Verb patterns: -ing, to and someone + to
More verbs with -ing or to, verb + person + to (she asked me to wait), and remember, stop and try with both forms.
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When one verb follows another, the first verb decides the form of the second: -ing (avoid driving), to + verb (manage to finish), or a person + to + verb (ask someone to help). A few verbs take both -ing and to, with a different meaning.
More verbs + to
These verbs are followed by to + verb. Many of them are about plans, decisions and results.
Verb + to | Example |
|---|---|
afford, arrange, expect, manage | We managed to find a taxi. |
offer, refuse, seem, pretend | He refused to answer my question. |
(and from A2) want, decide, hope, promise | I hope to see you soon. |
- We can't afford to go on holiday this year.
- She offered to drive me to the station.
- The printer seems to be broken again.
- Incorrect: We can't afford buying a new car.
- Correct: We can't afford to buy a new car.After afford, use to + verb.
More verbs + -ing
These verbs are followed by the -ing form.
Verb + -ing | Example |
|---|---|
avoid, consider, imagine, miss | I miss living by the sea. |
suggest, recommend, give up, put off | She gave up eating meat last year. |
(and from A2) enjoy, finish, keep, don't mind | Keep trying. |
- Try to avoid driving in the rush hour.
- Have you considered changing your job?
- I keep putting off calling the bank.
- Incorrect: I suggest to take a taxi. It's late.
- Correct: I suggest taking a taxi. It's late.After suggest, use -ing (or that + a clause: I suggest that we take a taxi).
Verb + person + to
Many verbs can be followed by a person and then to + verb: want, would like, ask, tell, expect, advise, remind, invite, teach. The person is an object: me, you, him, her, us, them.
- My boss asked me to stay late.
- The doctor told him to rest for a week.
- Can you remind me to call Olga tonight?
- They invited us to stay for dinner.
- Incorrect: I'd like that you meet my parents.
- Correct: I'd like you to meet my parents.After would like, use the person + to + verb, not that.
- Incorrect: She wants that I help her with the report.
- Correct: She wants me to help her with the report.
Suggest doesn't take this pattern:
- Incorrect: He suggested me to see a doctor.
- Correct: He suggested that I see a doctor. / He suggested seeing a doctor.Suggest takes that + a clause or -ing, not a person + to.
Remember and forget
Remember / forget + to is about something you need to do. Remember / forget + -ing is about a memory of something you did.
- Remember to lock the door when you leave. (Don't forget to do it.)
- I remember locking the door. (I locked it, and I have a memory of it.)
- I'll never forget meeting you for the first time.
- Incorrect: Please remember buying some milk on your way home.
- Correct: Please remember to buy some milk on your way home.For something you need to do, use remember to.
Stop
Stop + -ing means you don't do the activity any more. Stop + to means you stop what you are doing in order to do something else.
- I stopped drinking coffee in the evening. Now I sleep better.
- On the way home, we stopped to buy some bread.
- Incorrect: I stopped to smoke two years ago, and I feel much better now.
- Correct: I stopped smoking two years ago, and I feel much better now.To say that you don't smoke any more, use stop + -ing.
Try
Try + to means "make an effort to do something difficult". Try + -ing means "do something to see if it helps".
- I tried to open the window, but it was stuck.
- If you can't sleep, try drinking some warm milk.