Infinitive clauses can have a range of syntactic roles which include direct objects (pp. 198-199).
Tag
tocls+vcomp is tagged on the main verb of the to complement clause.
Examples
I really want to fix this room up.
He upset you very much, and I hate to see that. (p. 199)
I believe Mary to be innocent. (Haegeman & Guéron, 1998, p. 126)
I promised John to buy a new bicycle. (Haegeman & Guéron, 1998, p. 35)
Discussions
An infinitive construction may express either the perfect aspect (e.g., She seems to have completed the project on time.) or the progressive aspect (e.g., He appears to be studying for his exams.).
verb + ing complement clause
Descriptions
Similar to the infinitive clauses, ing complement clauses can also act as a complement to the main verb.
This structure is commonly known as the gerund. Gerunds function as a hybrid category, possessing characteristics of both verbs and nouns (Haegeman & Guéron, 1998, p.481).
Tag
ingcls+vcomp is tagged on the main verb of the ing complement clause.
Examples
I like watching the traffic go by.
I started thinking about Christmas. (p. 200)
It’s as if the guy never stops thinking about the issue. (p.200)
I enjoy running in the morning.
He considers moving to a new city.
He avoids talking about his problems.
Discussions
Several of the controlling verbs related this tag are not transitive (e.g., come, go, stand, and sit). In such cases, the -ing clause does not function as a direct object but still acts as a complement to the verb and is therefore tagged as such.