16

GRAMMAR

Verbs + infinitive or -ing

This unit focuses on problem areas.

Verbs followed by either -ing or infinitive with to

@ Can't bear, hate, like, lave, prefer
Like to usually refers to habitual preferences.
We like to go out to lunch on Sunday.
Not like to means 'think it is wrong to'.
I don't like to disturb colleagues at home.
@ Attempt, begin, continue, intend, plan, propase, start
There is no difference in meaning whether we use -ing or infinitive with to.
Suddenly it began raining. Suddenly it began to rain.
Intend, plan and propase can be'followed by that + clause. This may include should.
See Grammar 13 for reporting verbs.

@ Forget, remember
With to both verbs refer to an obligation.
I had to phone the office but I forgot to do it.
Please remember to turn off the lights when you leave.
With -ing both verbs refer to past events. Forget +-ing is uncommon.
I don't remember learning to walk.
Have you forgotten writing the application?
Both can be followed by that + clause.
I didn't remember that I had to phone the office.
Have you forgotten that you wrote the application?
@ Try
With to this refers to something attempted, which might fail or succeed.
I tried to warn him, but it was too late.
We tried to contact her three times, but there was no reply.
With -ing this refers to making an experiment, or to a new experience.
Try taking an aspirin. You'll feel better. -
Have you tried windsurfing? It's great!
e Go on
With -ing this refers to the continuing of an action.
She wer,t on working even though it was late.
You can't go on working such long hours without risking your health.
With to this refers to what happened next.
The prime minister went on to praise the chance/lar.
Jim went on to become managing director of the company.
 GRAMMAR 16 VERBS + INFINITIVE OR -ING

® Mean
With the meaning intend, this is followed by to.
Sorry, I meant to tell you about the party.
Did you mean to wríte this sentence, or was ita mistake?
With -ing it refers to what is involved.
Jf we catch the early train, it will mean getting up at 6.00.
Being tolerant means accepting people as they are.
That + clause is possible when meaning is being explained.
Catching the early train means that we will have to get up at 6.00.
Being toleran/ means that you accept people as they are.
® Regret
With to this refers to the speaker's regrets about what is going to be said. lt often
occurs in formal statements like the following:
We regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful.
With -ing it refers to a regret about the past.
o. I regret saying that to him.
It seemed the right thing at the time, but now I regret resigning.
le should. That + clause is also possible.
I regret that I said that to him.
It seemed the right thing at the time, but now I regret that I resigned.
@ Stop
With to this refers to an intention.
Jane stopped to check the oíl leve/ in the engine.
With -ing it refers to the ending of an activity.
The baby has stopped waking up during the night now.
El Hear, see, watch ·
When followed by infinitive without to, the action is complete.
We watched ali the cars cross the finishing line.
I saw the car crash into the tree.
With -ing, the action is still in progress.
I heard someone coming up the stairs.
I saw her working in the garden.

Verbs with an object, followed by either -ing Qr infinitive with to

e Allow, forbid, permit
With an object and to:
The school forbids students to smoke in the classrooms.
With an object -ing form:
The school does not allow / forbid I permit smoking.
e Consider
With an object and to this refers to an opinion.
People considered her to be the finest pianist aj her generation.
Passive use is also possible.
What is considered to be a good score in the test?
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LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED

With -ing this means 'think about'.

At one point I considered emigrating to Ganada.
With that + clause it refers to an opinion.
We consider that she has behaved badly.
e Imagine
With an object and to:
I imagined the castle to be haunted.
With -ing, an object is also possible.
I couldn't imagine (her) living in a place like that.
With that + clause it means 'suppose'.
I imagine that you'tl like a cup of tea after your long journey!
@ Require
With an object and to:
They required him to fil/ out a form.
Passive use is also possible.
He was required to show them his passport.
With-ing:
These letters require typing.
See Grammar 6 for needs doing.
V
Verbs normally followed by infinitive with to
• Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.
*agree *demand hurry *pledge *swear
*appear deserve *learn *pretend *threaten
*arrange *expect long *promise *vow
attempt fail manage refuse want
ask grow neglect *resolve *wish
choose hasten offer seek
dare *happen pay *seem
*decide *hope *plan struggle
@ Appear, (so) happen and seem are only used impersonally with that + clause. V
It appears that J've made a mistake.
It so happens that he is my brother!
It seems that Mary is going to win.
• Want can be used colloquially with -ing, and has a similar meaning to need.
The car wants cleaning.

Verbs normally followed by -ing

@ Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.
*appreciate face *suggest
avoid *fancy it's no good!use
contempla/e finish feel like
de/ay involve give up
*deny *mention keep on
120 detest mind leave off
 GRAMMAR 16 VERBS + INFINITIVE OR -ING
dislike miss look forward to
endure postpone put off
enjoy practise can't stand
escape >ttesent spend / waste time
excuse risk
111 Admit
This can be used with or without the preposition to followed by -ing.
They admitted (to) being members of the gang.
That + clause is also possible.
He admitted that he was wrong.
111 Appreciate can be followed by possessive + -ing. In everyday speech we often use an
object instead of a possessive.
I appreciate your trying to help.
I appreciate you trying to help.
111 See Grammar 13 for suggest.
111 Involve has an impersonal subject.
Being an athlete involves regular training.
The company has a plan, which involves recruiting 500 new employees.

Verbs followed by infinitive without to

111 Help can be used with or without to.
I helped George (to) carry the bags.
wear Reading this book article helped me (to) understand the problems involved.
hreaten
111 Make and expressions with make
'OW
They made me leave, We shall have to make do.
int
In the passive, to is used.
dsh
I was made to leave.
e Let and expressions with let
They didn't let me leave. Letmego!

Verbs followed by an object and to

e Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause, usually with change of meaning.
*advise assist beg bribe
command dare employ enable
l. encourage instruct invite lead
*arder *persuade select send
*teach *tell train urge *warn
I begged her to reconsider her decision.
They advised me to check ali the details online. (gave advice)
They advised her that her visa was ready to be collected. (informed)
See Grammar L3 for advise, persuade, tell, warn.
@ Dare can be used without to when there is no object. Compare:
They dared him to jump.
I didn't dare (to) say anything.
See Grammar 9 for dare as a modal verb. 121
LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED

1 Underline the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1 What do you mean to do/ doing about the leaky pipes?
2 I never imagined the mountains to be/ being so high!
3 Don't forget to wake me I waking me before you leave.
4 I regret to tell you / telling you that we cannot accept your offer.
5 Did you manage to find I finding the book you were looldng for?
6 I tried to take / taking that medicine you gave me but I couldn't swallow it.
7 We have postponed to tell/ telling anyone the news until after Christmas.
8 Have you considered to buy I buying a laptop?
9 Sorry I'm late, I had to stop to pick up I picking up the children from school.
10 Margaret was slow at school, but she went on to be/ being prime minister.

2 Complete each sentence with a form of a verb from the box.

appear consider die face intend

arrange dare do grow look forward to

1 It's too late to buy any food. We'll have to make ...0.9. ................ with what we've got.
2 I hardly ....................... ask how much it cost!
3 Have you ever ....................... taking a year off work?
4 I didn't like the town at first, but I ....................... to !ove it even_tually.
5 What do you ....................... doing after this course has finished?
6 We are ali ....................... our holiday in Australia this year. lt's going to be such an
adventure!
7 Jim and I ....................... to meet at 6.00 but he didn't turn up.
8 lt ....................... that we won't need to pay so much after ali.
9 I can't wait for Saturday! I'm really ....................... to see you!
10 I can't ....................... getting up at 6.30 tomorrow morning! I'll catch a later train.

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 GRAMMAR 16 VERBS + INFINITIVE OR -ING

3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
l It's very kind of you to give me a lift.
APPRECIATE
I ..0.}YP.f.~~f.0.t~.i<f9.\-!-..0~V.f.".\ü ................................................................ me a lift.
2 If I take the job, !'11 have to move to Paris.
ow it.
nas. MEAN
Taking ..................................................................................... moving to Paris.
;chool. 3 Parking is not permitted here.
ister. PARK
You are ....................................................................................................... here.
4 'Shall I carry that bag for you, Emily?' said John.
1d OFFERED
forward to John ................................................................................................ bag for her.
5 Winning the lottery meant we could huy a new car.
ENABLED
Winning the lottery ....................................................... huy a new car.
6 There is a risk that he will miss the plane ifhe waits.
RISKS
He .................................................................................................... ifhe waits.
7 I believed you were the murderer because of this clue.
LED
This clue ............................................................... that you were the murderer.
8 Does using the hotel swimming pool cost extra?
PAY
Do you have to ....................................................... the hotel swimming pool?
9 I think that this is the right street.
APPEARS
tat we've got.
This ........................................................................................... the right street.
10 Jan succeeded in finishing ali her work on time.
MANAGED
Jean ................................................................................ .'ali her work on time.

J be such an

. later !rain.

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LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR AOVANCEO

4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
l They said they would like me to stay with them in Florida.
INVITED
They .. k~V.,t~!i\.f1M..tP. .............................................. stay with them in Florida.
2 Calling Jim is pointless, because his phone is out of order.
USE
Ifs no .......................................................... because his phone is out of order.
3 It is compulsory for all students to carry an identity badge.
REQUIRED
All students ............................................................ carry an identity badge.
4 You waste time if you copy your work out again, so don't do it.
COPYING
Don't ................................................................................ your work out again.
5 I bet you wouldn't ask David to come with you to the party!
IF
I dare .............................................................................. to the party with you!
6 'Please don't leave me on my own: Martín begged us.
HIM
Martín begged us ....................................................................................... own.
7 Joe doesn't like it when people treat him like a child.
RESENTS
Joe ................................................................................................... like a child.
8 lt was resolved that the matter would be brought up at the next meeting.
BRING
They resolved .............................................................. up at the next meeting.
9 The police were told that the use of unnecessary force was forbidden.
NOT
The police were instructed .................................................. unnecessary force.
10 If you work for this company, you have to travel a lot.
INVOLVES
Working for this company ................................................................'.. of travel.

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 GRAMMAR 16 VERBS + INFINITIVE OR -/NG
1e first 5 Complete each sentence using the verbs in brackets. Change the verb forms and
add any other words if necessary.
1 Sorry, I meant (tell) ......tP.J~!J.j,jP.~ ...... I would be out, but I forgot.
2 That's all for now. I (hope) ............................... hear from you soon!
)rida. 3 Ifl take the new job, it (mean) ............................... working a lot harder!
4 Are you still tired? Or do (feel) ............................... going out for a mea!?
5 Jane is (say) ............................... the most outstanding player in the team.
,rder. 6 I wish you (keep) ··························: .... complaining all the time!
7 How (suggest) ............................... that I would take a bribe! !'ve never been so
insulted!
ge.
6 Complete the text with the gerund or infinitive of the verbs in brackets.

Yukie Hanue is considered by many (1) ....... ~Q..~L ...... (be) the finest violinist
gain.
of her generation - and she's still in her early twenties. When we visited her, in the
music department of the University of New York, she was too busy practising

you! (2) ....................... (ta/k), but she invited us (3) ....................... (have) a coffee
with her in her mid-morning break. Astonishingly, she manages (4) ...................... .
(combine) her PhD at the university with international concerts and recitals,
own.
numerous public appearances and interviews. She evidently thrives on the
workload, buzzing around the place with an industrious enthusiasm that leaves us
al/ breathless. Her fame as a performer means (5) ....................... (make) regular
1ild.
ing. appearances at high-profile events. Last month, for example, she agreed
(6) ....................... (appear) in a series of recitals organized by UNESCO. This
!ting. involved (7) ....................... (travel) to far-flung places like Seoul, Oslo and
Montevideo on successive days, a schedule which would have caused any normal
person to wilt. 'I can't stand (8) ....................... (do) nothing,' she says. 'I happen
·force.
(9) ....................... (have) a particular talen!, and it would be wasteful not
(1 O) ....................... (exploit) it to the full.' 1 encouraged her (11) ...................... .

ravel. (tell) me about her upbringing, but she was rather reluctant to sing her own
praises. 1 did, however, succeed in persuading her (12) ....................... (confess)
to a secret desire. 'lf I hadn't been a musician, 1 would have loved to !rain
(13) ....................... (become) a martial arts expert,' she says. Certainly, she would
have had the discipline, but I couldn't imagine someone so physically frail actually
(14) ....................... (stand) there hitting someone. But it was an interesting
revelation, and one that I was (15) ....................... (learn) more about during my
day with her.

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