Verbs which take an infinitive and verbs which take the –ing form of the verb 2C
Some verbs are followed by the infinitives of other verbs – for example: refuse
Some verbs are followed by the -ing forms of other verbs – for example: deny
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They refused to pay their bill.
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They denied robbing a bank .
1. [Match]
Can you join the two halves of the sentences?
(A verbs are followed by the infinitive of a verb and B verbs are followed by the –ing form:
A
agree
expect
prepare
manage
refuse
hope
decide
fail
mean
dare
pretend
happen
offer
seem
wish
promise
Notes
To mean to do sth = to intend to do sth
I meant to ask you for some ideas, but I didn’t have time.
She keeps meaning to have her neighbours round for a meal, but she keeps forgetting to mention it to them.
to happen to do sth has an element of chance about it.
Eg There happens to be a job coming up shortly = as chance / luck would have it, there is a job becoming available soon….. I wanted to ask Eileen about the concert, and happened to meet her.
“Do you happen to know Barbara’s ‘phone number?” = “Do you by any chance know Barbara’s ‘phone number?”
B
avoid
give up
imagine
finish
put off
risk
keep (on)
mind miss
postpone
practise
can’t help
deny
(can’t) face
fancy
feel like
spend time
(can’t) stand
suggest
Notes
to put off –ing sth is to delay, to procrastinate about doing sth out of reluctance, or shortage of time etc.
Eg He put off telling her about the gas bill, as he knew it would worry her.
I keep putting off writing a letter to them.
To get round to doing sth might be used with this structure – it means eventually to do sth which you have not got (a)round to doing, or which you have been putting off doing.
Not to be able to help doing sth means you have little control over sth, or circumstances are / were beyond your control, or sth is not your fault, or you are not to blame for sth.
eg I couldn’t help arriving late for the meeting – there was an accident on the Coast Road and all the traffic had been stopped.
She can’t help speaking Czech with an accent – she’s only just started leaning it!
You can’t help wondering if she’s actually ill, or if she’s making it up. (to make sth up = to invent, to pretend)
)
Answers for Quiz [1].
- 1. stay at home and watch TV. (correct)
- 2. offending all their relatives. (correct)
- 3. beginning of the film. (correct)
- 4. stand ‘phoning people. (correct)
- 5. married. Not to her, anyway. (correct)
- 6. tonight. (correct)
- 7. appointment. (correct)
- 8. of the morning driving around trying to locate the leak. (correct)
- 9. would be good. (correct)
- 10. a break from this grammar point? (correct)