Remember, regret, try, etc

With some verbs, the choice of a to-infinitive or an ing-form depends on the meaning

A Remember and forget

/ must remember to post this letter today. It's

important. The clothes are still dirty because I forgot to

switch on the machine.

We use remember/forget to do for necessary actions. The remembering is before the action.

B Regret

We regret to inform you that we are not taking

on any new staff at present. Regret to do something means to be sorry for something you are doing, e.g. giving bad news.

C Try

I'm trying to run this computer program. Try to do something means to attempt something, to do your best.

D Stop

An old man walking along the road stopped

to talk to us. Stop to do something means to stop so that you

can do it.

E Mean

I think Nick meant to break that glass. It didn't

look like an accident. Mean to do something is the same as to intend to

do it.

F Go on

The teacher introduced herself and went on to

explain about the course.

Go on to do something means to do something else, to do the next thing.

G Need

I need to clean my shoes.

This means that I must clean my shoes, I have to clean them.

I can remember posting the letter. I posted it on

Friday morning. I'll never forget flying over the Grand Canyon. It

was wonderful.

We use remember/forget doing for memories of the past. The action is before the remembering.

I regret spending all that money. I've got

none left.

Regret doing something means to be sorry because of something that happened in the past.

I tried clicking on the box, but it doesn't work. Try doing something means to do something which might solve a problem.

There's too much noise. Can you all stop

talking, please?

Stop doing something means to end an action, to finish doing it.

I'm applying for a visa. It means filling in

this form.

Means doing something expresses the idea of one thing resulting in another.

The teacher told everyone to be quiet, but they

just went on talking.

Go on doing something means to continue doing it.

My shoes need cleaning. This means that my shoes need to be cleaned (see Unit 59B).

64 Exercises

1 Remember and forget (A)

Put in the to-infinitive or the ing-form of the verbs.

Laura: Did you remember (►) to pick (pick) up those photos today?

Trevor: What photos?

Laura: Oh, no. I can remember (1)........................................... (mention) it to you only this morning.

Trevor: I can't remember (2) ………………………......... (agree) to pick up some photos.

Laura: Well, don't forget (3)……………........................... (call) at the shop for them tomorrow. You've got a

terrible memory. Yesterday you forgot (4)……………………………… (lock) the door.

Trevor: I'm sure I didn't forget (5)............................................... (lock) it.

I can clearly remember (6)…………………… (look) for my keys. They were in my pocket.

Laura: You ought to write notes to yourself to remind you.

Trevor: That wouldn't be any good. I'd never remember (7)................... ………………….. (look) at them!

2 Remember, regret, try, etc (A-G)

Put in the to-infinitive or the ing-form of the verbs.

I used to like going to our local cinema. It was old and rather uncomfortable, but it had character. Now
they've stopped (►) showing (show) films there. The owner would like to go on (1) …………………… (run)

the cinema, but he would need (2)……………………. (make) a lot of improvements, which would mean

(3)………………………………(spend) tens of thousands of pounds. I remember (4)……….(watch) the last film at the cinema. It was a murder mystery. It was five minutes from the end, and we were trying

(5)………………(work) out who the murderer was when suddenly all the lights went out and the film
stopped. We sat in the dark for a few minutes, and then the owner appeared with a torch. I regret

(6) ……………………..(tell) you,' he said, 'that our electricity has failed. I don't mean

(7)…………………..(disappoint) you, but I'm afraid we can't show you the end of the film. We've tried
(8)……………………(phone) the electricity company, but they say they can't help.' He went on
(9)………………(explain) to the audience how the film ended. I didn't understand the story. But I don't
regret (10)……………………….... (go) to the cinema on that last evening.

3 Remember, regret, try, etc (A-G)

Write each pair of sentences as one. Use a to-infinitive or an ing-form.

? Trevor didn't ring Laura. He forgot.
Trevor forgot to ring Laura.

? Tom and Nick had been playing cards for hours. But they went on with the game.
Tom and Nick went on playing cards.

1 Harriet didn't think she could move the piano. She didn't even try.

2 Mike once saw a spaceship. He'll never forget it.

3 What about painting the walls? They need it.

4 Natasha was unkind to Jessica. But she didn't mean it.

5 Andrew was studying. He went on through the night.

6 When Mark was driving, he needed to make a phone call. So he stopped.

TEST 12 Verb + to-infinitive or ing-form (Units 60-64)

Test 12A

Complete the conversations. Put in a to-infinitive or an ing-form.

► A: I hear you sometimes sail to France in your boat.
B: That's right. I really enjoy sailing.

1 A: Are you going to organize our trip?

B: Yes, of course. I've agreed................................ it.

2 A: You wear a uniform at work, don't you?

B: Yes, 1 have to, although I dislike........................... it.

3 A: Do you think they'll approve the plan?

B: Yes, I'm quite sure they'll decide............................. it.

4 A: What time will you be back?

B: Oh, I expect……………………. back some time around nine.

5 A: Did I remind you about the dinner tonight?

B: Yes, thank you. You keep............................... me.

6 A: Was your decision the right one, do you think?

B: Yes, luckily. In the end it proved……………………. the best thing for everyone.

7 A: Do you still work at the post office?

B: No, I gave up………….............................. there last year.

8 A: Have ICM bought the company?

B: Well, they've offered................................. it.

9 A: I'm sorry you had to wait all that time.

B: Oh, it's all right. I didn't mind......................................

Test 12B

Make sentences from the notes.

► Tessa / want / buy / a new coat / soon
Tessa wants to buy a new coat soon.

1 we / must / avoid / waste / so much time

2 sometimes / a country / refuse / take part / in the Olympics

3 I / like / see / the Rocky Mountains / some day

4 I / mean / give / Judy / a nice welcome / yesterday

5 I / always / like / see / my doctor / once a year

6 the buses / usually / stop / run / before midnight

7 I / can't face / get up / at five / tomorrow

8 last year / we / make / an agreement / work / together

9 yesterday / you / promise / carry on / shoot / the film

10 my father / seem / get / better / now

Test 12C

Read the conversation and write the missing words. Use one word only in each space.

Anna: I hear you're preparing to (►) leave for Australia.

Lisa: That's right. And I'm really looking forward to it. I can't (1)……………….. to get there.

I'm hoping (2)....................... see all my friends while I'm there.

I'm going to enjoy (3)…………….... them again after so long.

Anna: Martin and I (4)……………… like to go away, but we can't manage it this year.

Lisa: There's just one problem that I (5)………………. to sort out. My tickets haven't arrived. I've tried to

ring the travel agency, but I can't get through. I'm beginning to regret (6)……………… going there

myself to pick them up. Anna: I expect they'll be here tomorrow.

Lisa: That's really leaving it to the last minute. It's such a worry.
Anna: Well, I know you. You can't (7)………………. worrying, can you?

Lisa: No, I can't. I hope this holiday isn't going to turn out (8)…………….. be a disaster.

Anna: Of course it isn't. Just keep (9)…………………. trying to get through.

Test 12 D

Each of these sentences has a mistake in it. Write the correct sentence.

► The man kept-ask us for money. The man kept asking us for money.

1 We've finished to-decorate-the flat.

2 I regret say what I-did.

3 Tessa decided go not to work

4 Do-you mind help me?

5 I'm -beginning getting worried.

6 I cant afford buy-a new-ear.

7 I-hope to-avoid to make things worse

8 Peter seems gone-away-already.

Test 12E

Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the word in brackets.

► I wish I hadn't sold my bike, (regret)
I regret selling my bike.

1 The children were eager to see their presents, (wait)

2 I hate to get up in the dark, (stand)

3 By chance I saw your brother yesterday, (happened)

4 The shop usually opens ten minutes late, (tends)

5 Would you like to go for a walk? (fancy)

6 The police continued to watch the house, (carried)

7 Seeing Nelson Mandela will always stay in my memory, (forget)

65 Verb + object + to-infinitive or ing-form

A Introduction

Customer: None of the things I ordered have arrived. They're three weeks late. I expect the goods to arrive on time.

Mark: I'm sorry we've kept you waiting so long. Can I find out

what the problem is and then ring you back?

Some verbs can take an object + a to-infinitive, and some take an object + an ing-form.

VERB OBJECT

I expect the goods to arrive on time.

I'm sorry we've kept you waiting so long.

B Verb + object + to-infinitive

We asked the doorman to let us in. Nick couldn't persuade Rita to go out with him.

The hot weather has caused ice-cream sales to increase.

It took ages to download the pictures from the Internet.

I didn't mean my suggestion to be taken seriously. (See Unit 59A.)

Here are some verbs we can use in this structure: advise, allow, ask, beg, cause, enable, encourage, expect, force, help (see Unit 69C), intend, invite, mean (= intend), order, recommend, remind, take (time), teach, tell, warn

C Want + object + to-infinitive

We can also use an object + a to-infinitive after want, (would) like, (would) love, (would) prefer and (would) hate.

Tom wants United to win. We'd hate the house to be left empty. We can use this structure to give an order (see Unit 50B).

I want everyone to come here. I'd like you to listen carefully. We cannot normally use a that-clause. not I want that everyone comes here.

D Verb + object + ing-form

Andrew is so serious. I can't imagine him having a good time.

Do you remember Laura taking our photo? A new law has stopped traffic going into the city centre.

Here are some verbs we can use in this structure: dislike, imagine, involve, keep, mind, prevent (see Unit 70C), remember, risk, stop (see Unit 70C)

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