VERBS TAKING THE TO –INFINITIVE OR THE –ING FORM

WITH AND WITHOUT A CHANGE IN MEANING

By Belén Sáez

Hernáez

Verbs taking the to-infinitive or the –ing form with a change in meaningSome verbs can be followed by the gerund or infinitive

(with to) with a change of meaning.

1) FORGET

Forget +to -infinitive= not remember

Forget + -ing form= you did something and won’t forget it.

Sorry, I forgot to buy something for dinner.

I’ll never forget seeing the Taj Mahal.

2) REMEMBER

Remember + to –infinitive= remember first then do sth

Remember + -ing form= do something and remember it.

Did you remember to post the letter?

I remember playing football as a child.

I remember supporting

Man United but now I support Barça.

I didn’t remember to check my email today!

3) GO ON

Go on + to –infinitive= then

Go on + -ing form= continue

She introduced herself and went on to talk about her new book.

He went on writing letters until 10.00h.

4) MEAN

Mean + to –infinitive = intend to

Mean + -ing form = involve

She means to win the this year’s competition.

He is determined to buy a ticket,even if it means paying a

lot of money

5) REGRET

Regret + to – infinitive = be sorry to (normally used in the

present simple and is followed by verbs such as say, tell,

inform)

Regret + -ing form =feel sorry about

I regret to inform you that you have failed the exam.

He regretted buying so many things in the sale.

6) TRY

Try + to –infinitive = atempt, to do one’s best

Try + -ing form = do sth as an experiment

He tries to find new species in the depths.

If you want to pass chemistry, try studying together

with some friends

7) STOP

Stop + to –infinitive = stop briefly to do something else

Stop + -ing form = finish, give up

He stopped to fill the tank with Petrol, then continued driving.

He stopped smoking because his doctor told him

he had high blood pressure.

8) BE SORRY

Be sorry + to –infinitive = apologise for a present action

Be sorry for + -ing form = apologise for an earlier action

I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but the lines are very busy today.

I’m sorry for getting you up so earlybut we had to be there on time!

9) LIKE

Like + to –infinitive = think that sth is good or right to do.

Like + -ing form = enjoy (general preference)

Would like + to –infinitive = want (specific)

I like to get up early in the morning and go jogging, it’s good for my health.

We would like to go to that New restaurant downtown.

Mary likes going clubbing every Friday

10) BE AFRAID

Be afraid + to –infinitive = unwilling to do sth.

Be afraid of + -ing form = afraid that what is described by the –ing form happen.

She doesn’t want to drive her father’scar. She’s afraid of crashing it.

He is afraid to touch the dogin case it bites him.

Verbs taking the to –infinitive or the –ing form

without a change in meaning.

1) Begin, start, continue, propose, bother, intendWe never have two –ing forms together.We continued to discuss/discussing the plans.Don’t bother to lay/ laying the table.It’s starting to get cold. (NOT, *It’s starting to getting cold)

2) Advise, allow, permit, recommend, encourageTake the to –infinitive when they are followed by an object or when they are in the passive form. They take the –ingform when they are not followed by an object. He advised us to book in advance. (object) We were advised to book in advance.(passive)We advise booking in advance. (no object)

3) Need / require/ want + -ing form

This construction often shows that it is necessary to repair

or improve sth. ‘Need’ can also be followed by a passive

infinitive.

The carpet needs hoovering.

The carpet needs to be hoovered.