The theological behaviour of dilute and semidilute solutions of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide) in glycerine is described, emphasising the study of the variation of both the zero shear rate viscosity, eta (0), and the steady-state compliance function, J(e)(0), with concentration. Shear rate fields, above a critical value, may promote molecular tight 'structures' that enhance the viscosity of the semidilute solutions and, as a result, these systems exhibit shear-thickening behaviour. However, the dilute solutions display shear-thinning behaviour and obey the Cox-Merz rule. The flow transients appearing after either application of a constant shear rate or cessation of Row were studied for semidilute solutions. The shear-thickening behaviour of these solutions is interpreted in terms of the formation of hydrogen bonds between the acrylamide groups and the carbonyl groups of different chains.