Explanations

• Verbs followed by -ing or a noun

Some verbs can be followed either by another verb in an -ing form or a noun.
Try to avoid walking as much as possible.
I managed to avoid an argument.
Verbs in this list include:
avoid, be worth, dislike, enjoy, fancy, help, keep, mind, miss, practise, risk,
can't stand

It's not worth waiting for a bus at this time of day.

I dislike having to get up early.
Do you enjoy meeting people from other countries?
I don't fancy going out this evening.
George can't help laughing when he sees you!
I wish you wouldn't keep interrupting.
I don't mind helping you do the washing-up.
Jane misses going for long country walks.
You should practise introducing yourself.
We can't risk starting a fire in the forest.
I can't stand going to office parties.

- Verbs followed by -ing, or a noun, or a that-clause

Some verbs can be followed either by another verb in an -ing form, or a
noun, or a that-clause.
Jack admitted stealing the money.
When accused of stealing the money, Jack admitted it.
Jack admitted that he had stolen the money.
Verbs in this list include:
admit, consider, deny, imagine, recollect, report, suggest

Have you considered taking up jogging?

You must consider that Jim has never driven abroad before.
Peter denied stealing the money.
Can you imagine living in California?
I don't recollect meeting you before.
Suddenly I recollected that I had another appointment.
Helen reported losing her watch to the director.
1 suggested going to the beach.
I suggested that we went to the beach.
 G R A M M A R 28 VERBS F O L L O W E D B Y - I N G O R I N F I N I T I V E

• Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive: little change of meaning

Some verbs can be followed either by an -ing form or an infinitive and there
is little or no change in meaning. Verbs in this list include:
attempt, begin, continue, dread, not bear, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, start
I attempted to leave/leaving but the police stopped me.

The forms would like, would love and would prefer are followed by an
infinitive.
I'd like to come to your party, but I'll be away then.

Like to can have its normal meaning of something that gives pleasure. But it
has a second meaning which is to talk about a habitual action, whether or
not it gives us pleasure.
On Sundays I like to get up early and go for a swim.

• Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive: change of meaning

Some verbs can be followed either by an -ing form, or by the infinitive, and
there is a change in meaning. Study the examples below carefully and check
more examples in a dictionary.

forget and remember

We use forget/remember doing for memories of the past (the action happens
before the remembering). We use forget/remember to do for actions someone
is/was supposed to do (the remembering happens before the action).
/ won't forget meeting you. (meet —• forget)
/ forgot that I had invited ten people to lunch. (invite -» forget)
/ forgot to buy any coffee. (forget -> buy)
J won't forget to go there. (forget -» go)
I remember locking the door. (lock —• remember)
/ remembered that I had left my keys behind. (leave - remember)
Please remember to lock the door. (remember -» lock)

go on
We use go on doing when we continue doing something. We use go on to do
when we move on to do something else.
Diana went on working all night. (did the same thing)
The director went on to say that the strike was over. (did something else)

mean
We use mean doing when one thing results in or involves another. We use
mean to do to express an intention.
This means leaving at 6.00. (involves)
This means that we will have to leave at 6.00! (has a result)
/ meant to phone you but I forgot. (intended)

165
FIRST CERTIFICATE L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

regret
We use regret doing when we are sorry about something that happened in the
past.
Kate regretted not buying the house.
Kate regretted that she hadn't bought the house.
We use regret to inform/to tell when we are giving bad news. This use is
formal.
/ regret to tell you that you have failed.

stop
We use stop doing when we end an action. We use stop to do when we give the
reason for stopping.
I stopped going to evening classes. (gave up going)
/ stopped to buy some coffee. (in order to buy)

try
We use try doing when we do something and see what happens. We use try to
do when we make an effort to do something, but don't necessarily succeed.
Why don't you try getting up early? (suggesting an action)
/ tried to get up early, hut I couldn't. (try and fail)

• Verbs followed by the infinitive

Some verbs can only be followed by the infinitive. These include:
afford, appear, ask, choose, fail, happen, help, long, manage, offer, prepare,
refuse, tend, wait, want

I can't afford to go on holiday abroad this year.

The car appears to have broken down.
David asked me to give this to you.
I chose not to go to university.
Gerry failed to arrive on time.
I happened to be passing so I dropped in.

• Verbs followed by the infinitive, or a that-clause

Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive or a that-clause. These include:
agree, arrange, decide, demand, desire, expect, hope, intend, learn, plan,
pretend, promise, seem, threaten, wish

Tom agreed to meet us outside the cinema.

Tom agreed that he would meet us outside the cinema.
We arranged that we would leave at 5.30.
John decided to take the bus.
John decided that he would take the bus.

166
 G R A M M A R 28 VERBS F O L L O W E D B Y INC O R I N F I N I T I V E

• Verbs followed by -ing, or infinitive without to

Some verbs can be followed by an object + -ing, or an infinitive without to.
There is a change in meaning. These verbs are sometimes called 'verbs of
perception' and include:
feel, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch
If we see or hear only part of the action, or it continues, we use the -ing
form. If we see or hear the whole action from beginning to end, we use the
infinitive without to. Compare:
/ felt the train moving. (continuing action)
/ felt the train move. (one completed action)

Some of these verbs can be used with a that clause with a change of
meaning.
/ feel that you should look for another job. (believe)
I've just heard that the match is off. (receive news)
See that you lock up when you leave. (make sure)

167
FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

Complete each sentence w i t h a suitable form of the verb in brackets.

a) I really miss (play) playing tennis like I used to.

b) I'm sorry. I meant (write) to you, but I've been busy.
c) Martin failed (pay) the rent on time yet again.
d) It's not worth (buy) a return ticket.
e) Have you ever considered (work) as a teacher?
f) I promise I won't forget (feed) the cat.
g) We've arranged (meet) outside the school at 4.30.
h) If you've got a headache, try (take) an aspirin.

2 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the w o r d given. Do not change the w o r d given. You must use
between t w o and five words, including the w o r d given.

a) Jack said that he hadn't cheated in the exam.

cheating
Jack denied cheating in the exam.
b) It was difficult for me not to laugh at Wendy's letter.
help
I at Wendy's letter.
c) I'm sorry but you have not been appointed to the post.
regret
I you have not been appointed to the post.
d) I needed a drink of water and so I stopped running.
to
I stopped running water.
e) I think it would be a good idea to take the train.
taking
I the train.
f) Don't forget the lights when you leave.
off
Don't forget when you leave.
g) I think Derek has forgotten the meeting.
appears
Derek the meeting.
h) My neighbour said he would call the police!
threatened
My neighbour the police.

168
 G R A M M A R 28 VERBS F O L L O W E D B Y - I N G O R I N F I N I T I V E

3 Complete each sentence with a suitable form of the verb in brackets.

a) Pauline couldn't manage (eat) to eat all the ice cream.

b) I've decided (not sell) my bike after all.
c) A witness reported (see) Terry at the scene of the crime.
d) William pretended (not notice) the 'No Parking' sign.
e) I suppose I tend (buy) more books than I used to.
f) Sometimes I regret (move) to this part of the country.
g) Did you notice anyone (wait) outside when you left?
h) Mark expects (finish) work round about 6.00.

4 Complete each sentence w i t h a suitable f o r m of one of the verbs in brackets.

a) Mary was so angry that she demanded.. to see the manager.

(demand, hope, risk, stop)
b) The weather is so awful that I don't going out this
evening.
(fancy, like, try, want)
c) The children could hardly to leave their pets behind.
(bear, forget, regret, seem)
d) John to let his children go to the concert.
(afford, avoid, refuse, stop)
e) If I give you the information, I losing my job!
(expect, mean, prepare, risk)
f) What do you to be doing in ten years time?
(begin, expect, remember, suggest)
g) Do you to tell the police about the missing money?
(admit, confess, deny, intend)

Key p o i n t s l Check new verbs in a good dictionary as it will show how they should be used.
2 Note that some verbs can be used in different ways with changes of meaning.

169