Explanations

This unit focuses on problem areas.

Verbs followed by • Can't bear, hate, like, love, prefer
either -ing or Like to usually refers to habitual preferences.
infinitive with to We like to go out to lunch on Sunday.
Not like to means think it wrong to.
I don't like to disturb colleagues at home.
• Attempt, begin, continue, intend, plan, propose, start
There is no difference in meaning whether we use -ing or infinitive with to.
Intend, plan, and propose can be followed by that + clause. This may include
should. See Grammar 16 Reporting verbs.
• Forget, remember
With to both verbs refer to an obligation.
/ had to phone the office but I forgot to do it.
With -ing both verbs refer to past events.
/ don't remember learning to walk.
Both can be followed by that + clause.
/ remembered that I had to pay the phone bill.
• Try
With to this refers to something attempted, which might fail or succeed.
/ tried to warn him, but it was too late.
With -ing this refers to making an experiment, or to a new experience.
Try taking an aspirin. You'll feel better.
Have you tried -windsurfing? It's great!
• Go on
With -ing this refers to the continuing of an action.
She went on working even though it was late.
With to this refers to the continuation of a speech.
The Prime Minister went on to praise the Chancellor.
(This means the Prime Minister continued his speech by praising the
Chancellor.)
• Mean
With the meaning intend, this is followed by to.
Sony, I meant to tell you about the party.
With -ing, and an impersonal subject, this refers to what is involved.
If we catch the early train, it will mean getting up at 6.00.
That + clause is possible when meaning is being explained.
This means that you have to report to the police station.

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• Regret
With to this refers to the speaker's regrets about what is going to be said. It
often occurs in formal statements of this kind.
We regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful.
With -ing this refers to a regret about the past.
/ regret saying that to him.
That + clause is also possible.
We regret that we didn't tell her earlier.
• Stop
With to this refers to an intention.
Jane stopped to check the oil level in the engine.
With -ing this refers to the ending of an activity.
The baby has stopped waking up during the night now.
• Hear, see, watch
When followed by infinitive without to, the action is complete.
We watched all the cars cross the finishing line.
With -ing, the action is still in progress.
/ heard someone coming up the stairs.
Verbs with an • Admit
object, followed This can be used with or without to followed by -ing.
by either -ing or They admitted (to) being members of the gang.
infinitive with to That + clause is also possible.
He admitted that he was wrong.
• Allow, forbid, permit
With an object and to:
The school forbids students to smoke in the classrooms.
With an object -ing form:
The school does not allow smoking.
• Consider
With an object and to this refers to an opinion.
She is considered to be the finest pianist of her generation.
With -ing this means think about.
At one point I considered emigrating to Canada.
With that + clause it refers to an opinion.
We consider that she has behaved badly.
• Imagine
With an object and to:
/ imagined the castle to be haunted.
With -ing, an object is also possible.
/ couldn't imagine (her) living in a place like that.
With that + clause it means suppose.
I imagine that you'd like a cup of tea after your long journey!

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• Require
With an object and to:
They required him to fill out a form.
With -ing:
These letters require typing.
See Grammar 7 for needs doing.
Verbs normally • Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.
followed by *agree *demand hurry *pledge *swear
infinitive with to *appear deserve *learn *pretend *threaten
*arrange *expect long *promise *vow
attempt fail manage refuse want
ask grow neglect *resolve *wish
choose hasten offer seek
dare *happen pay *seem
*decide *hope *plan struggle
• Appear, (so) happen and seem are only used impersonally with that + clause.
It appears that I've made a mistake.
It so happens that he is my brother!
It seems that Mary is going to win.
• Want can be used colloquially with -ing, and has a similar meaning to need.
The car wants cleaning.
Verbs normally • Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.
followed by -ing *appreciate face *suggest
avoid *fancy it's no good/use
contemplate finish feel like
delay involve give up
*deny *mention keep on
detest mind leave off
dislike miss look forward to
endure postpone put off
enjoy practise can't stand
escape *resent spend/waste time
excuse risk

• Appreciate is often followed by possessive + -ing.

I appreciate your trying to help.
• See Grammar 16 for suggest.
• Involve has an impersonal subject.
Being an athlete involves regular training.

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Verbs followed by • Help can be used with or without to.

infinitive without / helped George (to) carry the bags.
to
• Make, and expressions with make
They made me leave.
We shall have to make do.
In the passive, to is used.
/ was made to leave.
• Let and expressions with let
They didn't let me leave.
Let me go!
Verbs followed by • Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.
an object and to *advise, assist, beg, bribe, command, dare, employ, enable, encourage, instruct,
invite, lead, *order, *persuade, select, send, *teach, *tell, train, urge, *wam
• See Grammar 16 for advise, persuade, tell, warn.
• Dare can be used without to when there is no object. Compare:
They dared him to jump.
I didn't dare (to) say anything.
How dare you speak like that to me!

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Underline the word or phrase that is correct.

a) What do you mean to do/doing about the leaky pipes?

b) I never imagined the mountains to be/being so high!
c) Don't forget to wake me/waking me before you leave.
d) I regret to tell you/telling you that we cannot accept your offer.
e) Did you manage to find/finding the book you were looking for?
f) I tried taking/to take that medicine you gave me but I couldn't swallow it.
g) We have postponed to tell/telling anyone the news until after Christmas,
h) Have you considered to buy/buying a microwave oven?
i) Sorry I'm late, I had to stop to pick up/picking up the children from school,
j) Margaret was slow at school, but she went on to be/being Prime Minister.

2 Complete the sentences by choosing the correct verb from the box, and putting
it in the appropriate form.

a) It's too late to buy any food. We'll have to make . with what
we've got.
b) I hardly ask how much it cost!
c) Have you ever taking a year off work?
d) I didn't like the town at first, but I to love it eventually.
e) What do you doing after this course has finished?
f) We are all our holiday in Australia this year. It's going to be
such an adventure.
g) Jim and I to meet at 6.00 but he didn't turn up.
h) It that we won't need to pay so much after all.
i) I can't wait for Saturday! I'm really to see you!
j) I can't getting up at 6.30 tomorrow morning! I'll catch a later
train.

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3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

a) It's very kind of you to give me a lift.

appreciate
me a lift.
b) If I take the job I'll have to move to Paris.
mean
Taking moving to Paris.
c) Parking is not permitted here.
park
You are here.
d) 'Shall I carry that bag for you, Pauline?' said John.
offered
John bag for her.
e) Winning the football pools meant we could buy a new car.
enabled
Winning the football pools buy a new car.
f) There is a risk that he will miss the plane if he waits.
risks
He if he waits.
g) I believed you were the murderer because of this clue.
led
This clue that you were the murderer.
h) Does using the hotel swimming pool cost extra?
pay
Do you have to the hotel swimming pool?
i) I think that this is the right street.
appears
This the right street.
j) Jean succeeded in finishing all her work on time.
managed
Jean all her work on time.

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4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

a) They said they would like me to stay with them in Florida.

invited
They stay with them in Florida.
b) Calling Jim is pointless, because his phone is out of order.
use
It's no because his phone is out of order.
c) It is compulsory for all students to leave a cash deposit.
required
All students leave a cash deposit.
d) You waste time if you copy your work out again, so don't do it.
copying
Don't your work out again.
e) I bet you wouldn't ask David to come with you to the party!
if
I dare to the party with you!
f) 'Please don't leave me on my own/ Martin begged us.
him
Martin begged us own.
g) If you work for this company, you have to travel a lot.
involves
Working for this company of travel.
h) Joe doesn't like it when people treat him like a child.
resents
Joe like a child.
i) It was resolved that the matter would be brought up at the next meeting.
bring
They resolved up at the next meeting.
j) The police were told that the use of unnecessary force was forbidden.
not
The police were instructed unnecessary force.

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Complete each sentence using the verb in brackets in an appropriate form.

a) Sorry, I meant (tell) I would be out, but I forgot.

b) That's all for now. I (hope) hear from you soon!
c) If I take the new job, it (mean) working a lot harder!
d) Are you still tired? Or do (feel) going out for a meal?
e) Jane is (say) the most outstanding player in the team.
f) I wish you (keep) complaining all the time!
g) How (suggest) that I would take a bribe! I've never been
so insulted!
h) We offered to help Helen carry her bags, but she said she
(manage) on her own.

Complete the text by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form, gerund
or infinitive.

Yukie Hanue is considered by many (1) (be) the finest violinist of

her generation - and she's still in her early twenties. When we visited her, in
the music department of the University of New York, she was too busy
practising (2) (talk), but she invited us (3) (have) a
coffee with her in her mid-morning break. Astonishingly, she manages
(4) (combine) her PhD at the university with international
concerts and recitals, numerous public appearances and interviews. She
evidently thrives on the workload, buzzing around the place with an industrious
enthusiasm that leaves us all breathless. Her fame as a performer means
(5) (make) regular appearances at high profile events. Last
month, for example, she agreed (6) (appear) in a series of recitals
organised by Coca-Cola. This involved (7) (travel) to far-flung
places like Seoul, Oslo and Montevideo on successive days, a schedule which
would have caused any normal person to wilt. T can't stand (8)
(do) nothing,' she says. T happen (9) (have) a particular talent,
and it would be wasteful not (10) (exploit) it to the full.' I
encouraged her (11) (tell) me about her upbringing, but she was
rather reticent to sing her own praises. I did, however, succeed in persuading
her (12) (confess) to a secret desire. 'If I hadn't been a musician, I
would have loved to train (13) (become) a martial arts expert,'
she says. Certainly, she would have had the discipline, but I couldn't imagine
someone so physically frail actually (14) (stand) there hitting
someone. But it was an interesting revelation, and one that I was
(15) (learn) more about during my day with her.

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