Verbs taking an Infinitive or ING form with a change in meaning

Hello, guys!

And today we’re going to revise the verbs followed by ‘ing’ or by ‘to + infinitive’ with a change in meaning.

Here we go!

When one verb is followed by another, the second verb can either be an INFINITIVE or an –ING form.

Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive, or an –ing form but with a change in meaning.

To-infinitive or gerund?

FORGET, REMEMBER, REGRET, GO ON, STOP, TRY

After these verbs, a to-infinitive refers to the future, while a gerund expresses an earlier action, relative to the time of the verb in the main clause:

Don't forget to meet Mr Tomson at 10 o'clock this morning. (You should meet Mr Tomson at 10 o'clock this morning.)

I'll never forget meeting her for the first time. (I'll never forget when I met her for the first time.)

Did you remember to buy tea? (Did you remember that you should buy tea?)

I don't remember ever visiting this museum. (I don't remember that I have ever visited this museum.)

We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected. (We are sorry we have to inform you that your application has been rejected.)

I regret spending so much money last night. (I am sorry that I spent so much money last night.)

Whichever page you're on, go on to read the next chapter. (Continue with the next chapter.)

Go on reading the article. (Continue reading the article.)

We stopped to drink a cup of coffee. (We stopped in order to drink a cup of coffee.)

I stopped smoking years ago. (I gave up smoking years ago.)

Try + to + infinitive means that something is difficult and you make an attempt to do it.

I’m trying to learn Japanese but it’s very difficult.

She tried to climb the tree, but she couldn't even get off the ground.

Try + ‘ing’ means make an experiment. It’s not difficult – it might work, it might not.

She tried eating the snake soup, but she didn't like it.

I tried to reach her at work, but the line was busy. (I made an attempt to reach her at work.)

Why didn't you try calling her on her mobile? (Why didn't you call her on her mobile to see if you could reach her?)

LIKE, HATE, PREFER, CAN'T BEAR

The verbs LIKE and HATE express liking if they are followed by a gerund:

I like getting up early in summer. (I enjoy getting up early in summer.)

I hate dancing, so don't ask me to. (I don't like dancing.)

But if these verbs are followed by a to-infinitive, they express habitual preference, something that we do not necessarily like or enjoy but consider as useful, right or wise:

I like to be punctual. (It's important to be punctual and I am.)

I hate to lie, but sometimes I do. (It's not right to lie but sometimes I do.)

If LIKE is in the negative, a gerund refers to an action that we do but don't enjoy doing, while a to-infinitive means that we don't do something because we don't think it right to do:

I could tell that Sandra didn't like being photographed though she didn't say a word. (Sandra was photographed, which she didn't like.)

Sandra didn't like to be photographed, so she turned her back to the camera. (Sandra didn't want to be photographed, and she wasn't.)

Remember that ‘WOULD LIKE’ can only be followed by an infinitive.

I’d like to go to Japan next year, if possible.

PREFER and CAN'T BEAR can also take a gerund or a to-infinitive:

I prefer walking to taking the bus. (I like walking better than taking the bus.)

If you prefer to walk, it will take you 30 minutes to school. (If you want to walk, it will take you 30 minutes to school.)

I can't bear seeing people being humiliated. (I don't like it when I see people being humiliated.)

I couldn't bear to see those animals suffer, so I looked away. (I didn't want to see them suffer, so I looked away.)

CONSIDER, IMAGINE

CONSIDER and IMAGINE can be followed by either a gerund, or a noun phrase or pronoun + to-infinitive but with different meanings:

I am considering working abroad. (I am thinking of working abroad.)

Everybody considers him to be the best person for the job. (Everybody thinks that he is the best person for the job.)

Imagine living at 2,000 metres above sea level! (Imagine what it would be like to live at 2,000 metres above sea level.)

I imagined him to be much taller. (I expected that he would be much taller.)

MEAN, HELP

MEAN and HELP can be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive but with different meanings:

In those days, being a student meant spending long hours in the library. (In those days if you were a student, it meant that you spent long hours in the library.)

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. (I didn't intend to hurt your feelings.)

I can't help thinking that you are hiding something. (only in the negative: I have to think that you are hiding something.)

Could you help me (to) undo my shoelaces? My fingers are frozen. (Could you undo my shoelaces?)

HELP can be followed by a bare infinitive or a to-infinitive.

NEED, REQUIRE, WANT

NEED, REQUIRE and WANT can be followed by the active or passive to-infinitives to express active or passive meanings, respectively:

I need to make a phone call.

Sometimes, people need to be told the truth.

My job requires me to handle many letters from abroad.

They required the information to be sent as soon as possible.

I wanted to stay for a few more days.

It was obvious that he wanted to be invited.

But active gerunds after these verbs express passive meanings:

Your hair needs cutting. (It should be cut.)

These photos require careful handling. (They should be handled carefully.)

The windows want cleaning. (They should be cleaned.)

BEGIN, START

When BEGIN and START are used in non-continuous tenses, you can either use a gerund or an infinitive.

She began singing.

She began to sing.

Marie started talking really fast.

Marie started to talk really fast.

When BEGIN and START are used in continuous tenses, an Infinitive is used.

Marie is starting to talk really fast.

She is beginning to sing.

Now it’s time to practise the rule.

Choose the infinitive or ing-form.

1.                 She tried to reach the book on the high shelf but she was too small.

2.                 You should stop smoking, it's not good for your health.

3.                 They will stop to have lunch at twelve.

4.                 Please don't forget to pick up some juice on your way home.

5.                 Please remember to bring your homework.

6.                 I regret telling Julie my secret. Now she has told everyone.

7.                 Can you help me to get the dinner ready?

8.                 The windows are dirty. They need cleaning.