GERUND vs INFINITIVE - MEANING CHANGES! (B1 Grammar)

Some verbs can use BOTH infinitive (to + verb) and gerund (verb + -ing), BUT the MEANING CHANGES! Learn these important differences: STOP, REMEMBER, FORGET, TRY, GO ON, REGRET.

Quick tip: STOP + -ing = quit | STOP + to = pause. REMEMBER + -ing = past memory | REMEMBER + to = don't forget. TRY + to = attempt | TRY + -ing = experiment.

STOP: Quit the action vs Pause to do something

STOP + -ING = quit the activity (don't do it anymore). STOP + TO + infinitive = pause/interrupt what you're doing to do something else.

• I stopped smoking. (quit the habit - I don't smoke anymore)
• I stopped to smoke. (I paused my activity to have a cigarette)
• He stopped talking. (quit talking - became silent)
• He stopped to talk to me. (paused to have a conversation)

REMEMBER/FORGET: Past memory vs Future obligation

REMEMBER/FORGET + -ING = recall (or not) a PAST action. REMEMBER/FORGET + TO = remember (or not) to do a FUTURE/present obligation.

• I remember meeting her. (I met her in the past, and I recall it now)
• Remember to call me! (don't forget - future action!)
• I forgot locking the door. (I did lock it, but I don't remember doing it)
• I forgot to lock the door. (I didn't lock it - I forgot to do it)

TRY: Make effort vs Experiment

TRY + TO = attempt, make an effort (maybe you fail). TRY + -ING = experiment, test something as a possible solution.

• I tried to open the door, but it was stuck. (attempted, made effort - failed)
• I tried opening the window instead. (experimented - tried it as alternative)
• He tried to fix it. (attempted to repair - maybe didn't succeed)
• Try turning it off and on again. (experiment - test this solution)

Common mistakes

• Not "I stopped to smoke last year. (meaning: I quit smoking)" — say "I stopped smoking last year.". To QUIT the habit = STOP + -ING. STOP + TO means pause to do something, not quit!.
• Not "Remember calling me! (telling someone to call in future)" — say "Remember to call me!". For FUTURE obligations (don't forget to do it), use REMEMBER + TO, not REMEMBER + -ING..
• Not "I tried opening the door, but it was locked. (meaning: made effort)" — say "I tried to open the door, but it was locked.". For ATTEMPT/EFFORT, use TRY + TO. TRY + -ING means experiment with alternative..

Practise it

Context is KEY! Past memory or future action? Quit or pause? Attempt or experiment? The meaning tells you which form to use!