Often we use verb-ing form for an action that happens
before the first verb or at the same time:
Stealng denied Enjoy
Going
Often we used to
… for an action that follows the first
verb:
Decided to steal Want to go
Here are some verbs that usually followed by verb-ing form and infinitive. Some of them have different meanings. They are:
1. Remember and forget
Rememberforget + verb-ing form refers to things that ever
happened.
Forget…ingis used mostly in the phrase I’ll never forget…
ing, and expressions with similar meanings.
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For examples:
I still remember buying my first bicycle. I’ll never forget meeting the Queen.
Rememberforget + infinitive refers to things that will happen
or need to do at the moment of remembering or forgetting.
You must remember to fetch Mr. Lewis from the station
tomorrow.
I forgot to buy the soap.
Below are other examples from Raymond Murphy in his book, ―English Grammar in Use”.
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I remember doing something = I did it and now remember this. You remember doing something after you have done it:
-
I’m absolutely sure I locked the door. I clearly remember locking
it.
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Ibid.
43
Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994, p. 110
= I locked it, and now I remember this. -
He could remember driving along the road just before the accident happened, but he couldn’t remember the accident
itself.
I remember to do something = I remembered that I had to do it,
and so I did it.
You remember to do something before you do it:
- I remembered to lock the door when I left but I forgot to
shut the windows. = I remembered that I had to lock the door and so I
locked it. -
Please remember to post the letter. = Don‘t forget to post it.
2. Go on
Go on + verb-ingformmeans
‗continue doing the same thing‘.
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For examples:
She went on talking about her illness until we all went to sleep. We must change our ways. We can’t go on living like this.
Go on + infinitive
means ‗a change of activity or dosay something new‘. For examples:
She stopped talking about her illness and went on tell us about
all her other problems.
After discussing the economy, the minister then went on to talk
about foreign policy.
3. Regret
Regret + verb-ing form means someone is sorry about doing
something.
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For example:
I regret leaving school at 14
– it was a big mistake.
I now regret saying
what I said. I shouldn’t have said it.
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op.cit., p. 283
45
Ibid.
Regret + infinitive is usually used in bad news announcement.
For examples:
We regret to inform passengers that the 14.50 train for Cardiff
will leave approximately 37 minutes late.
We regret to tell you that we are unable to offer you the job. 4.
Advise, allow, permit, and forbid
In active clauses after these verbs ‗advise, allow, permit, and forbid’, verb-ing form is usually used if there is no object, whereas an
infinitive is used if there is an object.
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For examples: -
I wouldn’t advise taking the car – there’s nowhere to park. I wouldn’t advise you to take the car…
-
We don’t allowpermit smoking in the lecture room. We don’t allowpermit people to smoke in the lecture room.
- The headmistress has forbidden singing in the corridors.
The headmistress has forbidden children to sing
… In the passive forms:
- Smoking
is not allowedpermitted in the lecture room.
People are not allowedpermittedto smoke in the lecture room.
-
Singing is forbidden.
Children are forbidden to sing.
- Early booking is advised.
Passengers are advised to book early. 5.
See, watch, and hear The difference between object + verb-ing form and object +
infinitive after the
verbs ‗see, watch, and hear‘ is like the differences
between progressive and simple tense. Object + verb-ing form
suggests that one pays attention to actions that are already going on.
Object + infinitive usually refers to complete actions which are
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Ibid.
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
