Some verbs can only be followed by a gerund (ing words)[1]

Admit	Escape	Put off	Tolerate
Appreciate	Finish	Quit
Avoid	Imagine	Recall
Deny	Miss	Resist
Discuss	Postpone	Risk
Enjoy	Practice	Suggest

 

Explanation:
It is fine to say…He can resist eating.
It is wrong to say…He can resist to eat
It is fine to say…I enjoy swimming.
It is wrong to say…I enjoy to swim

 

Some verbs can only be followed by an infinitive (to..words)

Agree	Have	Plan	Wish
Ask	Hope	Pretend
Beg	Manage	Promise
Claim	Mean	Refuse
Decide	Need	Wait
Expect	Offer	Want

 

Explanation:
It is fine to say…I expect to win.
It is wrong to say….I expect winning.
It is fine to say…Sam needs to exercise.
It is wrong to say…Same needs exercising.

 

 

 

Plu-Perfect/Subjunctive Case

These sentences are all grammatically correct:
Had I known my student was sick, I would have canceled the session.
If it were I nice day, I would go outside.
We would go to the city if we were able to get a ride.
If Alan had saved money, he would have traveled to Mexico.
If Bob were better at math, he would have become an Economist.

Explanation:
This form is for events that did not happen…Bob is not good at math and is not an economist….Alan didn’t save enough money and did not travel to Mexico.
In this form, always use “were” not “was” with I.
It is correct to say…If I were a better athlete, I would run a marathon.
It is wrong to say…If I was a better athlete, I would run a marathon.

In this form, do not use would have twice.
It is correct to say…If I were smarter, I would have bought an iPhone two years ago.
It is wrong to say…If I would have been smarter, I would have bought an iPhone two years ago.

 

 

Example from an SAT test

If an alternative method would have been mentioned before we began the experiment, we would have been able to use that method and save money.
Where is the error???
Correct version: If an alternative method had been mentioned before we began the experiment, we would have been able to use that method and save money.

[1] Source: A Writer’s Reference Fourth Edition by Diane Hacker (186,227-229)

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