Page 126 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
57 Verb + -ing or to … 2 (try, need, help)

A try to … and try -ing
try to do = 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.
try something or try doing something = do it as an experiment or test:
These cakes are delicious. You should try one. (= have one to see if you like it)
We couldn’t find anywhere to stay. We tried every hotel in the town, but they were all full.
(= we went to every hotel to see if they had a room)
a: The photocopier doesn’t seem to be working.
b: Try pressing the green button.
(= press the green button – perhaps this will help to solve the problem)

Compare:
I tried to move the table, but it was too heavy. (so I couldn’t move it)
I didn’t like the way the furniture was arranged, so I tried moving the table to the other
side of the room. But it didn’t look right, so I moved it back again.
(I tried moving it = I moved it to see if it looked better)

B need to … and need -ing
I need to do something = it is necessary for me to do it:
My phone needs charging.
He needs to work harder if he wants to make progress.
I don’t need to come to the meeting, do I?
You can say that something needs -ing:
My phone needs charging. (= it needs to be charged)
Does your suit need cleaning? (= … need to be cleaned)
It’s a difficult problem. It needs thinking about carefully.

(= it needs to be thought about carefully)
Compare:
I need to charge my phone.
but My phone needs charging.

C help and can’t help
You can say help to do or help do (with or without to):

Everybody helped to clean up after the party. or
Everybody helped clean up …
Can you help me move this table? or
Can you help me to move …
I can’t help doing something = I can’t stop myself doing it:
I don’t like him, but he has a lot of problems.
I can’t help feeling sorry for him.
She tried to be serious, but she couldn’t help laughing.
(= she couldn’t stop herself laughing)
I’m sorry I’m so nervous. I can’t help it.
(= I can’t help being nervous) She couldn’t help laughing.

114 Verb + -ing ➜ Unit 53 Verb + to … ➜ Units 54–55 Other verbs + -ing or to … ➜ Units 56, 58