verbs + infinitive | gerund

[topspin330]

how do you tell whether to use an infinitive or a gerund after a verb.

for ex: afford mostly requires an infinitive after itself whereas anticipate requires a gerund. is there any pattern here?

thanks

[Jim@Grockit]

how do you tell whether to use an infinitive or a gerund after a verb.

for ex: afford mostly requires an infinitive after itself whereas anticipate requires a gerund. is there any pattern here?

thanks

I think I would have had a hard time coming up with a verb that requires a gerund (so, thanks! I'll save that one in my head). The infinitive is much, much, much more common.