63 Like, start, etc
A Like, love, prefer and hate
After like, love, prefer and hate, we can use either a toinfinitive or an ing-form. The meaning is the same.
Mrs Miles likes to do/likes doing parachute jumps.
She loves to look/loves looking down at the fields below.
We always prefer to stay/prefer staying in small hotels.
I hate to stand/hate standing up while I'm eating.
But compare these two meanings of the verb like.
LIKE TO DO
Like takes a to-infinitive when it means that we prefer to do something even though we may not enjoy it.
I like to check my work carefully before I hand it in.
LIKE DOING
Like usually takes an ing-form when we use it to talk about hobbies and interests,
Claire likes skiing.
I don't like swimming much,
B Would like, etc
After would like, would love, would prefer and would hate, we use a to-infinitive but not usually an ing-form.
I'd like to do a parachute jump one day. My sister would love to work as an artist.
Mark would prefer to drive rather than take the train. I'm glad I live here. I'd hate to live in a big tit):
Compare would like and like.
I'd like to lie on the beach today. It's too hot to do anything else.
I'd like means 'I want', but it is more polite (see Unit 52B).
I like lying on the beach. I always spend my holidays sunbathing.
I like means the same as 'I enjoy',
C Start, intend, etc
We can use either a to-infinitive or an ing-form after these verbs: begin, bother, continue, intend, propose (= intend), start
People began to leave/began leaving the theatre before the end of the play. Rachel didn't bother to do/bother doing the washing-up. Do you intend to make/intend making a complaint? The meaning is the same.
We do not usually have two ing-forms together.
It was starting to get dark, NOT It was-starting-getting dark.
63 Exercises
1 Like and would like (A-B)
Write in the words. Begin I like ... or I'd like ...
Use these verbs: buy, chase, drive, play, see
Use these objects: computer games, rabbits, the manager, this car, this tin
► / like playing computer games.
1…………………………………………………………………………………………..3………………………………………………………………….
2…………………………………………………………………………………………..4…………………………………………………………………..
2 Like, love, prefer and hate (A-B)
Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. |
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► Mark: |
I've always wanted to visit San Francisco. |
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Sarah: |
Me too. I'd love to visit (I'd love) it some time. |
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Harriet: |
Tom seems to enjoy watching football matches. |
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David: |
Yes,……………………………………………………………………………….. (he loves) United pla |
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2 |
Trevor: |
I'm glad I don't work as late as Sarah does. |
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Laura: |
Me too .......................................................................... |
(1 wouldn't like) such long hour |
3 |
Matthew: |
I think I'll go and see this new film. |
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Emma: |
Can I go with you?.................................................. |
……………………….. (I'd like) it, to( |
4 |
Rachel: |
Do you want to come with me or wait here? |
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Vicky: |
..................................................................................... |
. (I'd prefer) with you if that's OB |
5 |
Laura: |
I think queuing is my least favourite activity. |
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Tom: |
I agree ..................................................................................................... |
…………... (I hate, |
6 |
Claire: |
Does Mark cook for you? |
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Sarah: |
No, not often...........................................…………………………………. (he doesn't like" |
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7 |
Reporter: |
Have you ever flown in a hot-air balloon? |
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Mrs Miles: |
No, but ............................................................................. |
……… (I'd love) in one someda; |
8 |
Rachel: |
Did you say you're having your teeth looked at today? |
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Emma: |
Yes, .................................................................................. (I like) them checked once a yeai |
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3 Start, intend, etc (C)
Complete this news report about a stolen taxi. Put in the to-infinitive or the ing-form of these verbs: drive, go, lock, make, search. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.
Kevin Paisley, 25, has lost his taxi. It was stolen on Friday afternoon. T just went into the newsagent's for a moment,' said Kevin. T didn't bother (►) to lock the car.' Kevin started (1)………………………………. his own taxi only six months ago. T was just beginning (2)……………………………… a profit,' he said.
'I intend (3)…………………………………on with my work as soon as I get my taxi back.'
The police are continuing (4) ...............................................for the stolen car.
64 Remember, regret, try, etc
With some verbs, the choice of a to-infinitive or an ing-form depends on the meaning
A Remember and forget
/ must remember to post this letter today. It's
important. The clothes are still dirty because I forgot to
switch on the machine.
We use remember/forget to do for necessary actions. The remembering is before the action.
B Regret
We regret to inform you that we are not taking on any new staff at present. Regret to do
something means to be sorry for something you are doing, e.g. giving bad news.
C Try
I'm trying to run this computer program. Try to do something means to attempt something, to do your best.
I can remember posting the letter. I posted it on
Friday morning. I'll never forget flying over the Grand Canyon. It
was wonderful.
We use remember/forget doing for memories of the past. The action is before the remembering.
I regret spending all that money. I've got none left.
Regret doing something means to be sorry because of something that happened in the past.
I tried clicking on the box, but it doesn't work.
Try doing something means to do something which might solve a problem.
D Stop
An old man walking along the road stopped
to talk to us. Stop to do something means to stop so that you
can do it.
E Mean
I think Nick meant to break that glass. It didn't
look like an accident. Mean to do something is the same as to intend to
do it.
F Go on
The teacher introduced herself and went on to explain about the course.
Go on to do something means to do something else, to do the next thing.
G Need
There's too much noise. Can you all stop talking, please?
Stop doing something means to end an action, to finish doing it.
I'm applying for a visa. It means filling in this form.
Means doing something expresses the idea of one thing resulting in another.
The teacher told everyone to be quiet, but they just went on talking.
Go on doing something means to continue doing it.
I need to clean my shoes.
This means that I must clean my shoes, I have to clean them.
My shoes need cleaning. This means that my shoes need to be cleaned (see Unit 59B).
64 Exercises
1 Remember and forget (A)
Put in the to-infinitive or the ing-form of the verbs.
Laura: Did you remember ( ►) to pick (pick) up those photos today? Trevor: What photos?
Laura: |
Oh, no. I can remember (1) ...................................... |
(mention) it to you only this morning. |
Trevor: I can't remember (2) ………………………. ........ (agree) to pick up some photos. |
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Laura: |
Well, don't forget (3)…………….. ....................... (call) at the shop for them tomorrow. You've got a |
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terrible memory. Yesterday you forgot (4)……………………………… (lock) the door.
Trevor: |
I'm sure I didn't forget (5) ....................................... |
(lock) it. |
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I can clearly remember (6)…………………… ............. |
(look) for my keys. They were in my pocket. |
Laura: |
You ought to write notes to yourself to remind you. |
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Trevor: That wouldn't be any good. I'd never remember (7) ...........………………….. (look) at them!
2 Remember, regret, try, etc (A-G)
Put in the to-infinitive or the ing-form of the verbs.
I used to like going to our local cinema. It was old and rather uncomfortable, but it had character. Now they've stopped (►) showing (show) films there. The owner would like to go on (1) …………………… (run) the cinema, but he would need (2)…………………….(make) a lot of improvements, which would mean
(3)………………………………(spend) tens of thousands of pounds. I remember (4)……….(watch) the last film at the cinema. It was a murder mystery. It was five minutes from the end, and we were trying
(5)………………(work) out who the murderer was when suddenly all the lights went out and the film stopped. We sat in the dark for a few minutes, and then the owner appeared with a torch. I regret
(6) ……………………..(tell) you,' he said, 'that our electricity has failed. I don't mean
(7)…………………..(disappoint) you, but I'm afraid we can't show you the end of the film. We've tried
(8)……………………(phone) the electricity company, but they say they can't help.' He went on
(9)………………(explain) to the audience how the film ended. I didn't understand the story. But I don't regret(10)………………………... . (go) to the cinema on that last evening.
3 Remember, regret, try, etc (A-G)
Write each pair of sentences as one. Use a to-infinitive or an ing-form.
?Trevor didn't ring Laura. He forgot.
Trevor forgot to ring Laura.
?Tom and Nick had been playing cards for hours. But they went on with the game.
Tom and Nick went on playing cards.
1Harriet didn't think she could move the piano. She didn't even try.
2Mike once saw a spaceship. He'll never forget it.
3What about painting the walls? They need it.
4Natasha was unkind to Jessica. But she didn't mean it.
5Andrew was studying. He went on through the night.
6When Mark was driving, he needed to make a phone call. So he stopped.