an -ing form, but there can be a difference
in meaning. These include
come, go on, mean, regret, remember, stop, and try. + to + Infinitive
+ -ing
Come
to talk about a gradual change •
After some years, they
came to accept her as an equal.
to say that someone moves in the way that is described •
He
came hurrying up the path.
Go on
to mean that something is done after something else is fin ish ed •
After the interval. Pavarotti
went on to sing an aria from Tosca.
to say that someone moves in the way that is described • Although she asked him to stop, he
went on tapping his pen on the table.
mean
to say that we intend(ed) to do something • 1
meant to phone you last week.
to say that something has something else as a result •
If you want to get there by 7.00, that
means getting up before 5.00.
regret
to say that we are about to do something we are not happy about •
I
regret to inform you that your
application has been unsuccessful.
to say we have already done something that we are not happy about •
It’s too late now, but Г И always
regret asking John to do the work.
remember
to mean that remembering comes before the action described • Remember to take your hat when
to mean the action comes before remembering •
I
remembered going to the bank, but
44
you go out. (first remember, and then
take it)
nothing after that. (I remembered that
I went there)
stop
to say that we stopped doing something •
She
stopped to make a cup o f tea.
to say what it is that we stop doing •
They
stopped laughing when
Malcolm walked into the room.
try
to say that we attempt to do something • I
tried to get the table through the
door, but it was too big.
to say we test something to see i f it improves the situation •
I
tried taking some aspirin, but the
pain didn’t go away.
Exercise 1. Complete these sentences with either a to-Infinitive or an -in g form. Choose an appropriate verb from the box. Sometimes more than one verb is possible. Admire, buy, check, enjoy, introduce, live, notify, put, race, say, smoke, spend, talk, tell, tear, turn down _________ ______________________________________________ 1
. a) Although it was hard at first, she ca m e___ working for the airline. b) As I walked through the gate, the dog came ___ towards me.
c) After working with her for so long, I cam e___ her patience and efficiency.
d) Yesterday, Tom was so late, he c am e ___downstairs, grabbed a cup o f coffee and left.
2. a) The children were shouting and screaming, but she just goes o n ___ to Frank.
b) W e’ve tried to persuade her to stop, but she just goes o n ___ .
c) Dr. Harris welcomed the member o f the committee and went on ___ the subject o f the
meeting. d) Then, in her letter, she goes o n ___ that most o f her family have been ill.
3. a) I reg ret___ you that the model you want is out o f stock.
b) We reg ret___ you that your request for a tax refund has been rejected.
c) Almost as soon as I had posted the letter, I regretted___ the job.
d) It cost me a fortune, but I don’t reg ret___ a year travelling around the world.
4. a) Bill was very young when they left, and he could no longer rem em ber___ in the house.
b) Did you rem em ber___ a newspaper on the way home?
c) R em em ber___ your answers before handing in your exam paper.
d) I remember __ the money in the top drawer, but it’s not there now.
