Some operative verbs can take either a gerund or infinitive as direct object, but other verbs balk and won’t ever take an infinitive as direct object. For example, a sentence that has “continue” as operative verb can take either a gerund phrase or infinitive phrase as direct object (or as object of the preposition). In contrast, however, some operative verbs can only take a gerund or gerund phrase—never an infinitive or infinitive phrase—as direct object. Other than a good working knowledge of how gerunds and infinitives work in sentences, no such ground rule exists. We just have to play it by ear when we construct sentences using specific operative verbs.

Source: Manila Times June 10, 2020 19:52 UTC