Learn English – after which one of the verbs you use an ing verb form

verbs

UPDATED: I do really appreciate your explanations and taking time. Nevertheless, none of them isn't my answer. I, again, try to explain my specific question:

As I have already surfed the Internet and some dictionaries, I have realized the fact that, for instance the bold part, either ing form of a verb or an infinitive with to could appear after cannot. So, I am wondering the other same rules for italic parts.

cannot tolerate

cannot resist

cannot help

cannot bear and cannot stand both of them need either ing form or infinitive with to

cannot avoid

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Best Answer

The verb which follows a modal verb (can/could, may/might, must, shall/should, will/would) in a verb group is always a ‘bare’ infinitive—that is, an infinitive which is not ‘marked’ with to. (The presence of not or an adverb does not affect this rule.) Marked infinitives and partiples cannot occur in this position.

okShe cannot toleratebare infinitive his rudeness.
She cannot to toleratemarked infinitive his rudeness.
She cannot toleratingpresent participle his rudeness.
She cannot toleratedpast participle his rudeness.
marks a form as ungrammatical

However, modal verbs can combine with progressive, perfect and passive constructions. When that is the case, it is only the first auxiliary after the modal which is cast in the infinitive. Subsequent auxiliaries and the main or ‘lexical’ verb take the form required by the construction. (But none of these constructions takes a marked infinitive).

PROGRESSIVE: okShe cannot bebare infinitive toleratingpresent participle his rudeness.
PERFECT: okShe cannot havebare infinitive toleratedpast participle his rudeness.
PASSIVE: okHis rudeness cannot bebare infinitive toleratedpast participle by her.
PERFECT PASSIVE: okHis rudeness cannot havebare infinitive beenpast participle toleratedpast participle by her.

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