Grammar 5 - Oxford

Verbs followed by – ing or infinitive 1
When we learn a new verb, it is advisable to check in a dictionary whether

it is followed by the -ing form (also called the gerund) or an infinitive with
or without to. If the infinitive is without to, it is called a bare infinitive.
 Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive: little or no change of

meaning
- Some verbs can be followed either by an -ing form, or to + infinitive,
and there is little or no change in meaning. Such verbs are:
Begin, continue, not bear, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, start.
When she stood up, the President began to speak/speaking.

Some people at the back continued to chat /chatting.
I can’t bear to listen/listening for a long time.
What do you intend to do/doing about it?
I don’t like watching television. I prefer to read.
I think you should start to practice/practicing now!
- There can be a small difference between like to do and like doing.

To + infinitive suggests that something is a good idea although you don't
necessarily enjoy it.
I like to have а short walk after my evening meal.
The -ing form shows you enjoy something.
I like listening to the radio.
- We prefer one thing to another thing. If the things are activities,

the –ing form is used.
I prefer reading to watching TV.

BUT
I prefer to watch TV.
- Hate doing is more common, except in the fixed expressions.
I hate doing the washing-up!

I hate to tell you this, but we’ve missed the last train!
- When we us the modal verb would with like, love, prefer and hate, we
must use to + infinitive.
I’d like to go to Portugal this summer.

I’d prefer to do it myself, if you don’t mind.
 Verbs followed by to + infinitive

- Some verbs can only be followed by the infinitive with to. These verbs
are: afford, ask, choose, happen, help, manage, offer, refuse, wait, want,
etc.
I can’t afford to go to the cinema twice in one week.

In the end, Laura chose to study Economics.
Do you happen to know the time?
Could someone help me to carry this?
OR
Could you help me carry this?
Jim can’t manage to come this evening.
I offered to give her а lift, but she said she’d ordered a taxi.
The manager refused to see me.
There are some people waiting to see you.
What do you want to do this evening?
 Verbs followed by to + infinitive or that-clause

- Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive with to, or a that-clause.
It is possible to leave out that in everyday speech. These verbs are:
agree, decide, expect, hope, learn, pretend, promise, seem, wish, etc.
We decided to go home. We decided (that) we would go home.

Mike expects to win. Mike expects (that) he will win.
I hope to see you later. I hope (that) I’ll see you later.
Helen pretended to be ill. Helen pretended (that) she was ill.
- There is a small difference between learn to and learn that.
At school Graham learned to speak French. (Learn a skill)

At school we learned that the Earth goes round the Sun. (Learn
information)
- The two forms of seem: It + seem + that-clause is very common.

You seem to know the answer!
It seems that you know the answer.
- Wish followed by to + infinitive has a similar meaning to want.
I wish to leave early today.
Wish followed by a that-clause usually includes would or could.
I wish (that) I could leave early.

I wish (that) my teacher would let me leave early.
Verbs followed by – ing or infinitive 2
 Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive: change of meaning
- Some verbs can be followed either by an -ing form, or to + infinitive,

and there is a change in meaning.
- Remember and forget
We use remember/forget doing (or remember/forget followed by that-

clause) for memories of the past (the action happens before the
remembering).
I remember telling you!
Then I remembered that you were out.
I’ll never forget learning to drive.
We use remember/forget to do for actions someone is/was supposed to
do (the remembering happens before the action).
Remember to take your keys!

Sorry, I forgot to post your letter.
- Mean
We use mean doing (or mean followed by that-clause) when one thing
results in or involves another.
Keeping fit means taking exercise every day!

When I miss the bus, it means that I have to walk to school.
We use mean to do to express an intention.

Jan meant to watch the program but she forgot.
- Stop
We use stop doing when we end an action.
Jo has stopped learning French (= gave up learning).
We use stop to do when we give the reason for stopping.
We stopped to look at her (= in order to look).
Stop is not flowed by a that-clause.
- Try
We use try doing when we do something and see what happens.

If you have a headache, try taking two of these pills (= experiment)
We use try to do when we make an effort to do something, but don’t
necessarily succeed.
Peter tried to lift the table, but it was too heavy (he failed in this case).
Try is not followed by a that-clause.
 Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive without to: change of

meaning
- Some verbs can be followed by an object + ing, or an infinitive without

to. There is a change in meaning. These verbs are: feel, hear, listen to,
see, watch, etc.
- If we see or hear only part of the action, or it continuous, we use
the –ing form.
I could feel my hands shaking with fear! (Continuous action)
We watched Joe eating his lunch. (Part of the action)
If we see or hear the whole action from beginning to end, we use the
infinitive without to.
I felt the building move! (Completed action)

We watched Joe eat his lunch. (Whole action)
- These verbs can be used with that-clause with a change of meaning.
I feel that this is the time to resign. (= believe)

We heard that you were ill. (= receive news)
I saw that it was too late. (= realize)
 Verbs followed by -ing or noun

Some verbs can be followed by another verb in –ing form or a noun. These
verbs are: dislike, enjoy, fancy, can’t help, keep, mind, practice, can’t stand,
etc.
I dislike going out in the rain.

I dislike my new boss.
Everyone enjoys going to parties.
I enjoyed this lesson.
Do you fancy going to the cinema?
I fancy а swim!
 Verbs followed by -ing or noun or that-clause

- Some verbs can be followed by another verb in –ing form or a noun or
a that-clause. These verbs are: admit, deny, imagine, suggest, etc.
The Minister admitted taking а bribe.

Paul admitted that he was wrong.
Tina denied stealing the money.
Both men denied that they had done anything wrong.
Imagine travelling to another planet!
Do you really imagine that I want to see you again?
I suggest going for а pizza.
I suggest that we go for а pizza.
- Suggest can also be followed by should.
I suggest that we should go for а pizza.
Assignment: Section 9 (with all exercises)

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Verbs followed by – ing or infinitive 1

When we learn a new verb, it is advisable to check in a dictionary whether

 Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive: little or no change of

When she stood up, the President began to speak/speaking.

- There can be a small difference between like to do and like doing.

- We prefer one thing to another thing. If the things are activities,

I prefer reading to watching TV.

- Hate doing is more common, except in the fixed expressions.

I hate doing the washing-up!

I’d like to go to Portugal this summer.

 Verbs followed by to + infinitive

I can’t afford to go to the cinema twice in one week.

 Verbs followed by to + infinitive or that-clause

We decided to go home. We decided (that) we would go home.

- There is a small difference between learn to and learn that.

At school Graham learned to speak French. (Learn a skill)

- The two forms of seem: It + seem + that-clause is very common.

- Wish followed by to + infinitive has a similar meaning to want.

I wish to leave early today.

Wish followed by a that-clause usually includes would or could.

I wish (that) I could leave early.

- Some verbs can be followed either by an -ing form, or to + infinitive,

- Remember and forget

We use remember/forget doing (or remember/forget followed by that-

Remember to take your keys!

Keeping fit means taking exercise every day!

We use mean to do to express an intention.

We use stop doing when we end an action.

Jo has stopped learning French (= gave up learning).

We use stop to do when we give the reason for stopping.

We stopped to look at her (= in order to look).

Stop is not flowed by a that-clause.

We use try doing when we do something and see what happens.

Try is not followed by a that-clause.

 Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive without to: change of

- Some verbs can be followed by an object + ing, or an infinitive without

I felt the building move! (Completed action)

- These verbs can be used with that-clause with a change of meaning.

I feel that this is the time to resign. (= believe)

 Verbs followed by -ing or noun

I dislike going out in the rain.

 Verbs followed by -ing or noun or that-clause

The Minister admitted taking а bribe.

- Suggest can also be followed by should.

I suggest that we should go for а pizza.

Assignment: Section 9 (with all exercises)

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