Page 75 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

Verb patterns (2) 1 0

Grammar

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I managed to find a friendly taxi driver.
I considered staying for a few more days.
couldn't get out of the way.
When two verbs are used together, the second verb is in either a to-infinitive, an -ing or a bare infinitive form
(i.e. an infinitive without to).

En Verb + to-infinitive / -ing

Some verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing form with little or no difference in meaning
I started to scream. or ! started screaming.
Other verbs like this include begin, not bother, cease, continue. We normally avoid using two -ing forms together:
I was beginning to feel quite at home there. (not i-was-beginningfeeling ...)
After the opinion verbs hate, like, love and prefer we can use either a to-infinitive or an -ing form with little
difference in meaning. However, we prefer a to-infinitive when we say we do something regularly. Compare:
When I was younger, fused to hate to swim in the sea. (= implies regular swimming)
When I was younger, fused to hate swimming in the sea. (= implies swimming in general)
After would (fl) with hate, like, love or prefer, we use a to-infinitive, not an -ing form:
I'd love to think that it could avoid a huge expansion in visitors.
Some verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or an -ing form but the meaning of the verb is different:
I came to realise that the Lombok people are very kind. (= talking about a gradual realisation)
It came swimming towards me. (= saying that something swam in your direction)
We use an -ing form after the preposition to:
I'd really been looking forward to staying at the Hotel Sanar in Mataram. (not leekinglefwaraf-ta-stay-...)
and after the preposition of a phrasal verb:
I put off going home for as long as possible. (not l-put f 6.a...)
In negative sentences, the position of not can influence meaning. Compare
I regretted not speaking the local language. (= I didn't speak the language and I regretted it)
I didn't regret speaking the local language. (= I spoke it and I didn't regret it)
I was told not to exercise. (= they said I shouldn't exercise)
I wasn't told to exercise. (= they didn't say I should exercise)

En Verb + (object) + bare infinitive
When let and make have an object, this is followed by a bare infinitive:
They made us wait outside the harbour for hours.
But we use a to-infinitive after a passive form of make
We were made to wait outside the harbour for hours.
When the verbs of perception feel, hear, notice, observe, overhear, see, watch have an object, this is followed by
an -ing form or a bare infinitive
I felt it stinging me across the stomach. or I felt it sting me across the stomach.
I sat on the beach and I watched the sun setting. or! watched the sun set and then went home.

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