IDIOMA I (INGLÉS)

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN

MEANING. EXERCISES

VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVES

Many English verbs can be followed by an infinitive. They can take an infinitive as an
object:
afford decide learn seem
agree demand manage tend
aim deserve mean threaten
appear desire need undertake
arrange expect offer wait
ask fail plan want
attempt forget prepare wish
beg guarantee pretend would like
choose happen promise would love
claim help* propose would prefer
consent hesitate refuse
dare* hope
intend

*After dare or help you can use the infinitive with or without to.

Examples:

It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.

Simon was in a difficult situation, so I agree to lend him some money.
How old were you when you learnt to drive?
I waved to Karen but failed to attract her attention.
They agreed to come.
She managed to keep the secret.
We pretended to agree with them.

The negative form is not to:

We decided not to go out because of the weather.

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 1

 I promise not to be late.

The following verbs have the structure verb + object + to:

advise dare hire promise

allow direct instruct remind
ask enable invite require
beg encourage motivate send
bring expect order teach
build forbid pay tell
buy force permit urge
challenge get (= persuade, persuade want
choose arrange for) prepare warn
command
Examples:

Can you remind me to phone Sam tomorrow?

Who taught you to drive?
I didn’t move the piano by myself. I got somebody to help me.
Jim said the switch was dangerous and warned me not to touch it.

The verbs make and let have the structure verb + object + infinitive without to.

I made him promise that he wouldn’t tell anybody what happened.

Hot weather makes me feel tired.
Her parents wouldn’t let her go out alone.
Let me carry your bag for you.

In the passive voice we say made + to infinitive.

We were made to wait for two hours (= They made us wait two hours.)

VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS

The following verbs can take a gerund as an object.

admit deny go on put off

anticipate deplore imagine quit

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 2

 appreciate detest involve recall
avoid discuss keep recommend
can’t bear dislike keep on regret
can’t face dread loathe resent
can’t help enjoy mention resist
can’t stand escape mind risk
carry on fancy miss spend time
complete feel like need (sentido pasivo) suggest
consider finish postpone tolerate
defer give up practise would mind
delay imagine put off

Examples:

Suddenly everybody stopped talking. There was silence.

I’ll do the shopping when I’ve finished cleaning the flat.
He tried to avoid answering my question.
I don’t fancy going out this evening.
Have you ever considered going to live in another country?
Paula has given up smoking.
I kept calling the office.
We appreciate hearing from you.
He denies following us.
They avoid discussing the subject.
She finished filling in the blanks.

The negative form is not -ing:

When I’m on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY EITHER INFINITIVES OR GERUNDS

After advise, recommend and allow, two structures are possible:

Verb + -ing Verb + object + to

I wouldn’t advise/recommend staying I wouldn’t advise/recommend anybody

in that hotel. to stay in that hotel.

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 3

 They don’t allow parking in front of the They don’t allow people to park in
building. front of the building.
The following verbs can take either an infinitive or a gerund as an object:

begin intend
bother start
continue

It has started raining/to rain.

John intends buying/to buy a house.
Don’t bother locking/to lock the door.

SOME VERBS CAN BE FOLLOWED BY -ING OR TO WITH A DIFFERENCE OF

MEANING
Forget

I forget doing something = to forget I forget to do something = to forget

that you have done something. that you need to do something.
I will never forget going water rafting in I forgot to post that letter.
Africa. Don’t forget to meet her at 10 this
I’ll never forget meeting her for the first morning.
time.
Remember

I remember doing something = I did it I remember to do something = I

and now I remember this. remembered that I had to do it, so I did it.
You remember doing something after You remember to do something before you
you have done it. do it.
I know I locked the door. I clearly I remembered to lock the door, but I
remember locking it. (= I locked it, and forgot to shut the windows. (= I
now I remember this) remembered that I had to lock it and so I
He could remember driving along the locked it.)
road just before the accident, but he Please remember to post the letter. (=
couldn’t remember the accident itself. don’t forget to post it.)
Regret

I regret doing something = I did it and I regret to say/to tell/to inform you =
now I’m sorry about it. I’m sorry that I have to say.

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 4

I now regret saying what I said, I
shouldn’t have said it.
It began to get cold and he regretted not
wearing his coat.
Go on
Go on doing something = continue with
the same thing.
The president paused for a moment and
then went on talking.
We need to change. We can’t go on
living like this.
Try
Try doing something = do something as
an experiment or test.
The photocopier doesn’t seem to be
working. Try pressing the green button.
I didn’t like the way the furniture was
arranged, so I tried moving the table to
the other side of the room.
Need
Something needs doing = it needs to be
done.
The batteries in the radio need changing.
(= they need to be changed.)
Dou you think my jacket needs cleaning?
(= needs to be cleaned)
It’s a difficult problem. It needs thinking
about very carefully. (= it needs to be
thought about)
Like
Like doing something = I do it and I
enjoy it. Like usually takes an ing-form
when we use it to talk about hobbies and
interests.
Claire likes skiing.
UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES
We regret to inform you that we cannot
offer you the job.
Go on to do something = do or say
something new.
After discussing the economy, the
president then went on to talk about
foreign policy.
Try to do something = attempt to do,
make an effort to do.
I was very tired. I tried to keep my eyes
open, but I couldn’t.
Please try to be quiet when you come
home. Everyone will be asleep.
Need to do something = it is necessary
for me to do it.
I need to take more exercise.
He needs to work harder if he wants to
make progress.
I don’t need to come to the meeting, do
I?
Like to do something = I think it is a
good thing to do, but I don’t necessarily
enjoy it. Like takes a to-infinitive when it
means that we prefer to do something
even though we may not enjoy it.
5
I don’t like swimming much. I like to check my work carefully before I
hand it in.
EXERCISES

1. Paying attention to which verbs can be followed by an infinitive and which

can be followed by a gerund, for each sentence, fill in the blank with the
infinitive or gerund of the verb shown in brackets.

1. Has he finished ____________ the report? (read)

2. We plan ____________ the concert (attend)

3. They will discuss ____________ a club (organize)
4. She offered ___________ the letter (write)
5. They asked ___________ us (accompany)

6. You should practise ___________ the speech (give)

7. I would suggest ____________ the work by next week (finish)

8. He has not dared ___________ you (contradict)

9. They delayed ____________ us (call)

10. She deserves ____________ (succeed)
11. We forgot _____________ the letter (mail)
12. He enjoys _____________(ski)

13. They would not risk ______________ the bus. (miss)

14. Do you want _____________ the book? (borrow)
15. I don't mind _____________ (wait)

16. Her daughter is learning ____________ a bicycle (ride)

17. It has stopped _____________ (snow)

18. He is preparing _____________ a business (open)

19. They hesitated ___________ the invitation (accept)
20. I miss ___________ from them (hear)

2. Choose the correct form of the verb.

Example: I wanted to speak /speaking/speak to you yesterday.

1. They enjoyed be/being/to be on holiday by the sea.

2. The weather was awful. It didn’t stop raining/to rain/rain all week.
3. We hope arriving/to arrive/arrive by half past seven.
4. My sister has agreed help/helping/to help with the decorating.

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 6

 5. She loves to work/work/working for herself.
6. Please let me to pay/pay/paying for the drinks.
7. My health wasn’t very good so I stopped smoking/to smoke/smoke.
8. We chose travelling/travel/to travel by boat rather than by plane.
9. The food was awful. It made me feeling/feel/to feel ill.
10. They managed save/saving/to save enough to buy a car.

3. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form (-ing or to + infinitive).
Example We’ve finished decorating (decorate) the house.

1. I can’t stand ___________ (work) in an office.

2. We expect you ___________ (arrive) on time.

3. It was a wonderful holiday. I will always remember ___________ (see) Niagara
Falls.
4. I would hate ___________ (miss) your party.
5. They can’t promise ___________ (finish) the work today.

6. He hates ___________ (use) computers.

7. I’m really looking forward to ___________ (start) my new course.

8. They can’t help us ___________ (move) house.

9. She refused ___________ (answer) the phone.
10. I don’t mind ___________ (drive) to the restaurant.
11. We encouraged them ___________ (set up) a new business.

12. His parents don’t allow him ___________ (stay up) after ten o’clock.

4. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.

Example: I was very happy when they invited me to stay (stay) with them.

1. The company expects the sales ___________ (increase) over the next year.

2. My friend doesn’t mind ___________ (give) you a lift to work.

3. We don’t need the bill yet. We haven’t finished ___________ (eat).
4. Please remember ___________ (post) my letter. It’s very important.

5. We’re sorry, but we can’t promise ___________ (be) ready on time.

6. I don’t really like Indian food. I’d prefer ___________ (go) to the new Chinese
place.
7. Everyone is looking forward to ___________ (finish) work for the summer.
8. Go on! I dare you ___________ (speak) to her.

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 7

 9. Did you manage ___________ (repair) your car?
10. My students can’t stand ___________ (wait) for their exam results.
5. Complete each sentence with a verb in the correct form, -ing or to.

1. Please remember to lock (lock) the door when you go out.

2. A: You lent me some money a few months ago.
B: Did I? Are you sure? I don’t remember ___________ (lend) you any money.

3. A: Did you remember ___________ (call) your sister?

B: Oh no, I completely forgot. I’ll phone her tomorrow.
4. When you see Steve, remember ___________ (give) him my regards.
5. Someone must have taken my bag. I clearly remember ___________ (leave) it by
the window and now it has gone.
6. I believe that what I said was fair. I don’t regret ___________ (say) it.

7. I knew they were in trouble, but I regret ___________ (say) I did nothing to help
them.
8. Ben joined the company nine years ago. He became assistant manager after two
years, and a few years later he went on ___________ (become) manager of the
company.
9. I can’t go ___________ (work) here anymore. I want a different job.
10. When I came into the room, Liz was reading a newspaper. She looked up and said
hello, and then went on ___________ (read) her newspaper.
11. I was very tired. I tried ___________ (keep) my eyes open, but I couldn’t.

12. I rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. Then I tried ___________ (knock)
on the door, but there was still no answer.
13. We tried ___________ (put) the fire out but without success. We have to call the
fire brigade.
14. Sue needed to borrow some money. She tried ___________ (ask) Gerry, but he
was short of money too.
15. I tried ___________ (reach) the shelf, but I wasn’t tall enough.

16. Please leave me alone. I’m trying ___________ (concentrate).

17. I need a change. I need ___________ (go) away for a while.

18. My grandmother isn’t able to look after herself any more. She needs ___________
(look) after.
19. The windows are dirty. They need ___________ (clean).
20. Your hair is getting very long. I need ___________ (cut).

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 8

21. You don’t need ___________ (iron) that shirt. It doesn’t need ___________
(iron).
22. When I have to catch a train, I’m always worried that I’ll miss it. So I like
___________ (get) to the station in plenty of time.
23. I don’t like ___________ (live) in this part of town. I want to move somewhere
else.

UNIT 2. VERB PATTERNS: VERB + -ING OR INFINITIVE. CHANGES IN MEANING. EXERCISES 9