Mike likes dogs What does Mike like? Dogs. Dogs is the object of the sentence.
Mike speaks English What does Mike speak? English. English is the object of the sentence.
What's an Object? The object of a sentence is the noun ( in this case Dogs and English) or noun clause (a group of words that act together as a noun) that receive the action of a verb. More examples:
Mike likes eating What does Mike like? Eating is the object of the sentence
Mike wants to read What does Mike want? To read is the object of the sentence
In the previous sentences we used Eating and To save, that is a gerund and an infinitive, as the objects of a sentence. A gerund is a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun. It ends with -ing. Playing, Walking, Running, Cooking. An infinitive consists of the word to followed by a verb. It also works as a noun. To play, to walk, to run, to cook.
Both gerunds and infinitives functions as nouns and can be the object of a sentence. Check the examples:
Natalia likes pizza Pizza is a regular noun that functions as the object in this sentence
Natalia likes swimming
What does Natalia like? Here the gerund "swimming" is also a noun and the object of the sentence
Natalia likes to run
And here the infinitive "to run" is also a noun and the object
Group One (verb + gerund)
-Some verbs can only be followed by a gerund (such as: enjoy, don't mind, dislike, quit, suggest, avoid, can't stand, discuss, feel like). Examples:
My father dislikes going to El Paso
Your girlfriend enjoys watching movies
I don't mind waking up at 5am each day
The sentence "My father dislikes to go to El Paso" is incorrect. You must use a gerund after these verbs: admit, avoid, can't stand, discuss, don't mind, dislike, enjoy, feel like, give up, practice, quit, suggest, among others.
Group Two (verb + infinitive)
-Some verbs can only be followed by an infinitive (such as: agree, be sure, choose, decide, want, hope, learn, plan, wish, would like). Examples:
My mother hopes to save money
I want to go to Oaxaca
I learned to play the piano when I was a child
The sentence "My mother hopes saving money" is incorrect. You must use an infinitive after these specific verbs: agree, be sure, choose, decide, expect, hope, learn, plan, promise, want, wish, would like, among others.
Group Three (verb + gerund or infinitive)
-Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive (love, hate, like, prefer, start, continue, begin).
I hate waking up early I hate to wake up early
She loves dancing She loves to dance
Tom likes watching movies Tom likes to watch movies
-Note: Form the negative of a gerund or an infinitive with "not"
I hope not to be late
She likes not working on weekends
I'm sorry to say that there's no rule to know which verbs are followed by a gerund or an infinitive. You have to memorize their correct use with practice.
Please watch this video:
Now test yourself!
