• regret+ -ing means 'be sorry about an action in the past'.
I regret selling my car.
• regret+ infinitive means 'be sorry about a present
situation'.

I regret to inform you that your car hos been stolen.

• stop+ -ing means 'give up doing or cease to
do something'.

I stopped drinking coffee because it kept me awoke at night.

• stop+ infinitive means 'stop doing something in order to
do something else'.

We stopped to have a coffee on the way home.

• try+ -ing means that the action is an experiment which
may or may not be successful.

Try studying at a different time of day- it might suit you better.

• try+ infinitive means 'make an effort even though the
action may be difficult or impossible'.

Try to study for at least three hours a day.

	Created by Roberto San over 8 years ago

Verb patterns with -ing and infinitive