Verbs followed by '-ing' or infinitive to change meaning
Look at these examples to see how these verb patterns work.
The bus stopped picking up the children.
The bus stopped to pick up the children.I want to try studying with a friend to see if it helps us stay more motivated.
I'm trying to study but it's impossible with all this noise.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Some verbs have a different meaning depending on whether they are followed by an -ing form or to + infinitive.
stop
Stop + -ing means the action is not happening any more.
I've stopped buying the newspaper because now I read the news online.
Stop + to + infinitive means that someone or something stops an activity so that they can do something else.
He stopped the video to ask the students some questions.
try
Try + -ing means that you are trying something as an experiment, especially as a possible solution to a problem, to see if it works or not.
Have you tried turning the computer off and on again?
Try + to + infinitive means that something is difficult but you are making an effort to do it.
I'm trying to learn Japanese but it's very difficult.
remember/forget
Remember + -ing and forget + -ing refer to having (or not having) a memory of something in the past.
I remember watching this film before.
I'll never forget meeting you for the first time in this café.
Remember + to + infinitive and forget + to + infinitive refer to recalling (or not recalling) that there is something we need to do before we do it.
Please remember to buy some milk on the way home.
He forgot to lock the door when he went out.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
Dear Teachers, Ihave a question about this situation:
“Why did you call me again last night?”
- “Sorry, I forgot ______ (call) you earlier.”
Can I fill in the blank with “calling”?
I think it could mean that I forgot I had already made a call, so I called again.
Is this correct, or should I use “to call” instead? Thank you!
Hello KatherineThu,
The correct form in this example is 'to call'.
The verb forget can be followed by -ing form or to verb, but there is a difference in meaning:
We use forget + -ing form to describe losing a memory of an earlier event that happened. You can use a noun instead of -ing and it has a similar meaning to 'forget about'.
I forgot about that hotel. It was terrible, wasn't it?
I forgot that hotel. It was terrible, wasn't it?
I forgot staying in that hotel. It was terrible, wasn't it?
We use forget + to verb to describe a time when you didn't do something because of a memory failure.
I forgot to buy bread this morning. Sorry!
Remember works in the same way, and there are some other verbs which can be used with either -ing form or to verb with a change in meaning. I'll list some of the more common ones below.
remember/forget
with -ing: it’s in your memory e.g. I remember traveling to Italy in 1998.
with to verb: your memory worked, or not e.g. I forgot to go to the shop – sorry!
go on
with -ing: continue e.g. He went on talking and wouldn’t stop!
with to verb: do something new e.g. He went on to have great success academically.
regret
with -ing: something in your past e.g. I’ve always regretted not helping him.
with to verb: official announcements e.g. We regret to have to tell you that…
advise/allow/permit/forbid
with -ing: if there is no object e.g. The director allows smoking.
with to verb: if there is an object e.g. The director forbids workers to smoke.
see/watch/hear
with -ing: the activity is not finished e.g. I saw him kissing her.
with verb: the action is completed e.g. I saw her kiss him goodnight.
try
with -ing: it’s an experiment e.g. I’m going to try making lasagne.
with to verb: you want to do something e.g. I’m trying to learn when to use gerunds!
mean
with -ing: it will involve this e.g. It will mean working very hard.
with to verb: it’s what you intend e.g. I mean to make a good impression.
learn/teach
with -ing: for subjects or lessons e.g. I learned typing at college.
with to verb: for the result (success, failure) e.g. I learned to drive when I was 17.
stop
with -ing: ended an activity e.g. I stopped smoking last year.
with to verb: in order to e.g. I stopped to answer the phone.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕓𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕪 "𝕚𝕟𝕘" / "𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖" (to change meaning)
𝟭-𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽:
𝘢- 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 + 𝘪𝘯𝘨 = 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
Example 1 :
-My father 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝙞𝙣𝙜 due to health issues.
---> He no longer works. (He quit his job completely)
Example 2 :
-He 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘬𝙞𝙣𝙜.
--->He no longer smokes.
𝘣-𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 + 𝘵𝘰 + 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣=𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
Example 1:
-My father 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 working 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 a rest. (Stop + to + infinitive)
---> He paused one action (working) so he can do another (to rest).
Example 2:
We’ll 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 at the next restaurant 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 lunch.
𝟐-𝐓𝐫𝐲:
𝘢-𝘛𝘳𝘺 + 𝘪𝘯𝘨= 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴.
Example 1 :
-I’ll 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 this application to recover the deleted files; I’m not sure if it will work.
---> I'm testing the application as a possible solution.
Example 2:
-𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 the right button and wait a moment. If it doesn’t work, call me again.
𝘣- 𝘛𝘳𝘺 + 𝘵𝘰 + 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣 = 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵.
Example 1:
-I 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 a transfer for your son to another department, but it was beyond my control.
---> I made an effort, but I didn’t succeed.
Example 2:
-I’ll 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 it, but that will take a lot of time!
---> That won’t be easy. It will require more time and effort.
𝟑-𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 / 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭:
𝘢- 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 + 𝘪𝘯𝘨= 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
Example :
-Jeans: And the sugar?
-Marcia: Yes, I 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 sugar in my coffee.
-Jeans: Ok, you're right. That's really healthy.
---> Marcia is saying she remembers that she didn’t do an action in the past ( put sugar in her coffee).
𝘣-𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 + 𝘵𝘰 + 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣= 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦)
Example :
-Mother: 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 your teeth before going to bed.
-Son: Yes, I will.
--->Remember to brush your teeth ....= Don’t forget to brush your teeth.
𝘤-𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 + 𝘵𝘰 + 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣 = 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰.
Example:
Police: And your driver licence, please?
Marcia: Sorry, I 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴o𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 it.
𝘥- 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 + 𝘪𝘯𝘨 = 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥.
Example 1:
-Mother: Allô Marcia, did you lock the outer door before leaving.
-Marcia: I'm not sure. I 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 it.
-Mother: You should go back and check it right now!
Example 2:
-Marcia: Hi mum, I 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 food to the rabbit.
-Mother: No, you did it. I have found your pet eating carrot.
--->Marcia can’t remember whether she gave the food to her pet.
Thank you so much, Mounir. Your summary is really usefull !
Hi,
When I want to say that I want sb to do sth else using 'would rather' Should I say, for example, I would rather you stayed than went or I would rather you stayed than go?
Best wishes
ZS
Hello Zuzanna123,
The verbs should be consistent so you should use 'went':
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi,
Which one is correct?
I tried to lift the suitcase but it was too heavy.
Vs
I tried lifting the suitcase but it was too heavy
I noticed that in your " try to..." example, you ended that sentence with "but" followed by a reason FOR the failure identical to the one in the my sentence. Is it a convention that "try to..." BE followed by "but"?
Also, tell me whether "reason" should be followed by "of" or "for", in this question paragraph ("for "has been capitalised for your perusal).
Finally, is the subjunctive "be" that I have used in this question employed in accordance with the rules of Grammar? Once again, the "be" in question is capitalised for your convenience .
Hello GnaisAugustus,
Both could possibly be correct (since 'tried to lift' refers more to difficulty and 'tried lifting' refers more to an experiment), but since 'but it was too heavy' implies that the speaker could not lift the suitcase, I'd say 'tried to lift' is the best answer.
Often there is a phrase with 'but' with both 'try to Verb' and 'try Verbing', so you have to consider what the most likely meaning is when deciding which form to use. The context should make this clear in many contexts. And yes, 'reason for the failure' is correct (not 'reason of').
And yes, it's fine to say 'be' in the way that you did. It's a little unusual in informal conversation -- where we'd probably say 'Is it correct to use 'but' after 'try to?' -- but it is correct.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello, hope you people are fine.
Could I ask correction in following sentence.
"Increasing overpopulation is the biggest threat human beings facing today."
Hello MartialWhite,
There are two possible ways to correct the sentence:
Please note that generally we do not correct sentences for users. Our focus is on explaining, not correcting. Otherwise we would end up just being a proofreading service!
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team