3.198 WARNING

Note that when you have a choice between a present participle and a 'to'-infinitive, you do not use the present participle if the first verb is in a continuous tense.

• 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, we would normally use a noun group instead of the present participle.

• I knew Miss Head would just be finishing her cello practice.

3.199

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 qualifying the noun, rather than being closely connected with the first verb.

• I wanted some goods to place in the window.
• She chose the correct one to put in her bag.