Hi,
I remember asking this question, but I’ve forgot the answer and can find no where, so I must asked again (I’m terribly sorry!):
Does “bother to do something” and “bother doing something” mean the same?
(I think they do)
Many thanks
Nessie.
1 Like
Hi Nessie,
Apart from the reference above for which, Alex, thank you I would add, Nessie that you would use this ‘ing’ / infinitive choice with a negative construction. ‘Bother’ in a positive sense would usually attract the infinitive only as in: I appreciated that she bothered to come and see us although she was very busy.
Alan
1 Like
Thanks, Alex. I’ve read it but I’m still not very clear about “general use” vs “specific use”. I think you’ve got Alan’s point, so could you please give me an example to distinguish them? - Thank you in advance.
By the way, are the two usages always fundamentally the same? Or just in some cases?
Many thanks once again.
Nessie.
1 Like
You’re welcome, and I really have nothing to add to what Alan has said in his post above 
1 Like
“attract the infinitive”? what does it mean? :roll: :roll:
Sorry for my dumbness. :oops: :oops:
1 Like
Hi,
Just me showing off! It means ‘is followed by’.
Alan
1 Like
Oh yea, I get what you mean now, Alan 
So “bother” is never followed by a gerund when it has a positive meaning?
1 Like
Hi,
In a word, yes.
Alan
I would say there was a slight difference in focus: “to bother to do X” presents the action as a whole, whereas “to bother doing X” presents the action as if it were in progress.
I agree that “to bother doing X” tends to occur in negative constructions; though it may occur in a positive construction with a negative implication, e.g.
- I don’t know why you bothered turning up.
- Why did you bother going to the doctor, if you weren’t going to listen to his advice?
MrP
1 Like
Hi,
Another query has arisen in my mind: does the same rule work for “a chance to V” and “a chance of + gerund”?
A chance to do something: positive meaning
i.e: a chance to visit the UK, a change to win the contest, a chance to pass the exam
A chance of doing something: negative meaning
=> sorry I can’t think of any examples for this +_+
This sounds a bit odd as I think “chance” often only refer to positive meanings…
But if not, how can we distinguish between the two usages?
Many thanks
Nessie.
1 Like
Hello Nessie,
“To have a chance to do/of doing X” does usually have a positive meaning; in BrE, I don’t think there’s a great difference between the two forms.
On the other hand, there is a difference in “to have no chance to do/of doing X”.
Here are some random examples:
1a. There might be a chance of persuading her.
1b. There might be a chance to persuade her.
— Very little difference. Perhaps with the infinitive, the action is presented as a whole; whereas with the gerund, it’s presented as if it were in progress.
2a. I had no chance of making them listen.
— i.e. it would not have been possible for me to make them listen.
2b. I had no chance to make them listen.
— i.e. I had no opportunity to make them listen.
3a. It was the first chance I’d had of reading her letter.
3b. It was the first chance I’d had to read her letter.
— as 1a/1b.
4a. If you don’t bet, you have no chance of winning.
4b. If you don’t bet, you have no chance to win.
— as 2a/2b.
5a. I never had a chance to play football professionally.
5b. I never had a chance of playing football professionally.
— as 1a/1b.
6a. Argentina is a country where a fellow has a chance to make good.
6b. Argentina is a country where a fellow has a chance of making good.
— as 1a/1b.
7a. “He writes beautifully,” said Catherine, who was very glad of a chance to say it.
7b. “He writes beautifully,” said Catherine, who was very glad of a chance of saying it.
— as 1a/1b.
8a. Give Bridget a chance to explain.
8b. Give Bridget a chance of explaining.
— as 1a/1b.
9a. We arrived a day early, so that we would have a chance of exploring the city.
9b. We arrived a day early, so that we would have a chance to explore the city.
— as 1a/1b.
Other member may disagree, of course!
Best wishes,
MrP
1 Like
=> What does it mean, MrP?
Thank you 
Nessie.
1 Like
Hello Nessie,
“To make good” is to improve your financial circumstances considerably; probably by doing business in some way.
Best wishes,
MrP
1 Like
This may sound a bit… odd but do people say “To make rich”? 
(They say so in Vietnamese :P)
1 Like
Not as a set phrase, in BrE.
But you can say “to make someone rich”.
Best wishes,
MrP
1 Like