Verbs with different meanings depending on ING or TO

English Grammar & Use - B1+ Suite

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Verbs with Changes in Meaning depending on ING of TO

STOP REMEMBER & FORGET TRY GO ON REGRET NEED MEAN VERBS OF PERCEPTION

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OUTCOME STATEMENT Understanding how these verbs change in meaning depending on whether they are followed by the Gerund or the Infinitive.

STUDY TIME: 40 Mins QUIZ: 30 questions

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Verbs & Changes in Meaning depending on ING & TO

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STOP

REMEMBERFORGET

TRY

GO ON

SEE HEARFEEL

NEED

REGRET

MEAN

WORKSHEETDOWNLOAD

Stop DOING something or Stop TO DO something ?

Stop can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a difference in meaning.

1. Use STOP + ING when you want name an action which was terminated or interrupted.

nb: STOP + NOUN, e.g. I stopped the car, focusses on the noun. I stopped driving the car focusses on the action.

I stopped working at 6pm.

Stop to means: interrupt doing one action in order to do a different action.

2. Use Stop + TO when you want to specify the reason why you interrupted an action.

We can also say: I stopped for a coffee Never say: I stopped for have a coffee

I stopped to have a coffee at 11am.

I stopped working to have a coffee.

3. Sentences which clearly state both what & why are not so common in spoken English.

Other typical examples:

a. I stopped the car to check the tyre pressures. (i.e. I stopped driving (why?) to make sure the pressure of my tyres was ok)

b. They stopped me at customs to go through my bags. (i.e. The customs officers interrupted my journey to see what was in my bags)

c. When it started snowing, we stopped work to go outside and have a snowball fight. (i.e. we interrupted our work in order to play)

d. Although we stop going to school at a certain age, we should never stop learning.

Reflect, then click to see the correct forms.

I stopped to work at 11am.

I stopped for have a coffee.

for petrol.

for petrol.

I stopped to have/for a coffee.

I stopped working at 11am.

getting petrol.

On my way home I stopped

getting petrol.

It stopped to rain after an hour.

to get petrol.

to get petrol.

It stopped raining after an hour.

Remember/Forget DOING something or Remember/Forget TO DO something ?

Remember & Forget can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a BIG difference in meaning.

I remember meeting him at conference last year.

1.1 Recall doing something = remember doing something.

1. We remember doing things only after we do them.

Means I remember now that I met him last year. I haven't forgotten meeting him.

1.2 That clauses are common after remember & forget instead of ING

• I remember (that) you went to New York last year.
• I forgot (that) you speak Spanish.

Further examples

• I don't remember saying that I'd cook tonight.

• I remember buying some wine, but I can't find it. Have you drunk it?

• I'll never forget seeing the Colosseum for the first time.

Clarification & Alternative expressions!

Listen to these examples. Repeat them, then make your own example phrases.

Click to show/hide the phrase.

I remember going to Venice as a child.

Click to show/hide the phrase.

I'll never forget seeing the Taj Mahal.

2.3 We use the imperative to remind people to do things:

• Remember to pay the invoice today.
• Don't forget to pay the invoice today.

2.1 We remember to do things before we do them.

2.2 Remember to & Don't forget to is used more frequently that the +ING use

Remember to lock the door.

I never forget to lock the door.

When we REMEMBER TO DO things, WE REMEMBER FIRST, THEN DO THE THING EXPRESSED BY THE INFINITIVE This is the complete opposite of REMEMBER DOING things where we DO THINGS FIRST THEN REMEMBER THEM LATER

Reflect, then click which form you think is correct.

1. I clearly remember milk yesterday.

buying

to feed

being

2. I never forget the dog.

3. Nobody remembers born!

feeding

to be

to feed

to be

being

to buy

buying

to buy

feeding

But mothers never forget giving birth!!

Try DOING something or Try TO DO something ?

Try can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a BIG difference in meaning.

1. Try + ING means DO SOMETHING AS AN EXPERIMENT

Do the experiment to see if: 1. it solves a problem for us. 2. we like doing it or 3. we are able to do it.

I tried counting sheep* to get to sleep.

Context*: I couldn't get to sleep so I experimented with counting sheep to see if it solved my insomnia problem.

Further examples

• If you can't sleep, why don't you try using melatonin or passiflora tablets?

• The soup was too salty, so I tried adding more water. It was still too salty though.

• I had tried jogging, cycling and working out in the gym before falling in love with swimming.

1.1 Try + gerund is often used to make suggestions:

• Do you want to give up smoking? Try using nicotene patches or gum, they can help.

• If you have issues with our product, you should try reading the FAQ on our website or calling our helpline.

1.2 The past tense, i.e. I tried using/calling etc, means that you did something but has implications: 1. that the action did not resolve a problem or 2. that you didn't enjoy it.

1. I tried using nicotene gum to stop smoking, but it didn't help.
2. I tried skiing once, but it wasn't for me.

SUGGESTIONS

2. Try + TO* means make an effort or an attempt to do something .

I tried to stay awake, but I fell asleep.

2.1 The tenses try to - be trying to - I'll try to imply difficulty & that success is not guaranteed.

• I'm trying to concentrate. (concentration is difficult)
• Qu) Can you finish the report by 5pm? Ans) I'll try to.

2.2 The past and present perfect tenses, tried to & have tried to, mean you attempted to do something but failed to actually do it. NB* you can substitute TRY TO with ATTEMPT TO

• I tried to climb Gran Sasso in flip flops, but I twisted my ankle and gave up. (I failed in my attempt to climb Gran Sasso)

• I tried to phone you yesterday, but my battery died.

Further examples

• Please try to persuade the client to buy more.

• Many people had tried to build a flying machine before the Wright brothers' successful first flight.

• I tried to book a table for 9pm but the restaurant was all booked up.

• Please try to arrive on time. It's an important meeting.

Try continues

Reflect on these cases

Click a) or b) below to reveal feedback.

2. In which case, a) or b), did you actually take a headache pill?

1. In which case, a) or b), did you actually ask the manager for help?

I needed some help so I tried asking my manager.

a)

I tried to take a headache pill.

a)

b)

I needed some help so I tried to ask my manager.

I tried taking a headache pill.

b)

Try without ING or TO:

1. Removal of the gerund action to focus on a noun phrase

• I tried Karate to see if I liked it - instead of - I tried doing Karate to see if I liked it
• I tried my friend's new IPhone - instead of - I tried using my friends new IPhone.

5. Colloquial spoken English: Try and

• Please try and come to the party.
• I'll try and finish the report by 5.
• I'm gonna try and arrive on time.

5.1 The AND replaces TO in this structure.

• Used only in imperatives, present simple & futures.
• In normal speech the sound is "un" not "and"
• Listen to the examples and try to mimic them.

2. Try something out (test something to see if you like it or that it is satisfactory)

• I tried a new car out last week (Ihad a test drive).
• The company let me try out their product on a 14-day trial period.

3. With food/drink & other objects.

• This cake is delicious. Do you want to try some?
• You should try the new Mexican restaurant in town. It's great.
• Can I try your new smartwatch? I'm considering buying one.

4. Try clothes on (test size & style by wearing clothes before you buy them).

• I don't buy clothes online because I like to try things on before buying them.
• I regret not trying on these shoes before buying them. They're a bit tight.

Go on DOING something or Go on TO DO something ?

Go on can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a difference in meaning.

1. Go on + ING means continuing the same action without interruption or restarting something after an interruption.

He went on talking for hours.

After a short break, he went on working.

1.1 Go on/Keep on/Carry on + ING all have a similar meaning:

• Although I asked him to slow down, he kept on driving too fast.

2. Go on + TO means there is a change in action. Move forward from one thing to another.

After working as Marketing Director, he went on to become the CEO.

2.1 This use is common with scenarios that happen in stages:

• After completing stage 1, he went on to start stage 2.
• After completing my basic education, I went on to obtain a degree.

Reflect on these examples then Click an ING/TO option to see the correct form.

to study

3. I can't go on .................. , I'm too tired.

1. First he studied the basics of physics, then went on ................. advanced concepts.

2. He studied the basics of physics and went on ................. until he was an expert.

studying

studying

to study

studying

studying

to study

to study

running

to run

to run

running

Regret DOING something or Regret TO DO something ?

Regret can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a difference in meaning.

I regret being so rude to her.

1. Regret + ING means we did something and we are now sorry we did it. We regret things after we do them.

I SHOULDN'T have said that! I regret saying it now!

Yeah! I bet you WISH you hadn't said it!!

1.1 I regret not studying harder for the test.

Means we didn't do something which we are now sorry we didn't do.

Grammar & Fluency Extension!

Means we did something which we are not sorry we did.

1.2 I don't regret getting married.

Trenitalia regrets to inform passengers that the 10.40 train to Milan is cancelled.

2. Highly Formal English Register: used to communicate unwelcome news.

• Common only in institutional & business contexts where formality is the norm.
• To inform is the most common verb.

I regret to admit that I made a few mistakes in the report.

3. Regret to say/tell you/to admit: used when you have to communicate something which puts you in a negative light or is uncomfortable to communicate due to its nature.

• I regret to tell you that your pet frog didn't survive the surgery.
• I regret to say that I won't arrive in time for the meeting.

3.1 In this use, you don't actually 'regret' the situation. You regret that you have to communicate it. You could also use: I'm sorry to.

It Needs DOING or We Need TO DO it ?

Need can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a difference in meaning.

Further examples

• Your hair is getting very long. I think it needs cutting.
• This room is very messy. It needs tidying.
• My Granny is 90, she can't look after herself - she needs looking after.

Need + gerund has a passive meaning, but doesn't use a passive construction.The passive for 'The car needs cleaning' is 'The car needs to be cleaned'.

1. Need + ING focuses attention on what needs to happen to the subject of the sentence. It doesn't say who needs to do the action.

The car needs cleaning.

You need to clean the car.

2. Need + TO focuses on what action it is necessary for the subject to take.

Further examples

• We need to hurry if we don't want to miss the train.
• You need to go to the hairdresser and get your hair cut.

Necessity.

3. Don't say 'I have necessity to' in English. Say 'I need to'.

4. 'There is no necessity to' is slighly more formal than 'There is no need to'

No Necessity.

Needn't: e.g. You needn't go to the meeting

5. Needn't is a slightly more formal way of saying 'don't need to'.

• It's used more in British than American English.
• Note that you use an infinitive without to after needn't.

Need you? e.g. Need you go to the meeting?

6. Need I/you/he/she/we/they is a slightly more formal way of saying 'Do you really have to?' / 'Is it really necessary?'

• Note that you use an infinitive without to after this form.

Mean DOING or Mean TO DO ?

Mean can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but there is a difference in meaning.

Preparation for a marathon means having to run long distances regularly*.

Further examples.

• Going to America from Europe means taking a long flight.
• Globalisation means being active in every major market.
• Doing a degree means studying for a minimum of 3 years.

1. Mean + ING expresses that one thing necessitates or involves doing another thing/other things.

*i.e. If you want to run a marathon, you have to run long distances regularly.

2. Mean + TO expresses intention to do something.

• Lack of intention is expressed with not mean to.
• You can substitute MEAN TO with INTEND TO

I didn't mean to upset you last weekend. I meant to call you yesterday to apologize.

3. Uses 1 & 2 above are different from To Mean = To Signify

• qu) What does defenestrate mean?
• ans) It means to remove someone from a position of power or authority.

4. Be aware of potential abiguity between:

• What did you mean to say? (What did you intend to say?)

• What did you mean to her? (What did you signify to her?)

Verbs of perception: See - Hear - Feel + ING or Bare Infinitive ?

These verbs can be followed by either a gerund or a bare infinitive, but there is a difference in meaning.

1. When followed by a gerund the meaning is that we heard - saw - felt either;

• an action while it was in progress (part of the action, not all of it)

or

• a repeated action

I saw him driving a blue Maseratti. I heard her playing Beethoven. I felt the earth quaking.

2. When followed by a bare infinitive the meaning is that we heard - saw - felt either;

• the whole of an action from start to finish

or

• perceived something at the moment it happened*

(*perception of event & the event itself are simultaneous)

I saw him drive away in a blue Maseratti. I heard her play Beethoven in Berlin. I felt the temperature change suddenly.

Compare:

• I felt a wasp stinging me (repeated action - many stings)
• I felt a wasp sting me (one sting - perceived as it happened)

Compare:

• I saw the man driving (While he was driving, I saw him).
• I saw the man drive into a wall (I saw the moment of impact).

The gerund/bare infinitive distinction described in 1 & 2 above also applies to: Watch - Listen - Notice

In which sentence did you see the names of all the actors, technicians etc at the end of the film? Click on your choice to find out.

Which sentence is correct? Click on your choice to find out.

a) I watched the film's credits roll, then left the cinema.

a) I watched the film's credits roll, then left the cinema.

b) I watched the film's credits rolling, then left the cinema.

b) I watched the film's credits rolling, then left the cinema.

a) I saw the bullet hitting the target.

a) I saw the bullet hitting the target

Now watch a bullet hitting a target

b) I saw the bullet hit the target.

b) I saw the bullet hit the target

Click here for feedback

Building Fluency

Knowing how to express the same concept using different structures helps you become more fluent and avoids you always repeating the same old phrases!

Expressing REGRET with the structure SHOULDN'T HAVE + Past Participle

• I shouldn't have bought this jacket, it doesn't suit me

VS

• I regret buying this jacket, it doesn't suit me

The Modal Perfect form SHOULD/SHOULDN'T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE , e.g. I should have studied harder for the test is related in meaning to: I REGRET + GERUND e.g. I regret not studying for the test I REGRET + PERFECT GERUND e.g. I regret not having studied for the test It's common to find these 2 forms used together:

• I really shouldn't have been so rude to her....I regret saying what I did. I hope she'll forgive me.

The use of both together reinforces/emphasises the feeling of 'sorrow/regret'.

You can find out more about using MODAL PERFECT FORMS in the relavant Surface Module.

If you say, 'I saw the bullet hitting the target', you must have super slo-mo vision! A superpower!! Bullets move too fast for humans to see! But we can say, 'I saw the bullet hit the target' because, although we didn't actually see the bullet, we were able to see its impact, i.e. the hole it made!!

A4 CREATIONS © 2024 by JONATHAN BOYDELL is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Building Fluency

If you want to become more fluent, learn how to say the same thing using different words. By doing this, you'll transform your fluency!

Expressing REGRET with the verb WISH

A Note about CAMBRIDGE EXAMS

These 2 sentences say the same thing / express the same idea, but in different words. This skill of 'saying the same thing in different words' is tested in the Cambridge FCE, CAE & PCE exams in a section called 'Sentence Transformations'. Cambridge consider it so important in the Use of English test paper that each correct transformation is worth 2 points. All other questions on the paper are worth only 1 point each.

• I wish I hadn't bought this jacket, it doesn't suit me

=

• I regret buying this jacket, it doesn't suit me

So, the form WISH + PAST PERFECT , e.g. I wish I had studied harder for the test is closely related in meaning to: I REGRET + GERUND e.g. I regret not studying for the test I REGRET + PERFECT GERUND e.g. I regret not having studied for the test

You can find out more about using WISH in the Conditionals & Wishes Surface Modules

• REMEMBER + ING means the same as RECALL + ING

Both expressions mean you are able to 'call to your mind' the memory of something you DID IN THE PAST

So:

• I remember paying the gas bill

= I recall paying the gas bill

& both mean: I PAID THE GAS BILL AND HAVE A MEMORY OF DOING IT

NEXT

• REMEMBER + ING can also be expressed using - I REMEMBER (THAT) I + PAST SIMPLE/PAST CONTINUOUS

So:

• I remember paying the gas bill

= I remember (that) I paid the gas bill

• I remember driving slowly before the accident

= I remember (that) I was driving slowly before the accident

NEXT

Hey Jack, do you remember meeting Brad Pitt that time?

To Reminisce: talk with people about shared past experiences - the recollection of past events - to talk about pleasant memories

• We often use REMEMBER + ING when REMINISCING with friends

Yeah, mate, I do! I remember him being really friendly and buying us a few drinks!

NEXT

We say: I can't / don't remember if I locked the door or not when we are unsure if we did an action

• WHEN YOU CAN'T REMEMBER and WHEN YOU DON'T REMEMBER

We say: I don't remember meeting you before when we have no recollection, i.e. no clear memory, of doing something

We say: I don't remember leaving the lights on when the present situation is not in line with what you remember

NEXT

When we are talking about past actions and our memories of them we can use either the Gerund or the Perfect Gerund

• REMEMBER DOING vs REMEMBER HAVING DONE

• I don't remember seeing this film before, but it is familiar.

Both forms mean the same thing. Mother tongue speakers use the Gerund more often than the Perfect Gerund with Remember.

• I don't remember having seen this film before, but it is familiar.

Problems with your PC? The first thing the IT department says when you call them is...

This phrase is so famous, amongst GEEKS, that you can even buy the T-shirt...

Have you ever experienced a 'connection blackspot'?It's very frustrating when you can't get online! Here's what Google's Chrome browser suggests you do to remedy the situation:

Definition

Definition

Source: The IT Crowd, 2006 - 2010 - Talkback Thames

So, to give advice you can say: Why don't you try + ing Have you tried + ing You could try + ing or, to be more direct, use the imperative: Try + ing