yahia_elkaliby Admin
عدد المساهمات : 382 نقاط : 53765 تاريخ التسجيل : 21/12/2009 الموقع : http:// yahiaelkaliby.yoo7.com
| موضوع: Verb + ing or to الأربعاء 14 يوليو 2010, 2:00 am | |
| Verb + ~ing or to... A. When one verb follows another verb, the structure is usually verb + ~ing or verb + to ... Compare: verb + ~ing * They denied stealing the money. * I enjoy going out. Often we use ~ing for an action that happens before the first verb or at the same time: stealing <- denied verb + to ... * They decided to steal the money. * I want to go out. Often we use to... for an action that follows the first verb: decided -> to steal want -> to go This difference is often helpful (see Section B) but does not explain all uses of ~ing and to...
B. Some verbs can be followed by ~ing or to... with a difference of meaning: remember I remember doing something = I did it and now I remember this. You remember doing something after you have done it: * I'm absolutely sure I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it. (= 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 remembered 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) regret I regret doing something = I did it and now I'm sorry about it: * I now regret saying what I said. I shouldn't have said it. I regret to say/to tell you/to inform you = I'm sorry that I have to say (etc.): * (from a formal letter) We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you the job. go on Go on doing something = continue doing the same thing: * The minister went on talking for two hours. * We must change our ways. We can't go on living like this. Go on to do something = do or say something new: * After discussing the economy, the minister then went on to talk about foreign policy.
C. begin start intend continue bother These verbs can be followed by ~ing or to... with little or no difference in meaning. So you can say: * It has started raining. or It has started to rain. * John intends buying a house. or John intends to buy ... * Don't bother locking the door. or Don't bother to lock ... But normally we do not use ~ing after ~ing: * It's starting to rain. (not 'it's starting raining') | |
|