GRAMMAR
Verbsfollowedby-ingorinfinitive
noun
Verbs follorved bY -ing or a
either by another
Some verbs can be r"irl"*"á
as possible'
to avoid walking as much
""
verb in an -ingform or a noun'
iy
I
managed to avoid an argwnent'
Verbs in this list include:
risk'
help' keep' mind, miss, Practise,
avoid, be worth, dislike' enjoy' fancy'
can't stand
[t'snotworthwaitingforabusatthistimeofday'
I dislike having to get uP earlY'
other countries?
Do you en¡oy meeiing people from
I dán't fancy
-Cro,rg,
going out thk
ev-ening'
you!
,on;'ielplaughing when he.sees
I w¡lh you wouldn't keep interrupting'
I don't mindhelping you do the washing-up'
long country walks'
lane misses going for
yourself'
You should p'o'li-" introilucing
the
in
forest'
We can't risk starting a fire
I can't stand goingto
o
Verbs followed by
office parties'
-ing'or a noun' or t that-cluse
-ing form' or a noun' or a
either by another verb in an
foliáwed
be
can
verbs
some
that-claose'
the moneY'
Iack admitted' stealing
it'
the money' Iack admitted
When accused of
'teaiing stolen the money
he had
Iack admitted that
Verbs in this list include:
rePort' suggest
deny' imagine' recollect'
admit, consider,
up jogging?
Have you considered taking
before'
has never driven abroad
You must cons;idet that lim
moneY'
Peter denied stealing the
before'
you
I don't recollect meeting
I hod another appointment'
suddenty I recollectedlhot
watch to the director'
Helen reported losing her
I suggesied going to the beach'
the beach'
t s;{gested that we went to
o
little change of meaning
by;;" -;;;i*;or an infinitive
infinitive:
Verbs fotlowed by -ingor
.urL'" fort*"d
either
and there is little or
Some verbs
Verbs in this list include:
-'o;'i'tte'
no change in meaning'
prefer' start
bear' hate' intend' like' love'
dread',not
U'gil'
atternpt,
leavingbut the police stopped
I attempted ioirou, /
me'
161
FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
prefer are followed by an infinitive'
The forms would like, would love and would
then'
I'd like to come to your party' but I'll be away
that gives pleasure. But it has a
Like tocan have its nármaimeaning of something
it gives us
a habitual action, whether or not
second meaning which is to talk about
pleasure.
On Sundays
o
I like
to get up early and go for a swim'
of meaningVerbs followed by -ing or infinitive: change
-iigform, or by th¡ infinitive, and there is a
some verbs can be followed either by an
and check more examples in a
in meaning. Study the examples below carefully
change
dictionarY.
forget and remember
of the past (the action happens before
we use/org et / remember doingfor memories
theremembering).Weuse/orget/remembertodoforactionsSomeoneis/was
before the action)'
supposed to do ithe remembering happens
(meet > forget)
I won't forget meeting you'
(invite > forget)
to lunch'
I forgot thst I had' ¡i,it'a rcn people
(forget > buy)
I forgot to buy any coffee.
(forget > go)
I won't forget to go there.
(lock remember)
'
I remember locking the door'
(leave remember)
behind'
keys
my
'
I remembered thai I had left
(remember > lock)
door'
Please remember
to
lock the
go on
r^/ ,,^^ -^ ^.^ +^ J^ '^,han ¡ '
Weusegoondoingwhenwecontinuedoingsomething.Weusegoontodowhenrt¿
move on to do something else'
(did the same thing)
Diana went on working all night'
(did something else)
to say that the strike was over'
The director went on
mean
in or involves another' We use mean to
We use mean doingwhen one thing results
to express an intention'
(involves)
This means leaving at 6.00'
(has a result)
This means that we will have to leave at 6'00!
I meant to ¡thone You but I forgot'
L:''
(intended)
regret
that happened in the past'
regret doingwhen we are sorry about something
Kate regretteil not buying the house'
rf" ur.
Kate regretted that she hadn't bought the house'
Weuseregrettoinform/totellwhenwearegivingbadnews.Thisuseisformal.
I regret to tell you that you have failed'
stop
We use stop to do when we give the reasc*
We use stoP doingwhen we end an action.
for stopPing.
(gave up going)
I stopped going to evening classes'
(in order to buy)
I stoPPed to buY some coffee'
t62
GRAMMAR23VERBSFoLLoWEDBY.,NGoRINFINITIVE
try
ú.
,rr. try doingwhen we do something and see what happens.
We use try to do when
we make an effort to do something, but dont necessarily succeed.
(suggesting an action)
Why don't you trY getting uP earlY?
(try and fail)
I tried to get uP early, but I couldn't.
o
Verbs followed bY the infinitive
some verbs can only be followed by the infinitive. These include:
ffird,
appear, choose, fail' happen, help,long manag4 offer' prepare' refuse' tend'
wait, want
I
can't afford to go on holiday abroad this year'
The car aPq,ears to have broken down.
I chose not to go to unittersitY.
Gerry failed to artive on time.
I happened to be passing
so
I
dropped in'
Some verbs can be followed by an object + infinitive: ask, tell, advise, order
David asked me to give this to You.
I told you not to ilo that!
o
Verbs followed by the infinitive, or a that-clatse
include:
Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive or a that-clatse. These
plan' pretend'
agree, arrange, decide, demand' desire, exPect, hope, intend' learn'
promise, seem, threaten, wish
Tom agreed to meet us outside the cinema'
Tom agreed that he would meet us outside the cinema'
that we would leave at 5'30'
Iohn decided to take the bus.
John decided that he would take the bus'
We arranged
o
Verbs followed by -ing,or infinitive without úo
without úo' There
some verbs can be foliowed by an object + -ing, or an infinitive
'verbs of perception and
is a change in meaning. These verbs are sometimes called
include:
watch
feel, hear, listen to, notice, see,
-ing form' lf we
If we see or hear only part of the action, or it continues, we use the
the infinitive without úo'
see or hear the whole action from beginning to end, we use
Compare:
felt
I felt
I
moving. (continuing action)
train move. (one completed action)
the train
the
of meaning.
Some of these verbs can be used with a "rmt-clatse with a change
(believe)
job'
I feel that you should look for another
heard that the match is off' (receive news)
l've
See
iust
that you lock up when you leave' (make sure)
t63
FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
Complete each sentence with a suitable form of the verb in brackets.
I I really miss (play) .....p.1a9u.w9......... tennis like I used to.
......'.. to you, but I ve been busy'
2 I'm sorry. I meant (write)
......... the rent on time yet again.
3 Martin failed (pay)
a return ticket.
(buy)
...........
4 It's not worth
5 Have you eyer considered (work)
'....'.'. as a teacher?
(feed)
the cat'
........'
6 I promise I wont forget
7
8
...'..... outside the school at 4'30'
Weve arranged (meet)
(take)
an aspirin.
..........
If you've got a headache, try
Complete each sentence with a suitable form of the verb in brackets.
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
l0
Pauline couldnt manage (eat) ......!.q..qfi!...........'.. all the ice cream.
.....,... my bike after all.
I've decided (not sell)
Terry at the scene of the crime.
A witness reported (see) ............
......... the'No Parking' sign'
William pretended (not notice)
more books than I used to'
I suppose I tend (buy) ....... ...
(move)
....'.'.. to this part of the country'
Sometimes I regret
outside when you left?
Did.you notice anyone (wait) ..........
(finish)
.....'." work round about 6.00'
One of the boys admitted (start)
'. the fire.
so much money like this.
We really cant go on (waste)
Mark expects
3 Complete each sentence with a suitable form of one of the verbs in bracke
I
2
3
Mary was so angry that she ..d.evv*aw.ded........ to see the manager.
(demand, hope, risk, stop)
......... going out this evening
Theweather is so awful that I dont
(fancy,like, tr¡ want)
......... to leave their pets behind'
The children could hardly
(bear, forget, regret, seem)
4 ]ohn
......... to let his children go to the concert.
6
(afford, avoid, refuse, stop)
......... losing my job!
If I give you the information, I
(expect, mean, prepare, risk)
......... to be doing in ten years time?
What do you
7
(begin, expect, remember, suggest)
to tell the police about the missing money?
Do you ..............
5
(admit, confess, deny, intend)
t64
GRAMMAR23VERBSFoLLoWEDBY-,NGoRINFINITIVE
Completethesecondsentencesothatithasasimilarmeaningtothefirst
given' You must use
not change the word
sentence, using the word given' Do
betweentwoandfivewords,includingthewordgiven.
1
Jack said that he
hadnt cheated in the exam'
cheating
l"ri ......,.art*Led.o.he.ad!-*'a""""""""
letter'
It was difficult for me not to laugh at Wendy's
help
2
I ..................
' in the exam'
at wendy's letter'
the post'
I'm sorry but you have not been appointed to
regret
3
you have not been appointed to the post'
I needed a drink of water and so I stopped running'
L..................
4
to
5 I thi;l it would be a good idea to take the train'
taking
...................
r
6
Dont forget the lights when you leave'
7
Dont forget
I think Derek has forgotten the meeting'
off
appears
the meeting'
My neighbour said he would call the police!
threatened
My neighbour
Key
"""""""' whenYouleave'
"""""
Derek
8
""" the train'
...""""""'
the Police'
points M
lChecknewverbsinagooddictionaryasitwillshowhowtheyshouldbeused.
of meaning'
2
ways with changes
Note that some rrerbs lan be used in different
á SEE ALSO
Gonsolidation 6: Units 21-24
165