Verb

to-infinitive

or

-ing?

Some verbs are followed by a to-infinitive but not -ing: agree, aim, ask, decline, demand, fail, hesitate, hope, hurry, manage, offer, plan, prepare, refuse, want, wish.

Some verbs are followed by -ing but not a to-infinitive: admit, avoid, consider, delay, deny, detest, dread, envisage, feel like, finish, imagine, miss, recall, resent, risk, suggest.

The verbs begin, cease, start, and continue can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing form with little difference in meaning: Even though it was raining, they continued to play / playing. However, with these verbs we normally avoid using two -ing forms together, as a repeated pattern can sound awkward: I'm starting to learn Swahili. (rather than I'm starting learning Swahili.) The verbs advise and encourage are followed by -ing when there is no object and to-infinitive when there is one. Compare: I'd advise taking more exercise. and I'd advise you to take more exercise.

Other verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing form, but there can be a difference in meaning. These include come, go on, mean, regret, remember, stop, try. + to-infinitive come to talk about a gradual change After some years, they came to accept her as an equal. to mean that something is done after something else is finished After the interval, Pavarotti went on to sing an aria from Tosca. to say that we intend(ed) to do something I meant to phone you last week. to say that we are about to do something we are not happy about I regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful. to mean that remembering comes before the action described Remember to take your hat when you go out. (first remember, and then take it) to say why we stop doing something She stopped to make a cup of tea. to say that we attempt to do something I tried to get the table through the door, but it was too big. + -ing to say that someone moves in the way that is described He came hurrying up the path. to say that someone moves in the way that is described Although she asked him to stop, he went on tapping his pen on the table. to say that something has something else as a result If we want to get there by 7.00, that means getting up before 5.00. to say we have already done something that we are not happy about It's too late now, but I'll always regret asking John to do the work. to mean the action comes before remembering n I remember going to the bank, but nothing after that. (I remember that I went there) to say what it is that we stop doing They stopped laughing when Malcolm walked into the room. to say we test something to see if it improves a situation I tried taking some aspirin, but the pain didn't go away.

go on

mean

regret

remember

stop

try

Verb + to-infinitive or bare infinitive? =

Verb + -ing =

UNIT

EXERCISES
3 . Complete these sentences with either a to-infinitive or an -ing form. Choose an appropriate verb. 81 Sometimes more than one verb is possible. (B)
admire say 1 a b d buv buy smoke check spend enioy introduce ) tear tell talk

3 8

live notify turn down

put

race

Although it was hard at first, she came ....*?.... working for the airline. As I walked through the gate, the dog came towards me. After working with her for so long, I came her patience and efficiency. Yesterday, Tom was so late he came downstairs, grabbed a cup of coffee and left.

a The children were shouting and screaming, but he went on to Frank. b We've tried to persuade her to stop, but she just goes on Dr Harris welcomed the members of the committee and went on the subject of the meeting, d Then, in her letter, she goes on that most of her family have been ill. 3 a b d I regret you that the model you want is out of stock. We regret you that your request for a tax refund has been rejected. Almost as soon as I had posted the letter, I regretted the job. It cost me a fortune, but I don't regret a year travelling around the world. in the

4 a Bill was very young when they left, and he could no longer remember house. b Did you remember a newspaper on the way home? Remember your answers before handing in your exam paper. d I remember the money in the top drawer, but it's not there now. 38.2

Complete these sentences in any appropriate way using either the to-infinitive or the -ing form of the verb in brackets. If both forms are possible, give them both. (A & B) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Passing the kitchen, he stopped to drink a. Large glass of water. When the car broke down, she started... Here's the money I owe you. I meant... To lose weight, I'd advise you... I found that my back stopped... when... To help me get to sleep, I tried... The orchestra was just beginning... Please don't hesitate... When he found that he couldn't walk, he began... The handle came off when I tried... You could see the doctor today but as you haven't got an appointment it would mean... (drink) (push) (give) (cut out) (ache) (think) (play) (call) (shout) (lift) (wait)

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Verb

-ing

Some verbs must have an object before an -ing form: The police found the man climbing the wall. She overheard them talking about the closure of the factory. Other verbs like this include catch, discover, feel, hear, leave, notice, observe, see, spot, watch

Notice, however, that this is not the case when these verbs are in the passive: The man was found climbing the wall. D Some verbs can have an object or no object before an -ing form: They can't stand (him) driving his old car. I remember (you) buying that jumper. Other verbs like this include detest, dislike, dread, envisage, hate, imagine, like, love, mind (in questions and negatives), miss, recall, regret, resent, risk, start, stop

; #*

^Some verbs can't have an object before an -ing form: Despite his injury he continued playing. I actually enjoy cleaning shoes. It's relaxing! Other verbs like this include admit, advise, consider, delay, deny, deserve, escape, face, finish, forget, propose, put off, suggest

Some of the verbs in and (admit, deny, forget, recall, regret, remember) can be followed by having + past participle instead of the -ing form, with little difference in meaning: He remembered having arrived at the party, but not leaving, (or He remembered arriving...) I now regret having bought the car. (or I now regret buying...) These pairs of sentences have the same meaning: I resented Tom winning the prize. and I resented Tom's winning the prize. Mary recalled him borrowing the book, and Mary recalled his borrowing the book. Other verbs that can be followed by an object with a possessive and then an -ing form include verbs of '(dis)liking' such as detest, disapprove of, dislike, hate, like, love, object to, and verbs of 'thinking' such as envisage, forget, imagine, remember, think of. Notice that we can only use a possessive form (Tom's, his) like this to talk about a person or a group of people: I remembered the horse winning the race, (but not ...the horse's winning...) The possessive form in this pattern is usually considered to be rather formal. A few verbs (feel, hear, notice, observe, overhear, see, watch) can be followed either by an -ing form or a bare infinitive, but the meaning may be slightly different: an -ing form suggests that the action is repeated or happens eover a period of time. # Did you hear those dogs barking most of the night? suggests that we watch, etc. some of the action, but not from start to finish I was able to watch them building the new car park from my office window. Verb + bare infinitive; Verb + to-infinitive or -ing? = a bare infinitive suggests that the action happens only once I noticed him throw a sweet wrapper on the floor, so I asked him to pick it up. suggests that we watch, hear, etc. the whole action from its start to its finish I watched him climb through the window, and then I called the police. Possessives =

EXERCISES ,1 Complete the sentences with one of these verbs and, if necessary, an appropriate object, as in 1. If it is possible to have an object or no object, include an object but write it in brackets, as in 2. (A, B&C) denied put off 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 39.2 found heard imagined missed remembered spotted watched

UNIT 3 9

Through the bedroom window, I ...*P9t*?4;..'!l?!d..?!***?!.. leaving the house. I J.?^?.&^..(\M1.. borrowing the book, but not returning it. The evidence seemed overwhelming, but Mason committing the murder. We can't buying a new car any longer. The one we've got now just doesn't start in the morning. We searched the house, and eventually reading a book in her bedroom. I calling my name, so I went outside to see who was there. I closed my eyes and lying on a deserted beach in the sunshine. As the sun set, we appearing in the sky. Mark was a good guitarist, and after he went home we playing in the garden in the evenings.

Bill Brown was arrested for stealing a car. Here are some of his answers to questions during his trial. Report what he said with the verbs given + an -ing form. (A-C) admit consider deny notice recall regret

"Yes, I was certainly in town around midnight...I saw two men looking into all the parked cars...now you mention it, I think I did hear a car being driven away...I didn't think about telling the police...I certainly didn't steal the car... I wish I hadn't gone out that night!" Example: He admitted being In town around midnight. Which of your sentences could be rewritten with having + past participle with little difference in meaning? (D) 39.3 If possible, rewrite these sentences using the possessive form of the object, as in 1. If it is not possible, write X. (E) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 39.4 I disapproved of him smoking in the house. I disapproved of his smoking... We discovered the children hiding the chocolates under their beds. The plan envisages Tony becoming Director next year. If the authorities catch anyone breaking the rules, the punishment is severe. I could imagine the car failing its annual inspection. We objected to the company building a petrol station in our road. It amuses me to think of him sitting at a desk in a suit and tie. My mother disapproved of the cat sleeping in my bedroom.

Consider which verb form is more likely and why. (F) 1 I heard the baby cry I crying for most of the night. 2 I felt the snake bite I biting me and saw it slither off into the bushes. 3 When you came out of the station, did you notice the children play I playing musical instruments across the street? 4 I noticed her quickly slip I slipping the necklace inside her coat and leave the shop.

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