12 Infinitive and -ing forms of verbs (3) Choosing between infinitive and -ing forms

Choosing between infinitive and -ing forms

Dialog

You really need to get this straight. It’s not that hard if you just pay attention.

I know, I know. It’s just… a lot of rules, you know? Like, when do I use "to walk" versus "walking"?

See? Already confused. Don't worry, I guess I can help you, since no one else will. First, the easy stuff. Sometimes, it doesn't even matter which one you pick.

Really? When?

When you use verbs like begin or start. You can say it began raining or it began to rain, and it means the exact same thing. No big deal. Simple, right? Even you can understand that.

Oh, okay. That's good.

Right. Now, for the trickier part. Think about something hypothetical, like something you *might* do in the future. We often use the infinitive for that, like to do. It’s like you’re looking forward to it, or just thinking about it.

So, like, It’s bad for you to do exercise? Is that what you mean by hypothetical?

Exactly! It’s saying, if you *were* to do exercise, it would be bad. But if you’re just stating a fact, something that *is* true, or *has happened*, then you use the -ing form. Like, Doing exercise straight after a meal is bad for you. That’s just a plain fact. Get it?

I think so. So, "to" is for thinking about doing something, and "-ing" is for what's actually true?

Pretty much. You're not totally hopeless, I guess. Okay, next up: the verb try. This one has two different meanings depending on what you use with it.

Two meanings? Ugh.

Stop complaining! If you use try + infinitive, it means you’re putting in effort, like it’s difficult. You try to persuade someone, because that takes effort. But if you use try + -ing, you’re just suggesting something. Like, Try drinking some hot cocoa before bed. It’s just an idea, not a struggle.

So, I *try to finish* my homework, but I *try doing* jumping jacks to warm up?

Yes, exactly! See, you *can* learn when you actually listen. Now, pay super close attention, because this next part is really important. With verbs like stop, remember, forget, regret, and go on, the choice changes the meaning a lot.

A lot? How?

Again, it’s about looking forward or looking back. If you use an infinitive, you’re usually talking about something that happens *next* or in the *future*. If you use an -ing form, it’s usually about something happening *now*, or something that *already happened*.

Can you give me an example for go on? That one sounds weird.

Fine, for you, I'll be extra clear. If someone *went on to become* a doctor, it means they finished one thing and *then* started something new, like a next step. But if they *went on playing* their video game, it means they just *kept doing* what they were already doing. See the difference? One is a new step, the other is continuing.

Oh! So, "to become" is new, "playing" is continuing. That makes sense!

Good. And with regret, if you say I regret to inform you, it means you’re *about to say* something bad. It’s a formal way to introduce bad news. But if you say I don’t regret getting married, it means you’re happy about something that *already happened*.

Okay, I think I'm getting a handle on the "future" versus "past" thing now. What about stop?

With stop, it's pretty clear. If you say I stopped to stretch my legs, it means you were doing something else, like walking, and you paused *so that you could stretch*. The infinitive tells us *why* you stopped. But if you say I stopped smoking, it means you ended that activity entirely. You don't smoke anymore.

So, "to" is for the reason, "-ing" is for ending the activity.

You got it! And with remember or forget, if it’s a task you need to do, something in the future, you use the infinitive. Like, Remember to pick up your dry-cleaning. But if it’s a memory from the past, you use the -ing form. I remember going to my grandma’s house. It’s a memory you already have.

That's actually… starting to click. Thanks.

Don't get too confident. There's still love, like, and hate. In American English, we use both the infinitive and the -ing form a lot, like I like dancing or I like to dance. Both are fine. But sometimes, in British English, if it’s something you don’t do often, like a specific, occasional action, they'd use the infinitive. I hate to interrupt, for example. It’s not something you hate doing all the time.

So, if I say I love to play basketball or I love playing basketball, both are okay for me?

Yes, because you’re American. You mostly use the infinitive after would like or would love, though. Like I’d like to leave. Don't mess that up.

Got it. What's left?

Just one more tricky set: allow, permit, advise, and forbid. If you just use these verbs by themselves, you typically use the -ing form. Like, They didn't allow eating in the labs.

Okay.

But! If you mention *who* is doing the action, or if the sentence is passive, then you switch back to the infinitive. So, They didn't allow anyone to eat in the labs. See how we added "anyone"? Or, We weren't allowed to eat in the labs. That's passive, so it’s "to eat."

Wow, that’s a lot to remember. I guess it makes sense though. Thanks for explaining all this. I actually feel like I understand it a lot better now.

Well, I suppose you’re not completely hopeless after all. Just try to remember it, okay? Or I’ll have to explain it all over again, and that would be super annoying. For me, I mean.

Key Points

• Open choice: After verbs like begin and start, both infinitive and -ing forms are acceptable with no difference in meaning. Example: It began raining / It began to rain.
• Hypothetical and factual statements: The infinitive is used for speculative or hypothetical actions, often implying looking forward. The -ing form is used for factual statements or describing what actually happens or has happened. Example (hypothetical): It's bad for you to do exercise straight after a meal. Example (factual): Doing exercise straight after a meal is bad for you.
• Try + infinitive: Suggests effort or difficulty involved in an action. Example: They tried to persuade their daughter not to smoke.
• Try + -ing form: Makes a suggestion. Example: Try drinking camomile tea just before you go to bed.
• go on + infinitive: Refers to a next step or a new activity that follows a previous one. Example: After he left university he went on to become one of the world's top medical researchers.
• go on + -ing form: Refers to the continuation of an activity that was already started. Example: He went on playing tennis long after the doctors had told him to stop.
• regret + infinitive: Used when about to inform someone of something, often bad news. Example: I regret to inform you that your presence is no longer required.
• regret + -ing form: Refers to regretting an event or action that took place in the past. Example: I don't regret getting married.
• remember/forget + infinitive: Refers to remembering or forgetting something that should happen subsequently (a future task). Example: Remember to pick up your dry-cleaning.
• remember/forget + -ing form: Refers to remembering or forgetting an event from the past. Example: I can remember going to my great-grandmother's.
• stop + infinitive: Indicates that someone stopped an activity in order to do something else (the infinitive explains the reason for stopping). Example: I stopped to stretch my legs.
• stop + -ing form: Indicates that an ongoing activity was ended. Example: I stopped smoking.
• Love, like, and hate (American English): Both the -ing form and the infinitive are equally common. Example: I like dancing. / I like to dance.
• Love, like, and hate (British English, occasional actions): The infinitive can be used for actions that happen only occasionally. Example: I hate to interrupt your class.
• would ('d) like/love/hate: Always followed by an infinitive. Example: I'd like to leave.
• Allow, permit, advise, forbid (without object): Use an -ing form when these verbs are used on their own without specifying an object. Example: They didn't allow eating in the laboratories.
• Allow, permit, advise, forbid (with object or passive): Use a full infinitive form if an object is specified or if the sentence is in the passive voice. Example (object): They didn't allow anyone to eat in the laboratories. Example (passive): We weren't allowed to eat in the laboratories.

Reference: Martin Parrott, "Grammar for English Language Teachers 2ed" p177 - p179