seenheard from beginning to end. It is also important to note that these verbs are followed by infinitive without to.For examples:
-
I looked out of the window and saw Mary crossing the road. I saw Mary step off
the pavement, cross the road and disappear
into the post office. -
As I passed his house I heard him practicing the piano. I heard John play all the Beethoven concertos.
6. Try
Try + verb-ing form is used to talk about making an experiment
or doing something to see what will happen.
47
For example:
I tried sending her flowers, writing her letters, giving her
presents, but she still wouldn’t speak to me. To talk about making an effort to do something difficult, either
try + infinitive ortry+ verb-ing form can be used. For example: I tried to change the wheel, but my hands were too cold.
OR I tried changing
the wheel…
7. Mean
Mean + verb-ing form
refers to ‗involve‘ or ‗have as a result‘.
48
For example:
If you want to pass the exam it will mean studying hard. Mean + infinitive
refers to ‗intend‘. For example:
I don’t think she means to get married for the moment. 8.
Learn and teach Learnteach or other words with similar meaning+ verb-
ing form refers to lessons or subjects of study.
49
For example:
She goes to college twice a week to learn typing. Mr. Gardlandteaches skiing in the winter and rock-climbing in
the summer.
47
Ibid.
48
Ibid.
49
Ibid.
Learnteach or other words with similar meaning+ infinitive
refers to the result of the study – about successfully learning
a skill. For examples:
She learnt to read German at school, but she learnt to speak it
in Germany.
I taught myself to type. 9.
Like, love, hate, and prefer
Both verb-ing form and infinitive can be used after the verbs ‗like, love, hate, and prefer‘ without a huge difference meaning.
50
For example:
I hate workingto work at weekends. I don’t get up on Sundays. I prefer stayingto stay in bed.
In British English, like + verb-ing form is used to talk about enjoyment, and like + infinitive is used to talk about choices and
habits. In contrary to British English, in American English, like + verb-ing form
and like + infinitive have similar meaning. For
example:
I like climbing mountains. more typically GB I like to climb mountains. more typically US
When I’m pouring tea I like to put the milk in first. GBUS 10.
Begin and start Both beginstart + verb-ing form and beginstart + infinitive
can be used with similar meaning.
51
For examples:
She began playingto play badminton when she was six. He started talkingto talk about golf, but everybody left the
room. It is important to note that after progressive -ing forms of
begin and start, infinitive is preferred. For example:
It’s starting to rain. NOT It’sstarting raining.
50
Ibid., p 285
51
Ibid.
11. Attempt, intend, continue, can’t bear, be accustomed to, and
