remember doing or remember to do?: verbs that change meaning
remember, forget, stop, try and regret mean different things with -ing and with to
What you'll be able to do
Say precisely what you did, meant to do or stopped doing, without the misunderstandings these verbs cause.
The pairs
| Verb | + -ing | + to |
|---|---|---|
| remember | a memory of the past: I remember meeting her. | a task: Remember to lock the door. |
| forget | (usually I'll never forget + -ing): a memory | a task you didn't do: I forgot to call him. |
| stop | end an activity: She stopped smoking. | stop one thing in order to do another: We stopped to buy coffee. |
| try | an experiment: Try restarting the laptop. | an effort, maybe difficult: I tried to open it, but I couldn't. |
| regret | being sorry about the past: I regret leaving. | formal bad news: We regret to inform you… |
- I remember visiting the museum as a child.I have the memory
- Please remember to send the invoice.don't forget the task
- He stopped working at six.he finished
- He stopped to answer the phone.he stopped something else in order to answer
- Try turning it off and on again.an experiment that might help
Common mistakes
I remember to see that film.For a memory: I remember seeing that film.I forgot locking the door.For a task not done: I forgot to lock the door.We stopped having lunchwhen you mean you paused your journey for lunch: We stopped to have lunch.
Practice
- I clearly remember _____ him at the airport, but he says he wasn't there.Options: seeing · to see · see
Show the answer
seeing — A memory of the past: remember + -ing.
- Did you remember _____ the windows before you left?Options: to close · closing · close
Show the answer
to close — A task: remember + to.
- We were tired, so we stopped _____ a rest at a café.Options: to have · having · have
Show the answer
to have — Stop to do: stop in order to do something else.
- My doctor told me to stop _____ coffee in the evening.Options: drinking · to drink · drink
Show the answer
drinking — End an activity: stop + -ing.
- If the app crashes, try _____ (delete) it and installing it again.
Show the answer
deleting — An experiment: try + -ing.
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, then practised with questions you answer by choosing or typing. It comes back for review on later days, until you can use it without help.
More on this topic: -ing or to? Verb patterns in English