Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
55 Verbs + infinitive with to OR -ing: Remember to do or remember doing
Quick inference
• These verbs can be followed by the infinitive with to or -ing. The meaning is the same: begin, bother, continue, intend, start.
He continued to work, or He continued working. It started to rain, or It started raining.
But note that we don’t use the -ing form after a verb in a continuous tense.
We ’re intending to leave soon. (not We’re intending leaving soon.)
• These verbs can also be followed by the infinitive with to or -ing but the meaning is not the same: forget, go on, need, regret, remember, stop, try.
• Go on + the infinitive with to: a situation or an action comes later.
He studied law and went on to become a judge.
Go on + -ing: someone continues doing the same thing. He went on talking.
• Need + the infinitive with to: to say what it’s necessary to do. We need to leave now.
Need + -ing: if something is in need of attention. This window’s broken. It needs repairing.
• Stop + the infinitive with to: when someone stops one thing to do another.
We walked for ten kilometres and then we stopped to have a rest.
Stop + ing: when an action finishes. It stopped raining.
• Forget + the infinitive with to: to say we didn’t do something we should have done.
/ forgot to lock the door.
Forget + ing: to talk about memories of things we did in the past.
I’ll never forget driving a car for the first time.
• Remember + the infinitive with to: when we remember that we have to do something.
She remembered to post the letter.
Remember + -ing: to talk about something we did in the past.
/ remember falling in love for the first time.
• Try + the infinitive with to: when we make an effort to do something.
/ tried to remember her name.
Try + -ing: when we talk about a possible solution to a problem.
/ had a headache. I tried taking some aspirin, but it didn't help.
• Regret + the infinitive with to: to announce bad news.
/ regret to announce the death of the president.
Regret + -ing: when we wish we had or hadn’t done something.
/ regret saying that. He regrets not going to university.
1 A group of people on holiday are sitting round the hotel swimming pool. Read what they are saying and think of the word(s) which best fit(s) each space.
’We’re intending (1) ... for two more days at this hotel and then to move on.’
’Now the weather’s better I’m beginning (2) ... myself.’
’You’re starting (3) ... a suntan already. You’re really quite brown.’
’I’m lucky. I never bother (4) ... suncream on but I never get sunburnt.’
’If the people above us continue (5) ... parties every night, I’m going to complain.’
2 Complete the following story from a local newspaper using either the infinitive or the -ing form of the verb in brackets.
Twenty-two-year-old telephone engineer, Kevin Hooper, went to the house of pensioner Mrs Edith Reed. Her husband had died recently and she needed (I have) ... another phone in her bedroom. Mrs Reed told him she missed her dead husband because he was so practical. Whenever something in the house needed (2 repair) ... he fixed it immediately. She went on (3 talk) ... about him for some time. In fact she didn’t stop (4 talk) ... about him for half an hour. Kevin, meanwhile, went on (5 work) ... She then said she needed (6 go) ... shopping and left Kevin on his own.
Soon after that Kevin stopped (7 make) ... himself a cup of coffee. He put the kettle on the cooker and switched on the gas. But then the phone rang and he forgot (8 light) ... it. Twenty minutes later he suddenly remembered (9 leave) ... the gas on. He ran back into the kitchen. The room was full of gas and Mrs Reed’s pet budgerigar was lying on the floor of its cage. He tried desperately (10 revive) ... it. He even tried (11 shake) ... it. But that didn’t do any good. So, finally, he glued the dead budgerigar’s feet to its perch.
When Mrs Reed returned she thought her budgerigar was asleep. Kevin finished the job and left as soon as he could.
He really regretted (12 deceive) ... Mrs Reed and said he’d never forget (13 see) ... the budgerigar on the floor of its cage with its feet up in the air.
3 Suzanne Ford is talking to an old school friend who she has not seen for ten years. Rewrite the sentences, using an infinitive with to or an -ing form.
1 I left school when 1 was only 16. I regret it. I regret ...
2 I didn’t go to university. I didn’t even try. I didn’t ...
3 I didn’t work hard when I was at school. I regret it. I regret ...
4 I didn’t go to the last class reunion. I forgot. I forgot ...
5 I got a job in a supermarket. I worked there till I had a baby.
I went on ...
6 Do you remember Nick Edwards, the captain of the school football team? He became a professional player. He went on ...
7 I met him a year ago in a London night club. I’II never forget it.
I’ll never forget ...
8 I smoked when I was at school. I’ve stopped now. I’ve stopped ...
4 Finish these sentences about yourself. Use an infinitive with to or an -ing form. Check your answers with a teacher.
When I was very young I remember ...
This morning I remembered ...
I regret not ...
When I’m older I intend ...
I try ... every day.
After I’ve finished doing this exercise I’II go on ...
I’ll never forget ...
I sometimes forget ...
I can’t stop ...
At the weekend I need ...
When I can’t sleep I try ...