Unit 56 · -ing and to …

Verb + -ing or to … 1 (remember, regret etc.)

Study

Some verbs are followed by -ing and some are followed by to … .

Verbs that you can use with -ing (not to …):

admit	fancy	postpone
avoid	finish	risk
consider	imagine	stop
deny	keep (on)	suggest
enjoy	mind

For examples, see Unit 53.

Verbs that you can use with to … :

afford	fail	offer
agree	forget	plan
arrange	hope	promise
decide	learn	refuse
deserve	manage	tend

For examples, see Unit 54.

Some verbs can be followed by -ing or to … with a difference of meaning:

remember

I remember doing something = I did it and now I remember this. You remember doing something after you have done it.

›

I know I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it.

(= I locked it, and now I remember this)

›

He could remember driving along the road just before the accident, but he couldn’t remember the accident itself.

I remembered to do something = I remembered that I had to do it, so I did it. You remember to do something before you do it.

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I remembered to lock the door, but I forgot to shut the windows.

(= I remembered that I had to lock it, and so I locked it)

›

Remember to buy some bananas.

(= Don’t forget to buy them)

regret

I regret doing something = I did it and now I am sorry about it:

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I now regret saying what I said. I shouldn’t have said it.

›

Do you regret not going to college?

I regret to say / to tell you / to inform you = I am sorry that I have to say:

(from a formal letter)

›

I regret to say that we are unable to accept your offer.

go on

go on doing something = continue doing the same thing:

›

The president paused for a moment and then went on talking.

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We need to change. We can’t go on living like this.

go on to do something = do or say something new:

›

After discussing the economy, the president went on to talk about foreign policy.

We use the following verbs with -ing or to … with no difference of meaning:

begin

start

continue

intend

bother

So you can say:

›

It started raining. or It started to rain.

›

Andy intends buying a house. or Andy intends to buy …

›

Don’t bother locking the door. or Don’t bother to lock …

Normally we do not use -ing after -ing:

›

It’s starting to rain. (not usually It’s starting raining)

→ Verb + -ing ➜ Unit 53 · Verb + to … ➜ Units 54–55 · Other verbs + -ing or to … ➜ Units 57–58

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked

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56.1

Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to … .

1
They denied the money. (steal)example
2
I don’t enjoy very much. (drive)
3
I can’t afford away. I don’t have enough money. (go)
4
Have you ever considered to live in another country? (go)
5
We were unlucky to lose the game. We played well and deserved . (win)
6
Why do you keep me questions? Leave me alone! (ask)
7
Please stop me questions! (ask)
8
I refuse any more questions. (answer)
9
The driver of one of the cars admitted the accident. (cause)
10
Mark needed our help, and we promised what we could. (do)
11
I don’t mind alone, but I’d rather be with other people. (be)
12
The wall was quite high, but I managed over it. (climb)
13
Sarah doesn’t know about the meeting. I forgot her. (tell)
14
I’ve enjoyed to you. I hope you again soon. (talk, see)

56.2

Tom can remember some things about his childhood, but he can’t remember others. Write sentences with He remembers … or He doesn’t remember … .

1
He was in hospital when he was a small child. He can still remember this.
in hospital when he was a small child.example
2
He cried on his first day at school. He doesn’t remember this.
on his first day at school.
3
Once he fell into the river. He remembers this.
.
4
He said he wanted to be a doctor. He doesn’t remember this.
to be a doctor.
5
Once he was bitten by a dog. He doesn’t remember this.
a dog.
6
His sister was born when he was four. He remembers this.
.

56.3

Complete the sentences with a suitable verb in the correct form, -ing or to … .

1
a Please remember the door when you go out.example
2
b He says we’ve met before, but I don’t remember him.
3
c Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember it by the window and now it isn’t there.
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d When you see Steve, remember hello to him from me.
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e a: You lent me some money a few months ago. b: Did I? Are you sure? I don’t remember you any money.
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f a: Did you remember your sister? b: No, I forgot. I’ll phone her tomorrow.
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a The course I did wasn’t very good, but I don’t regret it.
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b I knew they were in trouble, but I regret I did nothing to help them.
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c It started to get cold, and he regretted not his coat.
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d I now regret my job. It was a big mistake.
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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.
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b I can’t go on here any more. I want a different job.
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c When I came into the room, Lisa was reading a book. She looked up and said hello, and then went on her book.
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d Food prices have gone up again. How are we going to manage if prices go on ?