Talking about closely linked actions: using two verbs together in phase

3.183 This section describes the ways in which you use two verbs in a clause in order to talk about two actions or states which are closely linked. This structure is called phase.

These two actions may be performed by the same person. See paragraphs 3.190 to 3.202.

She stopped speaking.

Davis likes to talk about horses.

Alternatively, the actions may be performed by different people. If they are, the performer of the second actions the object of the first verb. See paragraphs 3.203 to 3.213.

I don't want them to feel I've slighted them.

One of the group began pumping her chest to help her breathe.

3.184 Note that the first verb needs the second verb after it because it does not give enough information on its own. For example 'I want' does not give enough information to be a useful statement, but 'I want to talk to you' does.

Some of the verbs dealt with below, for example 'want' and 'like', can also be ordinary transitive verbs, with a noun group after them. Transitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.15 to 3.26.

3.185 If you want to talk about two actions that are less closely linked, you refer to each action in a separate clause. Ways of combining clauses are explained in Chapter 8.

verb forms 3.186 The first verb involved in a phase structure is the main verb of the structure. It is usually finite; that is, it inflects for tense and agrees in number with the subject of the clause.

I wanted to come home.

Lonnie warns to say 'sorry'.

More and more people are coming to appreciate the contribution which Muslims make to our society.

However, it can be a non-finite form.

There is a tendency for teachers to advise people to take their best school subjects at A Level.

3.187 The second verb in the combination is always non-finite, which means that it does not inflect for tense and or change its form at all.

Castle tried to read.

They had been trying to read.

Information about finite and non-finite forms can be found in the Reference Section.

3.188 There are four non-finite verb forms that are used for the second verb in phase:

• the present participle

• the 'to'-infinitive form

• the infinitive without 'to'

• the past participle

Note that the infinite without 'to' and the past participle form of the verb are used in only a few combinations.

Other kinds of '-ing' form and infinitive are also sometimes used. They are combinations of non-finite forms.

Those very close to the blast risk being burnt.

Neither Rita nor I recalled ever having seen her.

She wanted to be reassured.

They claimed to have shot down 22 planes.

3.189 The position of 'not' in negative phase structures is explained in paragraphs 4.53 and 4.54.

Talking about two actions done by the same person: phase verbs together

3.190 When you are talking about two actions that are done by the same person, you use the second, non-finite, verb directly after the first verb.

Children enjoy playing alongside each other.

You deserve to know the truth.

3.191 Some verbs are always followed by a present participle clause in phase structures of this kind.

He contemplated setting up a private estate in Hungary.

I could avoid putting too much weight on my arm.

He missed having someone to dislike.

I recall being very impressed with the official anthems.

Here is a list of verbs which are used with a present participle, but not a 'to'-infinitive:

admit adore appreciate avoid celebrate commence consider contemplate

defer delay deny describe detest discontinue dislike dread

endure enjoy explain fancy finish go imagine keep

lie loathe mention mind miss postpone practise recall

report resent resist risk sit stand stop suggest

These verbs are also sometimes used with a passive '-ing' form.

They enjoy being praised.

'Admit', 'celebrate', 'deny', 'mention', and 'recall' are quite often used with a perfect '-ing' form.

Carmichael had denied having seen him.

3.192 Note that 'need' can be used with a present participle after it, but the present participle then has the same meaning as a passive 'to'-infinitive. For example, 'The house needs cleaning' means the same as 'The house needs to be cleaned'.

'Require' and 'want' are also occasionally used in the same way, although some people do not like this use of 'want'.

3.193 Other verbs are used with a 'to'-infinitive clause.

Mrs Babcock had always longed to go to Ireland.

She forgot to bring a suitcase.

She wishes to ask a favour of you.

Here is a list of verbs which are used with a 'to'-infinitive, but not a present participle:

ache afford agree aim appear arrange ask attempt care choose claim consent dare

decide demand deserve desire disdain endeavour expect fall fight forget grow happen help

hesitate hope intend learn live long manage mean need neglect offer opt pay

plan pledge prepare pretend promise prove reckon refuse resolve scorn seek seem survive

swear tend threaten venture volunteer vote vow wait want wish

Most of these verbs can be used with a passive infinitive.

She refused to be photographed.

He deserves to be shot.

The following verbs from the above list are not usually used with a passive infinitive, because of their meanings:

claim dare forget

intend team manage

mean neglect pretend

threaten trouble venture

'Appear', 'claim', 'happen', 'pretend', 'prove', 'seem', and 'tend' are quite often used with a perfect infinitive.

They seemed to have disappeared.

Note that 'help' is also followed by the infinitive without 'to'.

Coffee helped keep him alert.

USAGE NOTE 3.194 Note that 'afford' is always preceded by a modal, and that 'care' is normally used with a negative.

Can we afford to ignore this source of power as other sources of energy are diminishing?

I wouldn't care to put money into it.

3.195 The use of 'have' followed by a 'to'-infinitive clause is explained in paragraph 4.248.

verbs used with either form 3.196 A few verbs can be used with either a present participle clause or a 'to'-infinitive clause without altering the meaning of the verb.

It started raining.

A very cold wind had started to blow.

Maureen began dancing.

Anne began to cry.

Babies prefer sleeping on their back.

Russians prefer to give gifts at New Year.

We both love dancing.

He loves to talk about metalwork.

Here is a list of verbs which can be followed either by a present participle or a 'to'-infinitive without greatly altering the meaning:

attempt begin bother

cease continue deserve

tear hate like

love prefer start

try

Note that 'bother' is often used with a negative or a broad negative.

He didn't bother complaining about it.

We hardly even bother to clean it.

3.197 With a few verbs, the meaning is altered depending on whether you use a present participle clause or a 'to'-infinitive clause. These verbs are 'come', 'go on', 'remember', and 'regret'.

If someone 'comes running, flying, or hurtling' somewhere, they move in that way. If you 'come to do something', you gradually start doing it.

When they heard I was leaving, they both came running out.

People came to believe that all things were possible.

With the other verbs, the difference in meaning relates to the timing of the action.

If you 'go on doing something', you continue to do it, but if you 'go on to do something', you subsequently start doing it.

We went on fighting the Incomes Policy for 18 months after that.

She went on to talk about the political consequences.

If you 'remember doing something', you did it in the past, but if you 'remember to do something', you do it at the present time.

I remember promising that I would try.

She must remember to get the wood under cover.

Likewise, if you 'regret doing something', you have already done it, but if you 'regret to do something', you have to do it at the present time.

She did not regret accepting his offer.

I regret to say rents went up.

'Regret' is only used with the 'to'-infinitive of a small number of verbs which share the meaning of giving or receiving information. These verbs are:

announce inform

learn say

see tell

3.198 When you have a choice between a present participle and a 'to'-infinitive, you do not use the present participle if the first verb is in a continuous tense.

The Third World is beginning to export to the West.

The big clouds were starting to cover the sun.

Educational budgets are continuing to increase.

With verbs that cannot be followed by a 'to'-infinitive, you normally use a noun group instead of the present participle.

I knew Miss Head would just be finishing her cello practice.

3.199 Note that a few verbs, principally 'need', 'want', 'have', 'buy', and 'choose', are used with an object and a 'to'-infinitive when talking about two actions performed by the same person. The 'to'-infinitive must be transitive. It is understood as qualifying the noun, rather than being closely connected with the first verb.

I wanted some goods to place in the window.

She chose the correct one to put in her bag.

'to'-infinitive showing purpose 3.200 Note that verbs which indicate a deliberate action are sometimes followed by a 'to'-infinitive clause which expresses purpose.

Several women moved to help her.

The captain stopped to reload the machine-gun.

This is not a phase structure because the first verb has a complete meaning of its own; the second verb is giving a reason for the first action, not completing the information about it.

Note that in this structure, 'to' can be extended to the phrase 'in order to'. See paragraphs 8.43 to 8.46 for more details.

USAGE NOTE 3.201 When the base form of 'try' is used, for example as an imperative or with a modal, it is sometimes used with 'and' followed by the base form of the second verb, rather than with a 'to'-infinitive. The two actions seem to be separate, because of the 'and', but are in fact very closely linked.

Try and get a torch or a light, it's terribly dark down here.

I'll try and answer the question.

Some speakers consider this to be informal or incorrect.

'Come' and 'go' are often used in a similar way with 'and', in simple tenses as well as in the base form. The verb after 'and' can also inflect.

Come and see me whenever you feel depressed.

I went and fetched another glass.

'get' with a past participle 3.202 In informal English, 'get' is sometimes used with a past participle directly after it, in a structure with a passive meaning.

Then he got killed in a plane crash.