某些動詞後可接不定詞為受詞也可以接動名詞做受詞。

此類動詞的後面使用不定詞或動名詞意思差別不大，然而，如前言所說明不定詞一般帶有「想做但未做」的概念。而動名詞作帶有「持續的狀態、事實、習慣」的概念，因此即使在兩者使用上文法正確的情況下仍會有些微的語意差異。例如:

• I like to sing. 我喜歡唱歌。(帶有一種之後打算要去唱歌的概念)

• I like sinning. 我喜歡唱歌。(單純的指喜歡"唱歌"這種活動)

但因為差異不大，因為多數文法教材都認為用任一種都可以，常見動詞有以下:

• begin / start
  It began to rain. = It began raining.
  The train started to leave the station. = The train started leaving the station.

• continue
  He continued to talk about his family. =He continued talking about his family.

• like
  I like going shopping. = I like to go shopping.

• love /hate
  I love playing baseball. = I like to play baseball.
  She hates doing the laundry. =She hates to do the laundry.

以下這幾個動詞搭配不定詞或動名詞會強化不定詞中「想做但未做」的概念；或動名詞中「持續的狀態、事實、習慣」的概念，因此會產生相當不同的語意，需要視實際表達需求選用適當的受詞。

1. forget

   • 後接不定詞，代表「忘記去做~」一件還沒做的事情。
     She forgot to turn off the air-conditioner before she went out. 她出門前忘了關冷氣。

   • 後接動名詞，代表「忘記做過~」一件已發生的事情。
     My mother forgot opening the window. 我媽媽忘記開過窗戶。

2. remember

   • 後接不定詞，代表「記得去做~」一件還沒做的事情。
     Did you remember to pick up the dry cleaning on your way home? 妳記得在回家路上要去領乾洗衣物嗎?

   • 後接動名詞，代表「記得做過~」某個動作。雖是如此，記得做過不代表該動作真的有發生。
     I remember putting my umbrella in my backpack, but I can't find it now. 我記得我把雨傘放在背包裡，但我現在找不到。

3. stop

   • 後接不定詞，代表「停，去做~」一件還沒做的事情。
     It's lunchtime. Let's stop to eat. 午餐時間到了，我們停下來去吃飯吧。

   • 後接動名詞，代表「停止~」手邊正在進行的事情。
     You need to stop talking. The manager is looking at us now. 你得停止說話了。經理正在看我們。

4. try

   • 後接不定詞，代表「努力、試圖去」達成一個目標。句中暗示目標尚未達成。
     I tried to fix the fridge myself. 我試著要自己修理冰箱。(但不成功)

   • 後接動名詞，代表「嘗試某個」手段、方法。
     You can try taking some medicine if you have a headache. 如果你頭痛的話可以試著吃一些藥。