Is it just the way it is we do not say: consider to do something?

Question

We can say:

1. We will continue to support Windows 10.
2. We will continue supporting Windows 10.

However, we say

I will consider going fishing.

but cannot say

I will consider to go fishing.

Is it just the way it is? Just like: nobody says it this way and so we won't say it this way? It is like in Hong Kong, if the waiter gives you a glass of water, and you say "thank you" in Cantonese, it is considered to be weird, because the common practice is to say, "You shouldn't" (meaning I am not entitled to your service, to mean thank you for giving me the water in a humble way).

Answer 1

This is called a catenative sentence. There is a clause headed by the verb "consider" and instead of an object, the clause is completed by another clause "going fishing", headed by the participle verb "going".

It is called "catenative" (from a Latin word meaning chain) because there is a "chain" of verbs.

The second verb in the chain is usually either an infinitive (to do) or a participle-gerund (doing). The first verb determines what form the second verb should take.

Look at the wiktionary page on catenative verbs It shows that "consider" is followed by a participle-gerund. On the other hand "continue" may be followed by either an infinitive or a participle with no difference in meaning.

That page is quite long, but native English speakers follow all the rules on that page without thinking, so it is quite important for learners to know which verbs are followed by an infinitive and which are followed by a participle. This is a grammar rule of English, so it is more important than choice to say "thank you" or "you shouldn't" in Cantonese.