Page 85 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

V e r b + t o - i n f i n i t i v e o r - i n g ?
or
-ing?
Verb
+
to-infinitive
by
but
not
-ing
are
followed
a
by
to-infinitive
verbs
Some
Some verbs are
Some verbs are followed by a to-infinitive Some verbs are followed by -ing but not a a
followed
but not -ing: agree, aim, ask, decline, to-infinitive: admit, avoid, consider, delay,
to-infinitive: admit, avoid, consider, delay,
but not -ing: agree, aim, ask, decline,
demand, fail, hesitate, hope, hurry, manage, deny, detest, dread, envisage, feel like, finish,
demand, fail, hesitate, hope, hurry, manage,
deny, detest, dread, envisage, feel like, finish,
offer, plan, prepare, refuse, want, wish. imagine, miss, recall, resent, risk, suggest.
imagine, miss, recall, resent, risk, suggest.
offer, plan, prepare, refuse, want, wish.
The verbs begin, cease, start, and continue can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing
The verbs begin, cease, start, and continue can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing
form with little difference in meaning:
form with little difference in meaning:
raining,
it
was
though
continued
play / playing.
to
they
• * Even though it was raining, they continued fo play / playing.
Even
as
with
two
forms
-ing
we
these
together,
normally
verbs
avoid
a
repeated
using
However,
However, with these verbs we normally avoid using two -ing forms together, as a repeated
pattern can sound awkward:
pattern can sound awkward:
Swahili.
(rather
Swahili.)
to
than
I'm
starting
learn
starting
learning
I'm
• ¢ 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
The verbs advise and encourage are followed by -ing when there is no object and to-infinitive
when there is one. Compare:
when there is one. Compare:
exercise.
taking more
I'd
take more
advise
advise you
exercise.
to
I'd
• ¢ I'd advise taking more exercise. and • ¢ I'd advise you to take more exercise.
and
В Other verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing form, but there can be a a
or
a
by
form,
an
followed
to-infinitive
can
verbs
can
but there
either
be
be
-ing
Other
difference in meaning. These include come, go on, mean, regret, remember, stop, try.
difference in meaning. These include come, go on, mean, regret, remember, stop, try.

to-infinitive
+ -ing
+ + to-infinitive + -ing

come to to talk about a gradual change to say that someone moves in the wayway that
about
change
gradual
a
talk
that
in
that
someone
moves
say
the
to
come
described
• + After some years, they came to accept is is described
After some years, they came fo accept
up
hurrying
path.
the
came
her as an equal. • * He came Aurrying up the path.
her as an equal.
He

after
mean that
on
something is done
that
someone
the
that
way
go
go on to mean that something is done after to say that someone moves in the way that
in
to
moves
to
say
described
finished
else
is
something
something else is finished is is described
interval,
went
Pavarotti
on
• * After the interval, Pavarotti went on • * Although she asked him to stop, he went
After the
Although she asked him to stop, he went
Tosca.
aria
an
sing
from
on tapping his pen on the table.
to to sing an aria from Tosca. on tapping his pen on the table.

mean to say that we intend(ed) to do to say that something has something else as
mean
to say that something has something else as
to say that we intend(ed) to do
result
something a a result
something
I meant fo phone you last week.
If we want to get there by 7.00, that
• * I meant to phone you last week. • * Ifwe want to get there by 7.00, that
means getting up before 5.00.
means getting up before 5.00.

something
about
do
to
are
regret to say that we are about to do something to say we have already done something
say that we
to say we have already done something
to
regret
are
about
happy
not
about
happy
not
are
we are not happy about that we are not happy about
we
that we
regret
you that your
to
inform
It's too late now, but I'll always regret
• * I I regret to inform you that your • * It's too late now, but I'll always regret
to
work.
the
do
been
unsuccessful.
has
application has been unsuccessful. asking John to do the work.
asking John
application
remember to mean it) that remembering comes before n • ITremember going to the bank, but
comes
mean the

before
action
remember
to mean the action comes before
to mean that remembering comes before
to
remembering
described
action
the action described
remembering
the
Verb + to-infinitive = stop table through the • О • say what go situation stop see doing
when
your
hat
I remember going to the bank, but
take
to
n-
Remember fo take your hat when
Remember
• *
(I remember that I
(first remember, and then
you go out.
you go out. (first remember, and then
• .
nothing after that.
nothing after that. (I remember that I
went there)
take
take it)
went there)
it
is
stop

that we
something
doing
say
why
we
to to say why we stop doing something
stop
to to say what it is that we stop doing
stopped
Malcolm
laughing when
She stopped to make a cup of tea.
They stopped /aughing when Malcolm
She stopped to make a cup oftea.
• *
They
• ¢
walked into the room.
walked into the room.

test
something
do
to
if it
try
say
something
say that we attempt to
we
to to say that we attempt to do something
to to say we test something to see if it
try
a
tried
to get the
• *
I I tried fo get the table through the
improves a situation
improves
I tried taking some aspirin, but the pain
door, but it was too big.
I tried taking some aspirin, but the pain
door, but it was too big.
@°
away.
didn't
didn't go
t
away.

Verb
Verb + -ing =-ing:=
+
or
Verb + to-infinitive or bare infinitive? =>
bare
infinitive?