VERBS THAT CHANGE THEIR MEANING WHEN THEY ARE

FOLLOWED BY -ING OR TO INFINITIVE.

GENERAL RULES. When do we use the -ing form of a verb?

1. When we use this verb as a subject or object: Smoking is bad for your health.
2. After prepositions: I am looking forward to seeing you.
3. After some verbs: I love listening to music.

GENERAL RULES. When do we use the TO INFINITIVE form?

1. After adjectives: This exercise is hard to understand.
2. Infitive of Purpose: I go to the gym to get fit.
3. After some verbs: I want to help them.

There are some verbs that can be followed by an -ing form or to infinitive, but with a
different meaning.
➔ When the verb is followed by a TO INFINITIVE, it refers to the future (una actividad
pendiente de realizar)
➔ When the verb is followed by an -ING FORM, it expresses an earlier action (una actividad
ya realizada en el pasado)

FORGET:
● Don't forget to meet Mr Smith at 10 o'clock. (No olvides reunirte con el Sr. Smith a las 10)
● I'll never forget meeting her for the first time. (Nunca olvidará la primera vez que la
conocí)

REMEMBER:
● Did you remember to buy tea? (¿Recordaste comprar té?)
● I don't remember visiting this museum. (No recuerdo haber visitado este museo)

REGRET:
● We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected. (Lamentamos informarle
de que su solicitud ha sido denegada)
● I regret spending so much money last night. (Lamento haberme gastado tanto dinero
anoche)
GO ON:
● Whichever page you're on, go on to read the next chapter. (Cualquiera sea la página en la
que estás, continúa con el siguiente capítulo) Se para de hacer una cosa para continuar con
otra acción, la expresada por el infinitivo.
● Go on reading the article. (Continúa leyendo el artículo) Se continúa realizando la acción
expresada por el -ing.

STOP:
● We stopped to drink a cup of coffee. (Paramos para beber una taza de café)
● I stopped smoking years ago. (Dejé de fumar hace años)

TRY:
● I tried to reach her at work, but the line was busy. (Intenté contactar con ella en su trabajo,
pero la línea estaba ocupada)
● Why didn't you try calling her on her mobile? (¿Porqué no probaste llamarla a su móvil?)

MEAN:
● I meant to return the books on time. (Tenía la intención de devolver los libros a tiempo)
Aquí “mean” se traduce por “intend”, tener la intención.
● If you take that job in London, it will mean travelling for two hours everyday. (Si aceptas
ese trabajo en Londres, implicará viajar durante dos horas cada día) Aquí “mean” se
traduce por “involve”, implicar.

COME:
● I have come to see that you are all right. (He venido para ver si estás bien)
● She came running across the field. (Vino corriendo por el campo)