3.194 The use of have followed by a to-infinitive clause is explained in paragraph 5.242.
verbs used with either form
3.195 A few verbs can be used with either an -ing participle or a to-infinitive without changing the meaning of the verb.
It started raining.
A very cold wind had started to blow.
We both love dancing.
He loves to talk about his work.
Here is a list of verbs that can be followed either by an -ing participle or a to-infinitive without greatly changing the meaning:
attempt
begin
bother
cease
continue
deserve
fear
hate
like
love
prefer
start
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.
3.196 With a few verbs, the meaning is altered depending on whether you use an -ing participle or a to-infinitive. These verbs are come, go on, remember, try, 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.
If you try to do something, you attempt it, to see if you can do it. If you try doing something, you do it in order to find out if it is effective.
She tried to think calmly.
Try lying down in a dark room for a while. That usually helps.
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.
They went on arguing into the night.
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.
We must remember to say thank you.
Similarly, 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 that share the meaning of giving or receiving information. These verbs are:
announce
inform
learn
say
see
tell
3.197 When you have a choice between an -ing participle and a to-infinitive, you do not use the -ing participle if the first verb is in a progressive form.
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 phrase instead of the -ing participle.
I knew Miss Head would just be finishing her cello practice.
3.198 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 relating to the noun, rather than being closely connected with the first verb.
I need a car to drive to work.
She chose the correct one to put in her bag.
to-infinitive showing purpose
3.199 Note that verbs that refer to a deliberate action are sometimes followed by a clause expressing purpose. Here, to means in order to.
Several women moved to help her.
The captain stopped to reload the machine-gun.
Note that 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.
See paragraphs 8.43 to 8.46 for more details on expressing purpose.
3.200 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 forms 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 an -ed participle
3.201
Then he got killed in a plane crash.
Her foot had gotten caught between some rocks. (Am)
Talking about two actions done by different people