highly debatable

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by james_chew_84

mike! Could I have some examples on the verb regret?

Sure.

I regret to inform you of the rejection of your manuscrpt. [In this sentence, the writer is actually informing the reader of the rejection.]

I regret informing you of the rejection of your manuscript. [In this sentence, the writer is expressing regret about a past action.]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

Let me rewrite my question,
Is there any other verbs that belong to the catagory that will change meanings dramatically if I change infinitive to gerund?

In your list, I think the verb "try" belongs to the catagory that causes slight defference if infinitive is changed to gerund.

:wink:

I think there is a big difference. :wink:

try + -ing She tried to swallow the pill, but her throat was too sore.
( attempt to do something) She was not successful.
try + inf She tried swallowing the pill, but it didn't make her feel better.
(She swallowed the pill because she thought it might help.)

come + -ing He came running when I called. (move in a particular way)
come + inf That's the kind of behavior we have come to expect from him.
(start doing something)

regret + -ing I regret not marrying John. (be sorry about an action in the
past)
regret + inf (with say, tell, inform, and announce) I regret to say that
the plane will be late.) (be sorry about a present action)

:)

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Yes, that is very good and it is the classical decription of the differences. I find, however, that the actual difference changes with the task at hand. I don't think the telphone example, is easily explained by "attempt" versus "experiment. In both cases, the subject dialed a phone and received a busy signal. It works a little better with the golf line, but, in truth, both are attempts and experiments. In your examples, the difference is clearer. In the original question, both readings lead to me to a thwarted attempt rather than to an experiment.

Yes, I agree. :wink:

Originally Posted by blacknomi

Let me rewrite my question,
Is there any other verbs that belong to the catagory that will change meanings dramatically if I change infinitive to gerund?

In your list, I think the verb "try" belongs to the catagory that causes slight defference if infinitive is changed to gerund.

:wink:

I think there is a big difference. :wink:

try + -ing She tried to swallow the pill, but her throat was too sore.
( attempt to do something) She was not successful.
try + inf She tried swallowing the pill, but it didn't make her feel better.
(She swallowed the pill because she thought it might help.)

come + -ing He came running when I called. (move in a particular way)
come + inf That's the kind of behavior we have come to expect from him.
(start doing something)

regret + -ing I regret not marrying John. (be sorry about an action in the
past)
regret + inf (with say, tell, inform, and announce) I regret to say that
the plane will be late.) (be sorry about a present action)

:)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Susie Smith

I think there is a big difference. :wink:

try + -ing She tried to swallow the pill, but her throat was too sore.
( attempt to do something) She was not successful.
try + inf She tried swallowing the pill, but it didn't make her feel better.
(She swallowed the pill because she thought it might help.)

come + -ing He came running when I called. (move in a particular way)
come + inf That's the kind of behavior we have come to expect from him.
(start doing something)

regret + -ing I regret not marrying John. (be sorry about an action in the
past)
regret + inf (with say, tell, inform, and announce) I regret to say that
the plane will be late.) (be sorry about a present action)

:)

There can be a difference, but, to be fair, you shouldn't change the second clause.

She tried to swallow the pill, but her thrioat was too sore.
She tried swallowing the pill, but her throat was too sore.

I don't disagree about the attempt/experiment distinction. But the resulting difference depends on the action, IMO. It is not always a great one. It certainly is nowhere near that of "I stopped to smoke" and "I stopped smoking". :wink:

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

There can be a difference, but, to be fair, you shouldn't change the second clause.

She tried to swallow the pill, but her thrioat was too sore.
She tried swallowing the pill, but her throat was too sore.

I don't disagree about the attempt/experiment distinction. But the resulting difference depends on the action, IMO. It is not always a great one. It certainly is nowhere near that of "I stopped to smoke" and "I stopped smoking". :wink:

You have a point there.
:)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Susie Smith

You have a point there.
:)

Your points and information were very good. :wink: