Catenative Verbs

A main verb (i.e. lexical verb, not auxiliary or modal) that can be followed by another main verb is known as a catenative verb. In the following examples, the verbs want and like  are catenative:

• I want  to eat.
• I like eating.

The verb following a catenative verb can be in one of the following forms:

• infinitive  (eat, to eat)
• -ing (eating)
• past participle (eaten)

Options for simple catenative construction are shown in the table below:

verb + infinitive

bare infinitive
A very small number of catenative verbs may be followed by the bare infinitive, mostly:
hear (say/tell), help, let (go), make (do)

• I  hear say that she retired
• Could you help wash up, please?
• Don't  let go of my hand

to-infinitive
A large number of catenative verbs may be followed by the to-infinitive , including these common ones:
afford , agree, aim, appear to, apply, arrange, ask, beg, care, choose, claim, condescend , consent, contract, contrive, dare, decide, decline, demand, deserve, determine, endeavour , expect, fail, happen to, help, hesitate , hope, long, manage, mean, offer, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, resolve, seek, seem to, strive, struggle, swear, threaten, undertake, volunteer, want, wish
More verbs at: to-infinitive OR -ing

• We didn't agree to work late
• They  seem to like it
• I  want to play football

verb + -ing

A large number of catenative verbs may be followed by the -ing form, including these common ones:
be used to, (can) face, admit, advocate, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, can't help, can't stand, carry on, consider, contemplate, defer, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, entail, escape, fancy, favour, finish, get used to, give up, go, imagine, insist on, involve, justify, keep on, look forward to, mention, mind, necessitate, object to, postpone, practise, put off, report, resent, risk, save, stop, suggest, tolerate
More verbs at: to-infinitive OR -ing

• He  admitted cheating
• I can't go swimming with you
• Do they keep on asking for money?

verb + to-infinitive OR -ing

A few catenative verbs can be followed by the to-infinitive OR -ing , with/without a change in meaning.

With little or no change in meaning
can't bear, begin, bother, cease, continue, hate, intend, like, love, neglect, prefer, start

• Did you bother to report it? = Did you bother reporting it?
• I  love to swim in the sea = I love swimming in the sea
• It  started to rain = It started raining

With significant change in meaning
come, go on, need, regret, remember, propose, try

• She  came to understand the problem [gradual realisation] ≠ She came swimming in the sea [sporting activity]
• I  remembered to lock it  [I didn't forget to do it] ≠ I remember locking it  [I have a memory of doing it]
• I have tried to lose weight, but can't [attempted]  ≠ Did you try eating fruit  [experiment with]?

verb + past participle

One or two verbs can be followed by the past participle, in particular:

get

• Get lost!
• He  got paid
• It's hard to get started

sources : Original Link