3.197 USAGE NOTE

With a few verbs, the meaning is altered depending on whether you use a present participle clause or a 'to'-infinitive clause. These verbs are 'come', 'go on', 'remember', 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.

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.

• We went on fighting the Incomes Policy for 18 months after that.
• 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.
• She must remember to get the wood under cover.

Likewise, 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 which share the meaning of giving or receiving information. These verbs are:

announce, inform, learn, say, see, tell