Profesora: Paqui Muñoz Mendoza
ADVANCED LEVEL
Verbs followed either by “to infinitive” or” ing form”
1) Same Meaning
Begin, start, continue, cease, can’t bear, intend.
I can’t bear to see/seeing people suffering.
2) Same meaning but different use
 Care, Dread, Like love, prefer, hate can be followed by the “-ing” or
infinitive with to with no difference of meaning.
 In American English, the infinitive with to is often preferred. In British
English, the infinitive with to is mainly used to talk about choices and
habits.
I like to go to the dentist twice a year.
I hate to interrupt, but we have to go.
 All of them are followed by a” to-infinitive” when used in the conditional.
Would you like to come with me to the party?
 Prefer:
Talking about preferences on a specific occasion, we use would
prefer+ rather than, followed by a bare infinitive:
I’d prefer to go skiing this year rather than go on a beach holiday.
Talking about preferences in general, we use subject+prefer+ verb ing +
to+ verb ing.
I prefer going to the mountains to going to the beach.
If the verb after prefer is in the negative, use the infinitive with to.
I prefer not to write by hand.
 Advice, allow, permit, *suggest, *recommend and forbid are followed
by a verb in “-ing” if there is no object, but they are followed by a to
infinitive if the object is specified:
He advised applying for the job.
He advised me to apply for the job.
The verbs *suggest and *recommend do not take the V + Obj+ to inf
structure; instead they require the subjunctive structure:
The headmistress suggested/ recommended that he (should) attend
the meeting.
The doctor suggested/recommended that Greg not take these tablets.
The subjunctive is a verb form which does not take “-s” in the third person
singular. The subjunctive forms for be are I “ be”, you be etc.
I recommend that he be informed as soon as the President arrives.
3) Different meaning

Remember and forget:
o
To + infinitive: for things you plan or want to do or it is your
responsibility to do. ( acordarse o olvidarse de hacer algo)


o


I remembered to post the letters. ( remember what one has to do)
Don’t forget to buy the tickets.(forget what one has to do)
+ ing. Have a memory of an earlier action: (recordar o olvidar haber
hecho algo)

I remembered posting the letters. (it refers to an action in the past;
remember what one has done or what happened. I posted the letters
and I remember the action)

I’ll never forget seeing the Queen. (it refers to an action in the past,
generally with the expression “I’ll never forget”)
Regret:
 I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you
employment. (be sorry about giving someone bad news,
“lamentar informar de algo”).
 I don’t regret telling her what I thought, even if it upsets her. ( it
refers to a past action, be sorry for what has happened,
lamentar haber hecho algo)
Stop:
 Every half an hour I stop to smoke a cigarette. (Interrupt an
action, make a break or pause in order to do something, make
a halt, “parar con el proposito de hacer alto”).
 I really must stop smoking. (stop what one is doing or does,
cease).

Go on:
 He welcomed the new students and went on to explain the
college regulations. (it refers to doing something different,
change move into something new).
 How can you go on living with Michael? ( to continue an action)


Try:

I once tried to learn Japanese. (make an effort, an attempt to do
something difficult, “intend”).

If the printer doesn’t work, try turning everything off and then starting
again. ( do something as an experiment to solve a problem,
“experiment”),
Mean:


You have forgotten your homework again, that means phoning your
mother. (to involve, to say that something has something else as a
result, “implicar”)
I meant to phone your mother but my mobile didn’t work. (to intend,
“querer”.
Verbs followed either by to + infinitive or –ing form. Choose the form according to
1. -
the meaning.
1.
Why don't you try __________ (cook) it in the microwave? It'll be much quicker.
2. The thief tried______ (climb) the wall, but he couldn’t.
3.
He was rushing down the road when suddenly he stopped __________ (buy) some
flowers from a stall.
4.
I've stopped __________ (drink) whisky. I only have gin and vodka now.
5.
She just went on __________ (talk) even though he was clearly asleep.
6.
After that boring story he went on __________ (explain) how he had got his
arm
trapped in the door.
7.
I prefer ___________(go) to the cinema to _______(watch) films on TV.
8.
I like _________ (walk) in the rain.
9. She began _________ (understand) what he really wanted.
10. She is always forgetting _________ (give) me my letters.
11. I shall never forget _________ (see) the Queen.
12. I prefer _________ (ride) to _________ (walk).
13. I don't regret _________ (tell) her what I thought, even if ishe is upset.
14. I regret _________ (inform) you that you are dismissed.
15. I'd love _________ (come) and _________ (see) you some time.
16. - I’ll never forget__________ (ski) in the Alps that winter.
17. - We regret__________ (inform) you that you have not passed the test.
18. - The accused said that he regretted_______ (hit) the old woman.
19. I tried _____ (explain) it to him, but he didn’t understand.
20. Don’t forget _____ (reserve) a seat for me.
21. I like ______ (lie) in the bed on Saturday mornings.
22. I’d prefer _______(talk) to him in person rather than _______(phone) him.
23. Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember _______ (leave) it by the
window and now it has gone.
24. If you want to catch the 9.30 plane, that means______ (get up) at 8.30 at the latest.
25. I did not mean ______ (overhear) your conversation.
26. I’d prefer ________(get) a taxi rather than ______(walk) alone.
27. Do you think mum will allow us ___ (go) to Tom’s party?
28. I advised him ____ (stay) at home
29. The music will continue _______ (play) until you turn it off.
30. When you see Tom, remember ________ (give) him my regards, won’t you?
31. I meant _______ (buy) some croissants before_______ (leave) for work.
32. He tried ______ (reach) the shelf but he wasn’t tall enough.
33. I’d prefer __________(play) basketball rather than ____(play) football.
Key
1. cooking
2. to climb
3. to buy
4. drinking
5. talking
6. to explain
7. going/watching
8. walking/to walk
9. to understand/understanding
10. to give
11. seeing
12. riding/walking
13. telling
14. to inform
15. to come/see
16. skiing
17. to inform
18. hitting
19. to explain
20. to reserve
21. to lie
22. to talk, phone
23. leaving
24. getting up
25. to overhear
26. to get/ walk
27. to go
28. to stay
29. to play/playing
30. to give
31. to buy/leaving
32. to reach
33. to play/ play