Verbs Followed by the Infinitive or the Gerund

+ to do

+ ...ing

come

• to talk about gradual change

After some years he came

to accept her as an equal.

• to say smb moves in a certain way PI

He came whistling. It was

nice to see him in such a good mood.

go on

• to mean that smth is done after smth is finished

After the interval, they

went on to recite poems by Burns.

• to say that smth continues G

We asked her to stop, but she went on crying. There seemed to be nothing to comfort her.

mean

• to say that smb intends (wants) to do smth

I meant to phone you last

week. But I slipped my mind. I was busy trying to solve the problem.

• to say that smth has smth else as a result

If we want to get there by

7.00, that means getting up at 5.00.

regret

• to say that we are about to do smth

I regret to inform you

that your application has been unsuccessful and you have been denied a scholarship.

• to say we have already done smth that we are not happy about

I regret following his advice. It will take me a lot of nerve to get out of the mess he’s got me into.

stop

• to say why we stop doing smth

She stopped to look at

herself in the mirror. The reflection pleased her eyes.

• to say we finish doing smth

They stopped talking when

she came in. They couldn’t let anybody know about it.

try

• to say we attempt to do or make an effort to do smth

Please try to be more

attentive. It is an important job. Too much is at stake.

• to say that smb should do smth as an experiment or test to improve a situation

Try doing the yoga and

practising meditation for a change. Perhaps, it will help you manage stress.

need

• to say it is necessary for smb to do smth

I need to talk to him

before he leaves.

• to say smth needs to be done

The carpet needs cleaning.

It is messy. When did you last clean it?

remember

forget

• to say that smb shouldn’t forget to do smth in the future

Remember to take your

hat when you leave.

Don’t forget to ask him

about that.

• to say that smb remembers what happened in the past

I remember playing with him when a girl.

I will never forget hearing

this piece of music for the first time.