A. Some verbs are followed by –ing, and some are followed by to . . .
Verbs usually followed by –ing: Verbs usually followed by to . . . :
admit finish postpone afford fail offer
avoid imagine risk agree forget plan
consider keep (on) stop arrange hope promise
deny mind suggest decide learn refuse
enjoy deserve manage threaten
For examples, see Unit 51. For examples, see Unit 52.
B. Some verbs can be followed by –ing and to . . . with a difference in meaning:
remember
I remember doing something = I did it and I remembered to do something = I
now I remember this. remembered that I had to do it, so I did it.
You remember doing something after you You remember to do something before
have done it. you do it.
I know I locked the door. I clearly I remembered to lock the door, but I
remember locking it. forgot to shut the windows.
(= I locked it, and now I remember this) (= I remembered that I had to lock it,
He could remember driving along the and so I locked it)
read just before the accident, but he Please remember to mail the letter.
couldn’t remember the accident itself. (= don’t forget to mail it.)
B. Continuation . . .
regret
I regret doing something = I did it and now I regret to say / to tell you / to inform you =
I’m sorry about it. I’m sorry that I have to say (etc.):
I now regret saying what I said. I (from a formal letter) We regret to
shouldn’t have said it. inform you that we cannot offer you
It began to get cold and he regretted the job.
not wearing his coat.
go on
Go on doing something = continue doing Go on to do something = do or say
the same thing something new
The president went on talking for hours. After discussing the economy, the
We need to change. We can’t go on president then went on to talk about
living like this. foreign policy.
C. The following verbs can be followed by –ing or to . . .
begin start continue bother
So you can say:
It has started raining. or It has started to rain.
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
54.1 Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to . . . . Sometimes either form is possible.
stealing
1. They denied __________________ 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 don’t have enough money. (go)
5. Had it stopped ____________________ yet? (rain)
6. Our team was really unlucky yesterday. We deserved ____________________________ the
game. (win)
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. If the company continues ______________________ money, the factory may be closed.
(lose)
13. “Does Sarah know about the meeting?” “No, I forgot ____________________ her.” (tell)
14. The baby began _______________________ in the middle of the night. (cry)
15. Julie has been sick, but now she’s beginning ________________________ better. (get)
16. I enjoyed _________________________ you. I hope _____________________________ you
again soon. (meet, see)
54.2 Here is some information about Tom when he was a child.
1. He was in the hospital when he was four. 4. He went to Miami when he was eight.
2. He cried on his first day of school. 5. Once he fell into a river.
3. 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 he can’t remember 3, 5, and 6. write sentences
beginning He can remember . . . or He can’t remember . . . .
1. He can remember being in the hospital when he was four.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________________________________________________
54.3 Complete each sentence with an appropriate 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: I did? 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 call her tomorrow.
d) When you see Amanda, remember _______________________ hello for me, OK?
e) Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember ______________________ it by
the window, and now it’s gone.
2. a) I believe that what I said was fair. I don’t regret _________________________ it.
b) I knew they were in trouble, but I regret ___________________________ I did nothing to
help them.
3. a) Ben joined the company nine years ago. He became assistant manager after two
years, and a few years later he went on ________________________ manager of the
company.
b) I can’t go on __________________________ here anymore. I want a different job.
c) When I came into the room, Liz was reading a newspaper. She looked up and said
hello and then went on ____________________________ her newspaper.
