-ing form or infinitive?
-ing form or infinitive?
Some verbs and adjectives can be followed by an infinitive or by an -ing form, often with a difference of meaning.
remember and forget
We remember or forget doing things in the past — things that we did. Forget . . . -ing is used especially in the structure I'll never forget . . . -ing. I still remember buying my first packet of cigarettes.
I ll never forget meeting the Queen.
We remember or forget to do things which we have to do.
Did you remember to buy my cigarettes?
You mustn't forget to go and meet Mr Lewis at the station tomorrow.
Stop
If you stop doing something, you don't do it any more. I really must stop smoking.
If you stop to do something, you pause (in the middle of something else) in order to do it. Every hour I stop work to have a little rest.
go on
If you go on doing something, you continue — you do it more. She went on talking about her illnesses until everybody went to sleep.
If you go on to do something, you do it next — you stop one thing and start another. She stopped talking about her illnesses and went on to tell us about all her other problems.
regret
You regret doing something in the past — you are sorry that you did it. I don't regret telling her what I thought, even if it made her angry.
The expression I regret to say/tell you/announce etc means 'I'm sorry that I have to say British Rail regret to announce that the 13.15 train for Cardiff will leave approximately thirty-seven minutes late. This delay is due to the late running of the train.
allow
After allow, we use . . . -ing in active clauses if there is no object. If there is an object, we use an infinitive. We don't allow smoking in the lecture room.
We don t allow people to smoke in the lecture room.
see, watch and hear
If you saw, watched or heard something happening, it was happening: you saw or heard it while it was going on. If you saw, watched or heard something happen, it happened: you saw or heard a complete action. Note the infinitive without to:
(For the difference between it was happening and it happened.) I looked out of the window and saw Mary crossing the road.
( = She was in the middle of crossing the road.)
I saw Mary step off the pavement, cross the road and disappear into the post office.
try
Try . . . -ing = 'make an experiment; do something to see what will happen'. I tried sending her flowers, giving her presents, writing her letters; but she still wouldn't speak to me.
Try to ... = 'make an effort'. It is used for things that are difficult.
I tried to write a letter, but my hands were too cold to hold a pen.
afraid
We use afraid of . . . -ing to talk about accidents. I don't like to drive fast because I'm afraid of crashing
In other cases, we can use afraid of .. . -ing or afraid to ... with no difference of meaning.
I'm not afraid of telling/to tell her the truth.
sorry
We use sorry for . . . -ing or sorry about . . . -ing to talk about past things that we regret. I'm sorry for/about waking you up. ( = I'm sorry that I woke you up.)
We can use a perfect infinitive with the same meaning. I'm sorry to have woken you up.
Sorry + infinitive is used to apologize for something that we are doing or going to do. Sorry to disturb you — could I speak to you for a moment?
I'm sorry to tell you that you failed the exam.
certain and sure
If I say that somebody is certain/sure of doing something, I am talking about his or her feelings — he or she feels sure. Before the game she felt sure of winning, but after five minutes she realized that it wasn't going to be so easy.
If I say that somebody is certain/sure to do something, I am talking about my own feelings — I am sure that he or she will succeed. 'Kroftova's sure to win — the other girl hasn't got a chance.' 'Don't be so sure.'
like, love, hate, prefer, begin, start, attempt, intend, continue, can't bear
After these verbs, we can use either the -ing form or the infinitive without much difference of meaning. I hate working/to work at weekends.
She began playing/to play the guitar when she was six.
I intend telling her/to tell her what I think.
In British English, we usually use like . . . -ing to talk about enjoyment, and like to ... to talk about choices and habits. Compare: I like climbing mountains. I like to start work early in the morning.
After the conditionals would like, would prefer, would hate and would love, we use the infinitive. I'd like to tell you something.
'Can I give you a lift?' 'No, thanks. I'd prefer to walk.'
I'd love to have a coat like that.
Compare: Do you like dancing? ( = Do you enjoy dancing?)
Would you like to dance? (An invitation. = Do you want to dance now?)
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