Page 308 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

-ing fonns (7): remember, go on etc + -ing or infinitive 299
- I looked out ofthe window and saw Mary crossing the road. I saw Mary cross the road and disappear into the post office.
- As I passed his house I heard him practising the piano. I once heard Breru:kl play all the Beethoven concertos.
For more details. see 242.
6 try
To talk about making an experiment - doing something to see what will happen - we use try + -ing.
I tried sending her flowers. writing her letters, giving her presents, but she still wouldn't speak to me.
To talk about making an effort to do something difficult, we can use either try + infinitive or try + -ing.
I tried to change the wheel, but my hands were too cold. (OR I tried changing the wheel . ..)
7 mean
Mean in the sense of'involve', 'have as a result' (see 348) can be followed by an -ingfonn.
Ifyou want to pass the exam it will mean studying hard. In the sense of 'intend', mean is followed by an infinitive.
I don't think she means to get married for the moment.
S learn and teach
These verbs (and others with similar meanings) are followed by -ing forms mostly when we are referring to lessons or subjects of study.
She goes to college twice a week to learn typing.
Mr Garland teaches skiing in the winter.
Infinitives are preferred when we talk about the result of the study - about successfully learning a skill.
She learnt to read German at school. but she learnt to speak it in Germany. I taught myselfto type.
9 like, love, hate and prefer
After these four verbs, both infinitives and -ing fonns can often be used without a great difference of meaning.
I hate working I to work at weekends.
I don't get up on Sundays. I prefer staying I to stay in bed.
Li1ce + infinitive is used to talk about choices and habits. Compare:
Ili1ce climbing I to climb mountains (= I enjoy climbing.)
When I pour tea I like to put the milk in first. (= I choose to; it's my habit.) After would like, would prefer, would hate and would love, infinitives are most often used.
I'd like to tell you something. (NOT ['fllike fellin~",It 86methillg.) Can I give you a lift? - No thanks, I'd prefer to walk. (NOT ••• ttl prefer
ttfdHeing. )
Compare:
Do you like dancing? (= Do you enjoy dancing?)
page 276