Infinitives or -ing forms: both possible with different uses

Some verbs and adjectives can be followed by either -ing forms or infinitives (see here).

• I started playing / to play the violin when I was 10.
• She was proud of having / to have won.

With some of these verbs and adjectives, there is a difference of meaning.

remember and forget

Remember/forget + -ing form looks back at the past – at things that one did. Forget …ing is used mostly in the phrase I’ll never forget …ing, and expressions with similar meanings.

• I still remember buying my first bicycle.
• I’ll never forget meeting the Queen.

Remember/forget + infinitive looks forward in time – at things that one still has or still had to do at the moment of remembering or forgetting.

• You must remember to fetch Mr Lewis from the station tomorrow.
• I forgot to buy the soap.

go on

Go on + -ing form means ‘continue’.

• She went on talking about her illness until we all went to sleep.

Go on + infinitive refers to a change of activity.

• She stopped talking about that and went on to describe her other problems.

regret

Regret + -ing form looks back at the past – at something that one is sorry that one did.

• I regret leaving school at 16 – it was a big mistake.

Regret + infinitive is used mostly in announcements of bad news.

• We regret to inform passengers that the 14.50 train is one hour late.
• We regret to say that we are unable to help you.

advise, allow, permit and forbid

In active clauses after these verbs, we use an -ing form if there is no object. If there is an object we normally use an infinitive. Compare:

• I wouldn’t advise taking the car – there’s nowhere to park.
  I wouldn’t advise you to take the car …
• We don’t allow/permit smoking in the lecture room.
  We don’t allow/permit people to smoke in the lecture room.
• The headmistress has forbidden singing in the corridors.
  The headmistress has forbidden children to sing …

Note the corresponding passive structures.

• Smoking is not allowed/permitted in the lecture room.
  People are not allowed/permitted to smoke in the lecture room.
• Singing is forbidden.
  Children are forbidden to sing.
• Early reservation is advised.
  Passengers are advised to reserve early.

see, watch and hear

After these verbs, the difference between object + -ing form and object + infinitive is like the difference between progressive and simple tenses. With -ing forms the verbs suggest that one pays attention to events or actions that are already going on; infinitives usually refer to complete events/actions which are seen/heard from beginning to end. (Note that these verbs are followed by the infinitive without to.) Compare:

• I looked out of the window and saw Emily crossing the road.
  I saw Emily cross the road and disappear into the bank.
• As I passed his house I heard him practising the piano.
  I once heard Brendel play all the Beethoven concertos.

try

To talk about doing something to see what will happen, we use try + -ing.

• I tried sending her flowers, writing her letters, giving her presents, but she still wouldn’t speak to me.

To talk about making an effort to do something difficult, we can use either try + infinitive or try + -ing.

• I tried to change the wheel, but my hands were too cold. (or I tried changing the wheel …)

mean

Mean in the sense of ‘involve’, ‘have as a result’ (see here) can be followed by an -ing form.

• If you want to pass the exam, it will mean studying hard.

In the sense of ‘intend’, mean is followed by an infinitive.

• I don’t think she means to get married for the moment.

learn and teach

These verbs (and others with similar meanings) are followed by -ing forms mostly when we are referring to lessons or subjects of study.

• She goes to college twice a week to learn coding.
• Mr Garland teaches skiing in the winter.

Infinitives are preferred when we talk about the result of the study – about successfully learning a skill.

• She learned to read German at school, but she learned to speak it in Germany.
• I taught myself to code.

like, love, hate and prefer

After these four verbs, both infinitives and -ing forms can often be used without a great difference of meaning.

• I hate working / to work at weekends.
• I don’t get up on Sundays. I prefer staying / to stay in bed.

Like + infinitive is used to talk about choices and habits. Compare:

• I like climbing / to climb mountains. (Like = ‘enjoy’: both forms possible)
• When I pour tea I like to put the milk in first. (Like = ‘choose’: infinitive more natural)

Hate + infinitive can be used to introduce unwelcome news.

• I hate to tell you this, but we’re going to miss the train.

After would like, would prefer, would hate and would love, infinitives are most often used.

• I’d like to tell you something. (not I’d like telling you something.)

• ‘Can I give you a lift?’ ‘No thanks, I’d prefer to walk.’ (not … I’d prefer walking.)

Compare:

• Do you like dancing? (= Do you enjoy dancing?)
• Would you like to dance? (= Do you want to dance now?)

note

For more about like, (see here).

For details of structures with prefer, (see here).

begin and start

Begin and start can be followed by infinitives or -ing forms. Usually there is no important difference.

• She began playing / to play the guitar when she was six.
• He started talking / to talk about golf, and everybody went out of the room.

After progressive forms of begin and start, infinitives are preferred.

• I’m beginning to learn karate. (not I’m beginning learning karate.)

Infinitives are also preferred with understand, realise and know.

• I slowly began to understand how she felt. (not … began understanding …)
• He started to realise that if you wanted to eat you had to work. (not … started realising …)

attempt, intend, continue, can’t bear, be accustomed to, be committed to

After these words and expressions we can generally use either an -ing form or an infinitive without much difference of meaning.

• I intend telling / to tell her what I think.
• I’m not accustomed to giving/give personal information about myself to strangers.

note

For details of structures with to + -ing, (see here).

-ing form or infinitive of purpose: stop

Some verbs that are followed by -ing forms can also be followed by an infinitive of purpose (see here). A common example is stop. Compare:

• I stopped running. (not … I stopped to run.)
• I stopped to rest. (= … in order to rest.)

afraid

To talk about fear of things that happen accidentally, we prefer afraid of + -ing.

• I don’t like to drive fast because I’m afraid of crashing.
• ‘Why are you so quiet?’ ‘I’m afraid of waking the children.’

In other cases we can use afraid of + -ing or afraid + infinitive with no difference of meaning.

• I’m not afraid of telling / to tell her the truth.

sorry

Sorry for/about + -ing is used to refer to past things that one regrets. (That-clauses are also very common in an informal style.)

• I’m sorry for/about losing my temper this morning. (or I’m sorry that I lost my temper.)

Sorry + perfect infinitive (more formal) can be used with the same meaning.

• I’m sorry to have woken you up. (or I’m sorry that I woke you up.)

Sorry + infinitive is used to apologise for current situations – things that one is doing or going to do, or that one has just done.

• Sorry to disturb you – could I speak to you for a moment?
• I’m sorry to tell you that you failed the exam.
• Sorry to keep you waiting – we can start now.

certain and sure

Certain/sure of + -ing are used to refer to the feelings of the person one is talking about.

• Before the game she felt certain of winning, but after a few minutes she realised it wasn’t going to be so easy.
• You seem very sure of passing the exam. I hope you’re right.

Certain/sure + infinitive refer to the speaker’s or writer’s own feelings.

• The repairs are certain to cost more than you think. (not The repairs are certain of costing …)
• Kroftova’s sure to win – the other girl hasn’t got a chance. (= ‘I am sure she will win.’)

interested

To talk about reactions to things one learns, interested + infinitive is commonly used.

• I was interested to read in the paper that scientists have found out how to talk to whales.
• I’m interested to see that Alice and Jake are going out together.
• I shall be interested to see how long it lasts.

To talk about a wish to find out something, both interested in + -ing and interested + infinitive are common.

• I’m interested in finding out / to find out what she did with all that money.
• Aren’t you interested in knowing / to know whether I’m pregnant?

To talk about a wish to do something, we use interested in with an -ing form.

• I’m interested in working in Switzerland. Do you know anybody who could help me? (not I’m interested to work in Switzerland …)