go on stage.

INCORRECT     Citizens ought to feel lucky be able to vote.
    CORRECT     Citizens ought to feel lucky to be able to vote.

INCORRECT     Were you disappointed not win the race?
    CORRECT     Were you disappointed not to win the race?

INCORRECT     The parents are proud having a healthy child.
    CORRECT     The parents are proud to have a healthy child.

INCORRECT     He was not at all surprised hearing the news.
    CORRECT     He was not at all surprised to hear the news.

INCORRECT     I'm looking for someone qualified type a thesis.
    CORRECT     I'm looking for someone qualified to type a thesis.

List 6.  Some common adjective/preposition combinations followed by a gerund.

            accustomed to                                       interested in
            afraid of                                                opposed to
            ashamed of                                           proud of
            bored with                                            responsible for
            capable of                                            sorry about
            disappointed in (with)                           successful in
            essential to                                           surprised at
            excited about                                       tired from (= physically tired)
            famous for                                           tired of (= mentally tired)
            fond of                                                used to
            hopeful of                                            worried about
            intent on

INCORRECT     Police soon get accustomed to arrest criminals.
    CORRECT     Police soon get accustomed to arresting criminals.

INCORRECT     Are you capable of complete the work within an hour?
    CORRECT     Are you capable of completing the work within an hour?

INCORRECT     Eli Whitney is famous for invent the cotton gin.
    CORRECT     Eli Whitney is famous for inventing the cotton gin.

INCORRECT     The driver was intent on to pass the other car.
    CORRECT     The driver was intent on passing the other car.

INCORRECT     The treasurer is responsible for to keep the books.
    CORRECT     The treasurer is responsible for keeping the books.


INCORRECT     Ornothologists are interested in to learn about birds.
    CORRECT     Ornothologists are interested in learning about birds.

INCORRECT     Jonas Salk was successful in find a vaccine against polio.
    CORRECT     Jonas Salk was successful in finding a vaccine against polio.

INCORRECT     No one is opposed to reduce taxes.
    CORRECT     No one is opposed to reducing taxes.

List 7.  Some common verbs followed by the short infinitive (the infinitive without to).

             let             make             have           help

INCORRECT     Would you let me to use your pencil?
    CORRECT     Would you let me use your pencil?

INCORRECT     The company made the customer to pay his bill.
    CORRECT     The company made the customer pay his bill.

INCORRECT     I had an electrician to repair the wiring.
    CORRECT     I had an electrician repair the wiring.

INCORRECT     My brother helped me washing my car.
    CORRECT     My brother helped me wash my car.

List 8.  Some common verbs followed by a past participle (passive meaning)

             have                get

INCORRECT     It wouldn't cost very much to have your old bike to repair.
    CORRECT     It wouldn't cost very much to have your old bike repaired.

INCORRECT     I got my watch to repair.
    CORRECT     I got my watch repaired (by someone).

List 9.  Some common verbs followed by a present participle or by a simple form or infinitive without to. (Although the present participle is an "-ing" form, it is not a true gerund. Therefore, it cannot have a possessive form before it.)
             see                          listen to
             watch                      look at
             notice                      observe
             hear                        overhear
             feel                          smell

INCORRECT     Have you ever seen a tiger's attacking a human being?
    CORRECT     Have you ever seen a tiger attacking a human being?
                                                          or
                           Have you ever seen a tiger attack a human being?

INCORRECT     Parents enjoy watching their children's playing.
    CORRECT     Parents enjoy watching their children playing.
                                                          or
                           Parents enjoy watching their children play.

INCORRECT     Did you notice the car's moving?
    CORRECT     Did you notice the car moving?
                                                  or
                           Did you notice the car move?

INCORRECT     I heard John's knocking at the door.
    CORRECT     I heard John knocking at the door.
                                                   or
                           I heard John knock at the door.

INCORRECT     I saw my friend to run down the street.
    CORRECT     I saw my friend running down the street.
                                                   or
                           I saw my friend run down the street.

INCORRECT    I heard the rain to fall on the roof.
    CORRECT    I heard the rain falling on the roof.
                                                  or
                          I heard the rain fall on the roof.

Additional notes on gerunds and infinitives:

(1)  The gerund is a noun. Therefore, it is logical to put a possessive form before it.


INCORRECT     Why do you dislike me cooking?
    CORRECT     Why do you dislike my cooking?

INCORRECT     I can't remember the teacher announcing a test.
    CORRECT     I can't remember the teacher's announcing a test.

INCORRECT    Will you forgive us leaving early?
    CORRECT    Will you forgive our leaving early?

INCORRECT     Paul winning the race surprised everyone.
    CORRECT     Paul's winning the race surprised everyone.

INCORRECT     The movie is not worth you paying four dollars to see.
    CORRECT     The movie is not worth your paying four dollars to see.

INCORRECT     I won't insist on him wearing formal clothes.
    CORRECT     I won't insist on his wearing formal clothes.

INCORRECT    The doctor has recommended my father having an operation.
    CORRECT    The doctor has recommended my father's having an operation.

INCORRECT    Every citizen casting a vote is important.
    CORRECT    Every citizen's casting a vote is important.

INCORRECT    The boss excused his secretary failing to come to work.
    CORRECT    The boss excused his secretary's failing to come to work.

(2)  With the verb need, the gerund or the passive infinitive is often used.

 INCORRECT     His hair needs cut.
     CORRECT     His hair needs cutting.
                                        or
                            His hair needs to be cut.

INCORRECT     Does the bed need to make?
    CORRECT     Does the bed need making?
                                        or
                           Does the bed need to be made?

INCORRECT     My pencil needed to sharpen.
    CORRECT     My pencil needed sharpening.
                                           or
                           My pencil needed to be sharpened.

INCORRECT     My house needs to paint.
    CORRECT     My house needs painting.
                                           or
                           My house needs to be painted.

In certain circumstances, a gerund may follow need. In this case, the gerund carries a passive meaning. Usually the situations involve fixing or improving something.  
Keep moving on!
  
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