Non-Modal Verbs — Two Verbs Together

Form

When one verb follows another, the first verb decides the form of the second.

Some verbs take a to-infinitive (decide, promise, refuse, manage, seem: She refused to sign), others take the -ing form (enjoy, avoid, mind, admit, postpone: He admitted taking it), and a group of them put a person in between (tell, ask, want, encourage, warn: They told us to wait). After a preposition the -ing form is the only option, and that includes the to in be used to and look forward to (I'm looking forward to seeing you). A modal is the exception: it takes the bare base verb, with no to and no -ing.

When to Use It

1. 1

   A decision or a promise takes a to-infinitive

   We decided to postpone the launch.

2. 2

   Enjoy and mind take the -ing form

   I don't mind working late.

3. 3

   Asking or telling somebody to act, where the person comes first

   The manager asked us to meet the deadline.

4. 4

   Either form is fine after like and start

   It started to rain or It started raining.

5. 5

   Remember and forget change meaning with each form

   I remember locking the door for a memory and Remember to lock the door for a task.

6. 6

   The -ing form follows a preposition and phrases like it's worth

   It's worth checking the invoice.

Common Mistakes

• The base verb on its own: write I enjoy swimming or I want to swim, not I enjoy swim — the second verb needs to or -ing.
• To after enjoy, avoid or mind: write Avoid parking here, not Avoid to park here — these verbs only take -ing.
• The -ing form after want, decide or hope: write She hopes to find a job, not She hopes finding a job — these verbs only take the infinitive.
• Recommend with a person after it: write I recommend reading the report or I advise them to read it, not I recommend them to read it — recommend takes -ing or a that-clause.
• Be used to with a base verb: write He is used to working nights, not He is used to work nights — be used to means accustomed, and its to is a preposition.