Some verbs are followed by ing, e.g. I enjoy swimming. We can't say I enjoy to swim. Likewise, some verbs are followed by to, e.g. I decided to make a plan.
Which particular verbs are followed by ing and to? Can you please provide a list for that?
Moreover, which verbs can be followed by both without having the meaning changed?
You can find such a list, for instance, in the Penguin Handbook.
Note: as of December 2014, the above link does not work. There is a copy of The Brief Penguin Handbook here; the Verbs Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives section is here.
The only way to know is to memorize which verbs are followed by gerunds and which are followed by infinitives. The relevant categories are:
Most verbs are followed by infinitives. If the verb is not found in the list below, it is probably followed by an infinitive.
The verbs in the following table all need to be followed by gerunds.
The students don’t enjoy going over the same rules again and again.
I advise you to go to school early today.
*Some words can be used without an object as well as with an object.
I want him to go. I want to go.
Sometimes the meaning changes according to the verb used.
He doesn’t remember giving the homework to Mr. Young.
He didn’t remember to give the homework to Mr. Young.
Four verbs are called causative verbs. They are followed by an object; the verb after the object is always in the simple form:
I let him take my book home for one night.
I made my sister cry.
I helped him find the bookstore.
I had my teacher explain the answers.
Some verbs are called verbs of perception and are followed by either the simple form or the “-ing” form.
I see him going.
I notice him running to school every day.
I watch him struggling with his homework.
I hear him singing.
Others including: look at, observe, listen to, feel, smell.
Verb + infinitive/gerund is a chapter you find in any grammar of English. Unfortunately grammars only give lists and, of course, these lists can't be complete. If you are in doubt consult a larger dictionary. There you will get information whether a verb is followed by an infinitive or a gerund.
I think grammars should not only give lists, they should try to give an understanding of why a gerund is used and not an infinitive. Grammars are fixated on giving mechanical rules, but they should at least try to give an idea why things are this way.
Based on my research
Verbs following by both Gerund or Infinitives:
Verbs following by both Gerund or Infinitives (with different meanings):
Verbs following by both Gerund or Infinitives (with similar meanings):
Sorry if I caused to you all, just want to sharing my idea about my lesson research :)
Although I know a few verbs which must be followed by a gerundive, I have another technique which works very well. When I can say "the fact of", then I have a gerundive. For example: "I like (the fact of) dancING". Moreover all the verbs followed by a preposition (except "but / except") are followed by a gerundive too. Example: He is good at teachING. But you must be careful with "to" to differenciate between "to" as the mark of an infinitive (to work, to play, to write,....) which is not a preposition, so followed by a bare infinitive. And "to" which is a preposition (like at, by, for, etc) and which requires a gerundive. Hope this helps!
