After teaching for a while, everyone realises that there are a series of aspects of the foreign language that manage to drive most students potty. Most of these issues are tough because they don’t have a clear explanation, or because they differ considerably from the learner’s mother tongue. This is usually the case, for instance, of verbs that are followed by an infinitive or/and an «-ing» form. The thing with this grammar point is that there is no rule that justifies why some verbs are followed by one form or the other. However, there is a reduced group of verbs which do have an explanation. But before going into more detail, let’s see a basic outline of this grammar point.
Infinitive or -ing form?
When following verbs with another verb, the second one can take either the infinitive form or the «-ing» form. All these verbs can be classified into 5 groups:
1. Always followed by -ing: appreciate, avoid, contemplate, etc.
2. Always followed by infinitive: decide, manage, choose, demand, etc.
3. Always followed by bare infinitive (without «to»): make, let, modal verbs, etc.
4. Followed by infinitive or -ing without a change in meaning: like, hate, prefer, love, etc.
5. Followed by infinitive or -ing with a change in meaning: try, stop, remember, forget, etc.
You can read the full explanation and a complete list of verbs here: -ing or infinitive?
Infinitive or -ing form with a change in meaning
From the list above, group number 4 is the easiest to remember and group 5 comes next. As with group 4 there’s barely any difference between the forms, we will focus on group 5, where we can find 7 common verbs:
1. Remember
If we «remember to do something», whether it is in the past, present or future, we are talking about something we have to do, a sort of obligation. For example:
Hey, mum. Did you remember to pick up my suit from the dry-cleaner’s?
However, if we «remember doing something», we would be referring to a memory of a moment or event. For instance:
I will always remember kissing you for the first time.
2. Forget
The case of this verb is exactly the same as with «remember», but take into account that the meaning is exactly the opposite. Take a look at the sentences below:
Hey, mum. You didn’t forget to pick up my suit at the dry-cleaner’s, did you?
I will never forget kissing you for the first time.
3. Try
The difference in meaning of this verb is probably the trickiest for learners.
When we say «try to do something» it means that we attempt to do something, presumably without succeeding. However, when we say «try doing» we are referring to an action that we actually did, not only attempted. Study the sentences below for better insight:
Last night I (1)tried to sleep for hours, but I simply couldn’t. I was so desperate that I even(2)tried counting sheep!
((1)attempted to sleep with no success; (2) actually counted sheep.)
Mary: John, my computer’s not working. I’ve tried to make it work, but it doesn’t respond.
Max: Have you tried restarting it? That’ll probably do the trick.
4. Go on
Study the difference between the following sentences and clarifications:
After listening to me closely, Tim went on to read his newspaper.
(= First, Tim listened to me, then he started to read his newspaper.)Tim wasn’t really listening to me, he simply went on reading his newspaper.
(= Tim didn’t listen to me, he just continued reading his newspaper.)
Tim is far more polite in the first example. The first case (went on to read) means that Tim changed one activity for another: first he listened and then he read the newspaper. The second case, however, means that Tim did not interrupt the action of reading.
5. Mean
If you «mean to do something» you intentionally do something. For example:
I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m really sorry.
(= It was not my intention to hurt you.)
On the other hand, if something «means doing something» else, we are saying that it involves doing something else.
Putting your name down for that competition will mean training at least twice a week.
(= Entering the competition will involve training twice a week.)
6. Regret
In this case the difference is very clear and it must be noted that «regret doing something» is a more common form than «regret to do something», as the latter is normally used in a very specific context. Take a look at the following sentences:
I honestly regret not studying harder for my final exams.
(= I wish I had studied harder. I wish I could change the past.)
We regret to inform you that you have not been selected for the job.
(= We are sorry to inform you that you have not been selected for the job.)
The second use (regret to do something) is very common when we have to give bad news within a formal context (e.g. job interview, someone’s death, etc.)
7. Stop
Probably, an effective way to understand the difference between «stop to do» or «stop doing» is to read the following question:
Which is healthier: (1)stop to smoke or (2)stop smoking?
In case you still don’t see the difference, (1) means that you interrupt an activity in order to smoke, while (2) means that you are quitting an unhealthy habit. Therefore, stopping smoking is healthier than stopping to smoke.
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