Verb + -ing or to… (1)

Изучаем речевые конструкции английского языка, для построения которых использован глаголы remember/regret (помнить/сожалеть) с инговым ( -ing) окончанием или после глагола стоит частичка «to»

И практикуемся в использовании таких английских предложений

 

A. When one verb follows another verb, the structure is usually verb + -ing or verb + to…

 

Compare:

 

verb + -ing		verb + to…
They denied stealing the money.		They decided to steal the money.
I enjoy going out.		I want to go out.
Often we use -ing for an action that happens before the first verb or at the same time:		Often we use to… for an action that follows the first verb:
denied <— stealing		decided —> to steal
enjoy <—> going		want —> to go

 

This difference is often helpful but does not explain all uses of -ing and to…

B. 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.		I remembered to do something = I remembered that I had to do it, and so I did it.
You remember doing something after you have done it:		You remember to do something before you do it:
I’m absolutely sure I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it.  (= I locked it, and now I remember this)		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)
He could remember driving along the road just before the accident happened, but he couldn’t remember the accident itself.		Please remember to post the letter. (= don’t forget to post it)

 

regret

 

I regret doing something = I did it and now I’m sorry about it:		I regret to say / to tell you / to inform you = I’m sorry that I have to say (etc.):
I now regret saying what I said. I shouldn’t have said it.		(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:		Go on to do something = do or say something new:
The minister went on talking for two hours.		After discussing the economy, the minister then went on to talk about foreign policy.
We must change our ways. We can’t go on living like this.

C. 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.
• 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’)

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EXERCISES

 

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?’   T 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)

 

2 Here is some information about Tom when he was a child.

 

1. He was in hospital when he was four.
2. He went to Paris when he was eight.          r.
3. Once he fell into a river.
4. He cried on his first day at school.
5. He said he wanted to be a docto
6. Once he was bitten by a dog.

 

He can still remember 1, 2 and 4. But he can’t remember 3, 5 and 6.

Write sentences beginning He can remember… or He can’t remember… .

 

1. He can remember being in hospital when he was four….
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

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

 

1. a Please remember …to lock. the door when you go out.
b   A: You lent me some money a few months ago.
B: Did I? Are you sure? I don’t remember ………………………………… you any money.
c   A: Did you remember ………………………………… your sister?
B: Oh no, I completely forgot. I’ll phone her tomorrow.
d When you see Mandy, remember ………………………………. her my regards, won’t you?
e Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember ………………………………… it by the
window and now it has gone.

 

2 a I believe that what I said was fair. I don’t regret………………………………… it.
b (after a driving test) I regret ……………………………… that you have failed the test.

 

3 a 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.
b I can’t go on ………………………………… here any more. I want a different job.
c 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.