A.
When one verb follows another verb, the structure is usually verb + ~ing or
verb + to ... Compare:
verb +
~ing
* They
denied stealing the money.
* I
enjoy going out.
Often we
use ~ing for an action that happens before the first verb or at the same time:
stealing
<- denied
verb +
to ...
* They
decided to steal the money.
* I want
to go out.
Often we
use to... for an action that follows the first verb:
decided
-> to steal want -> to go
This
difference is often helpful (see Section B) but does not explain all uses of
~ing and to...
B.
Some verbs can be followed by ~ing or to... with a difference of meaning:
remember
I
remember doing something = I did it and now I remember this.
You
remember doing something after you have done it:
* I'm
absolutely sure I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it. (= I locked
it, and now I remember this)
* He
could remember driving along the road just before the accident happened, but he
couldn't remember the accident itself.
I
remembered to do something = I remembered that I had to do it, and so I did it.
You
remember to do something before you do it:
* I
remembered to lock the door when I left but I forgot to shut the windows. (= I
remembered that I had to lock the door and so I locked it)
* Please
remember to post the letter. (= don't forget to post it)
regret
I regret
doing something = I did it and now I'm sorry about it:
* I now
regret saying what I said. I shouldn't have said it.
I regret
to say/to tell you/to inform you = I'm sorry that I have to say (etc.):
* (from
a formal letter) We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you the
job.
go on
Go on
doing something = continue doing the same thing:
* The
minister went on talking for two hours.
* We
must change our ways. We can't go on living like this.
Go on to
do something = do or say something new:
* After
discussing the economy, the minister then went on to talk about foreign policy.
C.
begin start intend
continue bother
These
verbs can be followed by ~ing or to... with little or no difference in meaning.
So you can say:
* It has
started raining. or It has started to rain.
* John
intends buying a house. or John intends to buy ...
* Don't
bother locking the door. or Don't bother to lock ...
But
normally we do not use ~ing after ~ing:
* It's
starting to rain. (not 'it's starting raining')
EXERCISES
55.1 Put
the verb into the correct form, ~ing or to... . Sometimes either form is
possible.
1. They
denied _stealing_ the money. (steal)
2. I
don't enjoy --- very much. (drive)
3. I
don't want --- out tonight. I'm too tired. (go)
4. I
can't afford --- out tonight. I haven't got enough money. (go)
5. Has
it stopped --- yet? (rain)
6. Can
you remind me --- some coffee when we go out? (buy)
7. Why
do you keep --- me questions? Can't you leave me alone? (ask)
8.
Please stop --- me questions! (ask)
9. I
refuse --- any more questions. (answer)
10. One
of the boys admitted --- the window. (break)
11. The
boy's father promised --- for the window to be repaired. (pay)
12. Ann
was having dinner when the phone rang. She didn't answer the phone; she just
carried on ---. (eat)
13. 'How
did the thief get into the house?' 'I forgot --- the window.' (shut)
14. I've
enjoyed --- you. (meet) I hope --- you again soon. (see)
15. The
baby began --- in the middle of the night. (cry)
16.
Julia has been ill but now she's beginning --- better. (get)
55.2
Here is some information about Tom when be was a child.
1. He
was in hospital when he was four.
2. He
went to Paris when he was eight.
3. Once
he fell into a river.
4. He
cried on his first day at school.
5. He
said he wanted to be a doctor.
6. Once
he was bitten by a dog.
He can
still remember 1, 2 and 4. But be can't remember 3, S and 6. Write sentences
beginning He can remember ... or He can't remember...
1. He
can remember being in hospital when he was four.
2. ---
3. ---
4. ---
5. ---
6. ---
55.3
Complete these sentences with a suitable verb in the correct form, ~ing or to
...
1. a.
Please remember to lock the door when you go out.
b. A:
You lent me some money a few months ago.
B: Did
I? Are you sure? I don't remember --- you any money.
c. A:
Did you remember --- your sister?
B: Oh
no, I completely forgot. I'll phone her tomorrow.
d. When
you see Mandy, remember --- her my regards, won't you?
e.
Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember --- it by the window and now
it has gone.
2. a. I
believe that what I said was fair. I don't regret --- it.
b.
(after a driving test) I regret --- that you have failed the test.
3. a.
Keith joined the company 15 years ago. He was quickly promoted and became
assistant manager after two years. A few years later he went on --- manager of
the company.
b. I
can't go on --- here any more. I want a different job.
c. When
I came into the room, Liz was reading a newspaper. She looked up and said hello
to me, and then went on --- her newspaper.
Answer
55.1
2
driving 3 to go
4 to
go 5 raining
6 to
buy 7 asking
8
asking 9 to answer
10
breaking 11 to pay
12
eating 13 to shut
14
meeting ... to see
15
crying or to cry
16 to
get
55.2
2 He can
remember going to Paris when he was eight.
3 He
can't remember falling into a river.
4 He can
remember crying on his first day at school.
5 He
can't remember saying he wanted to be a doctor. or He can't remember wanting to
be.
6 He
can't remember being bitten by a dog.
55.3
1 b.
lending
c. to
phone
d. to
give
e.
leaving/putting
2 a.
saying
b. to
say or to tell you
3 a. to
become
b.
working
c.
reading
