Verbs + both gerunds and infinitives

Verbs + both gerund and infinitive

No change in meaning

Verbs that are followed by either the gerund or the infinitive with no change in meaning: begin, continue, prefer, start.

• He started to read when he was four.

• He started reading when he was four.

Change in meaning

Verbs whose meaning changes depending on whether the verb after them is in the gerund or the infinitive.

1. GO ON

2. LEARN

3. MEAN

4. REGRET

5. REMEMBER

6. STOP

Change in meaning

1. GO ON

• He went on studying although he was tired.

  
  

• After school, he'll go on to study to study law.
  

Change in meaning

1. GO ON

• He went on studying although he was tired.

  
  

• After school, he'll go on to study to study law.
  

= continue doing something.




= doing something after doing something else.

Change in meaning

2. LEARN

• We all learned spelling at school.

  
  

• I learned to spell lots of words in 5th grade.
  

Change in meaning

2. LEARN

• We all learned spelling at school.

  
  

• I learned to spell lots of words in 5th grade.
  

= gain knowledge of something.



= successfully master a skill.

Change in meaning

3. MEAN

• Going to university meant making new friends.

• I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make a fuss.

Change in meaning

3. MEAN

• Going to university meant making new friends.

• I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make a fuss.

= make something necessary.






= intend to do something.

Change in meaning

4. REGRET

• I regretted telling her what happended.

• I regret to tell you that the project has been cancelled.

Change in meaning

4. REGRET

• I regretted telling her what happended.

• I regret to tell you that the project has been cancelled.

= feel sorry about something you have done.


= "I am sorry to tell you."

Change in meaning

4. REMEMBER

• I don't remember turning off the lights.

• She remembered to turn off the lights.

Change in meaning

4. REMEMBER

• I don't remember turning off the lights.

• She remembered to turn off the lights.

= have no memory of an action.


= not to forget.

Change in meaning

5. STOP

• I have stopped posting photos on Facebook.

• She stopped to post a photo on Instagram.

Change in meaning

5. STOP

• I have stopped posting photos on Facebook.

• She stopped to post a photo on Instagram.

= no longer do something.


= stop doing something in order to do something else.

​13 questions.

Fill in the blanks.

Practice time!

Fill in the Blanks

1. 1) We regret

   (inform) you that the gallery is closed for renovation.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 2) I regret

   (not study) phylosophy at school. I'd like to know more about it.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 3) Why don't you try

   (switch) it off and then on again?

Fill in the Blanks

1. 4) Have you ever tried

   (learn) a third or fourth language?

Fill in the Blanks

1. 5) Ryan never remembers

   (bring) back library books on time.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 6) She didn't remember

   (lend) me $20 but I paid her back anyway.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 7) Next year, I'd like to stop

   (study) and take a year off.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 8) It was a long journey, so we stopped

   (take) a break in the afternoon.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 9) Have you ever forgotten

   (go) to school?

Fill in the Blanks

1. 10) Eloise just went on

   (talk) even though no one was listening.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 11) My dad says he regrets

   (leave) school to get a job.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 12) When I go to university, I'll start

   (cook).

Fill in the Blanks

1. 13) I remember

   (hear) this song on the radio last night.