There are some verbs that can be followed by Ing or to Infinitive. Some of them have the meaning and some others have different meaning. See the following short explanation.
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Verbs Followed By Ing or To Infinitive with the Same Meaning
The following verbs or expressions are usually followed by -ing or to infinitive. They have the same meaning.
- begin
- start
- intend
- continue
- love
- can’t bear
- can’t stand
Let’s see the following examples :
- The president began talking. Or The president began to talk.
- My girlfriend started crying. Or My girlfriend started to cry.
- I intend marrying her. Or I intend to marry her.
- They continued arguing about who have done the corruption. Or They continued to argue about who have done the corruption.
Verbs Followed By Ing or To Infinitive with Different Meaning
The following verbs are usually followed by -ing or to infinitive. However, they have different meaning.
- remember
- try
- like
- forget
You remember/forget to do something before you do it. You remember/forget doing something after you do it.
Let’s the following examples :
- Please remember to lock the door before you leave the house while I’m away.
- I remembered locking the door of my house but I didn’t remember where I put the key. So, I couldn’t enter the house.
- Don’t forget to call me when you get there.
- My grandfather was searching for his money. He thought he lost it. In fact, he forgot spending it buying newspapers.
You try to do something means you make an effort to do something. You try doing something means you do something as an experiment.
Let’s see the following examples :
- I wanted to watch Barca versus Real Madrid last night. I tried to keep my eyes open but I couldn’t.
- My baby kept on crying last night. I tried giving him milk but it didn’t help. He continued crying.
You like to do something means you find it right to do something. You like doing something means you enjoy doing something.
Exercises
Exercise I
In this exercise you have to choose the ing or to infinitive !
- When I was five, I remembered ( going , to go ) to Paris with my parents.
- On the way to school, please don’t forget ( posting, to post ) this letter for me.
- She could remember ( driving, to drive ) the car before the accident happened.
- I tried ( to explain, explaining) to her but she wouldn’t listen to me.
- Remember (to save, saving) the image before you leave the page.
- Don’t forget (to call, calling) me when you reach home, Babe.
- What would you like (to drink, drinking)?
- I can’t stand (to listen, listening) his daily complaint.
- If you intend (to invite, inviting) your ex-boyfriend to your wedding, I won’t agree.
- Everyone started (to dance, dancing) as soon as the singer sang her latest hits.
Exercise II
Answer the following questions. You can ask and answer the questions with your partner if possible.
- Have you ever forgotten doing something in your life? Mention it/them.
- Who in your family always start(s) making jokes? Can you tell us?
- Is there anyone who intend to approach you lately? How do you know?
- How can an old person forget wearing his glasses and keep on looking for them while they are on their eyes?
- What are you going to try if a small kid is locked in the toilet and can’t get out?
Answers
Exercise I
- When I was five, I remembered going to Paris with my parents.
- On the way to school, please don’t forget to post this letter for me.
- She could remember driving the car before the accident happened.
- I tried to explain to her but she wouldn’t listen to me.
- Remember to save the image before you leave the page.
- Don’t forget to call me when you reach home, Babe.
- What would you like to drink?
- I can’t stand to listen/listening his daily complaint.
- If you intend to invite/inviting your ex-boyfriend to your wedding, I won’t agree.
- Everyone started to dance/dancing as soon as the singer sang her latest hits.
Exercise II
Different answers are possible.
- Yes, I have forgotten meeting someone. He knows me but I don’t recognize him. What a shame.
- My father always starts making jokes. Whenever we are together, he always tries to make us happy.
- Yes, there is. He has called me many times. I think he intends lending some money to me.
- Some old people are absent-minded. So, they sometimes forget doing something. They forget what they have done.
- Of course I’m going to try to open the door for him/her. If not succeed, I will ask someone else to open it.
Other Exercises
Verbs + Object + Bare Infinitive
Verbs Followed by To Infinitive
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