Grammar: ’stop buying’ or ’stop to buy’? - BBC English Masterclass
Some verbs change meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or infinitive verb. Learn about three of them – ‘stop’, ‘regret’ and ‘go on’ - in this Masterclass with Sian.
For more, visit our website:
Transcript:
Sian
Hi Sian here for BBC Learning English. Now lots of people stop to buy a coffee on their way into work, but not me - I’ve stopped buying coffee. What’s the difference - ’stop buying’ ’stop to buy’? You’ll find out in this Masterclass.
In English we have a group of verbs that can be followed by the gerund or the infinitive, but with a change in meaning. We’re going to look at three of them: ’stop’, ’regret’ and ’go on’.
1) Stop
’I’ve stopped buying’ ’I stopped to buy’?
OK, number one, listen to these two examples with ’stop’ and try and work out the difference in meaning.
So, ’I’ve stopped buying coffee’ and ’I stopped to buy a coffee this morning’. What’s the difference?
Well, the first example ’I’ve stopped buying coffee’ ’stop’ is followed by the gerund. This means the activity in the gerund form stops, so ’I’ve stopped buying coffee because it’s so expensive. I’m drinking tea from now on.’
In the second example, ’I stopped to buy a coffee this morning’ the verb after ’stop’ is in the infinitive, ’I stopped to buy a coffee’ this means that we stop doing one action in order to do the action in the infinitive. So, this morning I stopped walking in order to buy a coffee.
2) Regret
’I regret telling you’ ’We regret to tell you’?
Number two; listen to these two examples with ’regret’. ’I regret telling you that’ ’we regret to tell you that...’ What’s the difference?
Ok, so the first example, ’I regret telling you that’ ’regret’ is followed by the gerund. This is when we feel sorry about something we’ve done in the past. So ’I regret telling you about that singing competition, now everybody knows I’ve entered!’
The second example ’I regret to tell you that...’ is followed by the infinitive. We use this when you’re about to give bad news - when you’re sorry for something you’re going to say. So, ’We regret to tell you that your application has been unsuccessful’. This is normally quite formal and often in written English and normally with verbs like ’say’, ’tell’ or inform.
3) Go on
’She went on talking’ ’She went on to talk’
Ok, finally number three. What’s the difference between these two examples with the verb ’go on’. ’She went on talking for hours’ ’she went on to talk’? What’s the difference?
Ok, the first example ’she went on talking’ we use the gerund because the action continues ’She went on talking for hours about gerunds and infinitives!’ The second one ’she went on to talk’ the verb is followed by the infinitive. This means the activity changes to another one. For example, ’she started talking about gerunds and infinitives and she went on to tell a joke.’
That’s all for now - Don’t forget to visit our website. Ah now, there’s another one - what’s the difference between ’forget to do something’ and ’forget doing something’?
Visit our website to find out if you’re correct. Goodbye!
1 view
215
50
2 weeks ago 00:03:41 1
Learn English ESL Irregular Verbs Grammar Rap Song! StickStuckStuck with Fluency MC!
3 weeks ago 00:57:11 1
How to acquire any language NOT learn it!
3 weeks ago 00:02:50 1
「ロックマンX DiVE」Rockman X DiVE — 10x Gacha sucks. Finally got the Second Armor!
3 weeks ago 00:01:55 1
Directions Rap Song | How to ask and give directions, with dance actions | English Through Music
3 weeks ago 00:24:30 1
9 RULES OF ARTICLES - A, AN, THE or ’THEE’ ? - Use and pronounce correctly every time!
3 weeks ago 01:59:00 2
Dimension, 1991 - Night Owl Radio 450
3 weeks ago 00:15:37 1
CORRECT YOUR ENGLISH: Top 10 Mistakes with Gerunds & Infinitives
4 weeks ago 00:24:05 1
Top 10 Vedic mantras (2012)
4 weeks ago 09:31:20 1
David Wynn Miller 2012 FULL Quantum-Language Grammar Syntax Seminar
4 weeks ago 00:00:58 1
Speak English Like a Native Essential Phrases for Everyday Conversations | Q & A in English - 02
1 month ago 00:00:56 1
Master Simple Present Tense | Questions and Answers in English | English Speaking Practice - 01
1 month ago 00:15:39 1
🔥 TO or FOR? English Prepositions Explained!
1 month ago 01:45:18 1
832. Sherlock Holmes: The Red-headed League (Learn English with a Short Story)
1 month ago 00:26:23 1
Stop English | Advanced English Idioms, Expressions and Slang in English
1 month ago 00:12:23 1
How to talk about WEATHER in English - grammar, adjectives, verbs, nouns & idioms
1 month ago 00:02:18 1
Russian and Sanskrit are one and the same language. English subtitles.
1 month ago 00:12:18 1
36 Smart and Interesting Responses to ’HOW ARE YOU?’
1 month ago 00:09:44 1
🔥 How to Think in English and Stop Translating in Your Head (4 Ways!)
1 month ago 00:12:48 1
Your Internet is Too Fast
2 months ago 00:01:51 1
Classroom Commands, English for Children Good TPR Lesson
2 months ago 00:03:27 1
BOKU NO HERO ACADEMIA「AMV」▪ IT’S GOT MY NAME ON IT (2020) ▪ (HD)
2 months ago 00:09:33 1
Uncountable English Nouns | Fix Common Grammar Mistakes & Errors
2 months ago 00:09:02 1
いろいろなアニメ - Spirited Away - 千と千尋の神隠し - Japanese Comprehensible Input For Beginners
2 months ago 00:17:12 1
How to Talk about Hope in English | Present, Past, and Future