Verb + -ing or to... (1) (remember/regret etc.)
When one verb follows another verb, the structure is usually verb + -ing or verb + to... . Compare:
verb + -ing
• They denied stealing the money.
• I enjoy going out.
Often we use -ing for an action that happens before the first verb or at the same time:
stealing <— denied
f enjoy ^ going
)
verb + to...
• They decided to steal the money.
• I want to go out.
Often we use to... for an action that follows the first verb:
decided —» to steal        want —» to go
This difference is often helpful (see Section B) but does not explain all uses of -ing and to.
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'm absolutely sure 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 happened, but he couldn't remember the accident itself.
I remembered to do something = I remembered that I had to do it, and so I did it. You remember to do something before you do it:
• I remembered to lock the door when I left but I forgot to shut the windows. (= I remembered that I had to lock the door and so I locked it)
• Please remember to post the letter. (= don't forget to post it)
EXERCISES
55.1   Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to... . Sometimes either form is possible.
1 They denied .-.stealing... the money, (steal)
2 I don't enjoy.......................................very much, (drive)
3 I don't want.......................................out tonight. I'm too tired, (go)
4 I can't afford......................................- out tonight. I haven't got enough money, (go)
5 Has it stopped.......................................yet? (rain)
6 Can you remind me.......................................some coffee when we go out? (buy)
7 Why do you keep..................................me questions? Can't you leave me alone? (ask)
8 Please stop.......................................me questions! (ask)
9 I refuse.......................................any more questions, (answer)
10 One of the boys admitted.......................................the window, (break)
11 The boy's father promised........................:...........for the window to be repaired, (pay)
12 Ann was having dinner when the phone rang. She didn't answer the phone; she just carried on........................................(eat)
13 'How did the thief get into the house?'   'I forgot.......................................the window.' (shut)
14 I've enjoyed....................................you. (meet) I hope......................................you again soon, (see)
15 The baby began.......................................in the middle of the night, (cry)
16 Julia has been ill but now she's beginning ......................................better, (get)
55.2
regret
I regret doing something = I did it and now I'm sorry about it: • I now regret saying what I said. I shouldn'thave said it.
I regret to say / to tell you / to inform you = I'm sorry that I have to say (etc.): • (from a formal letter) We regret to
inform you that we are unable to offer
you the job.
go on
Go on doing something = continue doing the same thing:
• The minister went on talking for two hours.
• We must change our ways. We can't go on living like this.
Go on to do something = do or say something new:
• After discussing the economy, the minister then went on to talk about foreign policy.
begin     start     intend     continue bother
These verbs can be followed by -ing or to.,. with little or no difference in meaning. So you can say:
• It has started raining,   or   It has started to rain.
9 John intends buying a house,   or   John intends to buy...
• Don't bother locking the door,   or   Don't bother to lock... But normally we do not use -ing after -ing:
• It's starting to rain, (not 'it's starting raining')
Here is some information about Tom when he was a child.
1 He was in hospital when he was four.         4 He cried on his first day at school.
2 He went to Paris when he was eight. 5 He said he wanted to be a doctor.
3 Once he fell into a river. 6 Once he was bitten by a dog.
He can still remember 1, 2 and 4. But he can't remember 3, S and 6. Write sentences beginning He can remember... or He can't remember... . 1  ...He. can. remember being, in hospital, when, jte
3
4
5
6
55.3   Complete these sentences with a suitable verb in the correct form, -ing or to...
you any money.
Please remember ...ta.te&k... the door when you go out. A: You lent me some money a few months ago.
B: Did I? Are you sure? I don't remember...............................
A: Did you remember.......................................your sister?
B: Oh no, I completely forgot. I'll phone her tomorrow.
When you see Mandy, remember.....................................her my regards, won't you?
Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember.......................................it by the
window and now it has gone.
I believe that what I said was fair. I don't regret.......................................it.
(after a driving test) I regret.......................................that you have failed the test.
Keith joined the company 15 years ago. He was quickly promoted and became assistant
manager after two years. A few years later he went on......................................manager of the
company.
I can't go on.......................................here any more. I want a different job.
When I came into the room, Liz was reading a newspaper. She looked up and said hello to me, and then went on.......................................her newspaper.
Verb + -ing   IffUBH    Verb + to...
units 53-54
Other verbs + -ing or to... —
units 56-57