Verb + gerund / infinitive with a change in meaning
Verb
+ gerund / infinitive with a change in meaning
After
certain verbs we use the -ing form, and after other verbs we use the
infinitive. Sometimes we can use either form and there is no change in meaning.
Occasionally we can use either form and there is a change in meaning
So what’s the rule for
whether we use the -ing form or the infinitive?
Sorry, there isn’t a rule.
You have to learn which verbs go with which pattern.
The verbs followed by -ing include enjoy, mind, stop and recommend.
I told him you really enjoy
cooking.
Would you mind helping me?
It didn't stop raining all day yesterday.
Daisy recommends trying Alfie’s tiramisu.
Would you mind helping me?
It didn't stop raining all day yesterday.
Daisy recommends trying Alfie’s tiramisu.
The negative is verb + not + -ing.
Imagine not having pizza!
I eat it all the time.
Verbs usually followed by -ing
stop
finish imagine
suggest recommend
avoid mind
miss risk enjoy
I thought you could say: 'I
recommend that you see that film'?
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OK, what about the verbs
followed by the infinitive?
These include decide, want, promise, plan and forget.
She decided to go with
Elliot instead.
I wanted to visit Rome.
She promised to take me there.
I planned to go to some real Italian restaurants.
She didn’t forget to phone.
I wanted to visit Rome.
She promised to take me there.
I planned to go to some real Italian restaurants.
She didn’t forget to phone.
The negative is verb + not + infinitive.
They decided not to
make pizza.
Here are more verbs
that are usually followed by the infinitive:
hope offer
fail agree forget
manage learn afford arrange
ask expect would like decide
plan promise want
invite
What about the verbs that
can be followed by either form?
These include start , begin , continue and bo th er.
It started raining. or
It started to rain.
Don’t bother waiting for me. or Don’t bother to wait for me.
Don’t bother waiting for me. or Don’t bother to wait for me.
The verbs like, love and hate can
be followed by -ing or the infinitive when talking about repeated
actions.
I love reading long
novels. (British English or American English)
I love to read long novels. (American English)
I love to read long novels. (American English)
But when we are talking
about situations, we use the -ing form.
aulo loves living by
the beach in Rio.
Do you like working as a waitress?
So, 'I love learning grammar
rules' or 'I love to learn grammar rules' are both OK?
Exactly. But there are some
more verbs which can be followed by -ing or the infinitive, but
the two options have different meanings, for example remember and stop.
I never remember to lock the
door, and my mum gets really angry!
(remember + infinitive = remember something and then do it)
I never remember locking the door, but when I go back and check I always have.
(remember + -ing = remember something you did before)
(remember + infinitive = remember something and then do it)
I never remember locking the door, but when I go back and check I always have.
(remember + -ing = remember something you did before)
She stopped smoking three
years ago.
(stop + -ing = to not do something any more)
It was hot, so we stopped to have a drink. (we stopped
walking)
(stop + infinitive = to not do something in order to do something else)
(stop + infinitive = to not do something in order to do something else)
Let’s stop to have a
rest now.
OK, later on you can try
to remember all the patterns.
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