Page 124 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
56 Verb + -ing or to … 1 (remember, regret etc.)

A Some verbs are followed by -ing and some are followed by to … .
Verbs that you can use with -ing (not to …): Verbs that you can use with to … :
admit fancy postpone afford fail offer
avoid finish risk agree forget plan
consider imagine stop arrange hope promise
deny keep (on) suggest decide learn refuse
enjoy mind deserve manage tend
For examples, see Unit 53. For examples, see Unit 54.

B Some verbs can be followed by -ing or to … with a difference of meaning:
remember

I remember doing something = I did it and I remembered to do something =
now I remember this. I remembered that I had to do it, so I did it.
You remember doing something after you You remember to do something before 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. forgot to shut the windows.
(= I locked it, and now I remember this) (= I remembered that I had to lock it,
He could remember driving along the and so I locked it)
road just before the accident, but he Remember to buy some bananas.
couldn’t remember the accident itself. (= Don’t forget to buy them)

regret

I regret doing something = I did it and now I regret to say / to tell you / to inform you =
I am sorry about it: I am sorry that I have to say:
I now regret saying what I said. I (from a formal letter) I regret to say that
shouldn’t have said it. we are unable to accept your offer.
Do you regret not going to college?
go on

go on doing something = continue doing the go on to do something = do or say something
same thing: new:
The president paused for a moment and After discussing the economy, the
then went on talking. president went on to talk about
We need to change. We can’t go on foreign policy.
living like this.

C We use the following verbs with -ing or to … with no difference of meaning:
begin start continue intend bother
So you can say:
It started raining. or It started to rain.
Andy intends buying a house. or Andy intends to buy …
Don’t bother locking the door. or Don’t bother to lock …
Normally we do not use -ing after -ing:
It’s starting to rain. (not usually It’s starting raining)

112 Verb + -ing ➜ Unit 53 Verb + to … ➜ Units 54–55 Other verbs + -ing or to … ➜ Units 57–58