Ch 6
Gerunds & Infinitives
Meaning change pairs · -ing vs to system
At B2 you master the full system — understanding not just which verbs take which form, but why the form changes the meaning.
Verbs + -ing only
enjoy · avoid · consider · admit · deny · miss · risk · imagine · resent
Verbs + to only
agree · decide · hope · manage · refuse · want · expect · seem · afford
Verbs + either (meaning changes)
remember · forget · stop · try · go on · regret · mean · like · love · hate · prefer
remember + -ing
I remember seeing her. (recall past)
remember + to
I remembered to call. (didn't forget future task)
forget + -ing
I'll never forget meeting you. (memorable past)
forget + to
I forgot to lock the door. (failed future task)
stop + -ing
She stopped smoking. (quit the habit)
stop + to
She stopped to smoke. (paused in order to)
try + -ing
Try adding more salt. (experiment — see if it works)
try + to
I tried to open the jar but couldn't. (make an effort)
go on + -ing
She went on talking for an hour. (continue same activity)
go on + to
He went on to become CEO. (move to new stage)
regret + -ing
I regret saying that. (sorry about past action)
regret + to
I regret to inform you. (sorry about present communication — formal)
-ing (general habit)
I like swimming. (generally — it's something I enjoy)
to (specific occasion)
I like to swim before breakfast. (specific choice)
would like/love + to (always)
I would like to come. (wish for specific thing)
would like always takes the infinitive: "I'd like to have coffee" (NOT I'd like having).
I regret to say that yesterday.
→
I regret saying that yesterday.
past regret → regret + -ing
She forgot locking the door.
→
She forgot to lock the door.
failed task → forget + to
I would like having a coffee.
→
I would like to have a coffee.
would like always + to infinitive
Try to adding pepper — it helps.
→
Try adding pepper — it helps.
experiment → try + -ing
Recap
-ing only
enjoy · avoid · consider · admit · miss
I enjoy swimming.
to only
agree · decide · manage · refuse · hope
She refused to answer.
Meaning change
remember/forget/stop/try + -ing vs to
stopped smoking ≠ stopped to smoke
would like
always + to infinitive
I'd like to have coffee.