verbs followed both by A gerund and A full inifinitive
1. Verbs with a small or no change in meaning:
Don't bother washing/to wash the floor. (no difference in meaning)
I prefer to go by bike but you can walk. (specific action)
I'd love to come to the cinema with you. (specific activity after would)
2. Verbs with a change in meaning:
Don't forget to post the letter! (in the future)
I remember locking the door. (in the past)
Please remember to write to me. (in the future)
He went on talking and talking. (continued)
He went on to ask me how old I was. (changed the activity/subject)
Being a good piano player means doing a lot of practice. (involves)
Did you mean to leave the house unlocked? (intend)
I need to have a bath. (I must - it's important)
This room needs painting. (somebody needs to do it - passive meaning)
I regret telling you my secrets. (in the past)
I regret to have to tell you that I no longer love you. (I'm telling you now)
Stop worrying! (no longer do something)
She stopped to talk me. (stopped and changed activity)
Try changing the bulb. (to see what happens - experiment)
I tried to phone you last night. (made and effort)
- begin, can't bear, bother, can't stand, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start
Don't bother washing/to wash the floor. (no difference in meaning)
- the gerund sometimes suggests a general statement (and acts like a noun) and the full infinitive suggests a specific action in the future:
I prefer to go by bike but you can walk. (specific action)
I'd love to come to the cinema with you. (specific activity after would)
2. Verbs with a change in meaning:
- forget, go on, mean, need, regret, remember, stop, try
Don't forget to post the letter! (in the future)
I remember locking the door. (in the past)
Please remember to write to me. (in the future)
He went on talking and talking. (continued)
He went on to ask me how old I was. (changed the activity/subject)
Being a good piano player means doing a lot of practice. (involves)
Did you mean to leave the house unlocked? (intend)
I need to have a bath. (I must - it's important)
This room needs painting. (somebody needs to do it - passive meaning)
I regret telling you my secrets. (in the past)
I regret to have to tell you that I no longer love you. (I'm telling you now)
Stop worrying! (no longer do something)
She stopped to talk me. (stopped and changed activity)
Try changing the bulb. (to see what happens - experiment)
I tried to phone you last night. (made and effort)
Exercise 5
Verb Patterns: Gerund or Full Infinitive
Write the correct form of the verb in each pair.