Remember, stop, try: changes in meaning
Understand verbs whose meaning changes with -ing or to: remember, forget, stop, try and regret.
In this lesson you will
- Distinguish remember/forget + -ing vs to
- Distinguish stop and try + -ing vs to
- Know verbs where both forms mean the same
Learn
remember / forget + -ing = a memory of the past: I remember meeting* her in 2015.* remember / forget + to = a duty: Remember to lock* the door. I forgot to call you.*
stop + -ing = quit: I stopped smoking. stop + to = pause in order to: I stopped to buy* a coffee.*
try + -ing = experiment to see what happens: Try restarting* your computer.* try + to = make an effort: I tried to open* the jar but I couldn’t.*
regret + -ing = be sorry about a past action; regret to (formal) = be sorry to give bad news: We regret to inform you… like, love, hate, start, begin, continue take both with little change in meaning.
Examples
- I’ll never forget seeing the ocean for the first time.
- Don’t forget to reply to the email.
- We stopped to look at the view.
- If you can’t sleep, try drinking warm milk.
Vocabulary
duty
something you should do
quit
stop doing
experiment
try something to see the result
effort
hard work to do something
inform
tell officially
Practice
I remember ___ this song at school. (a memory)
Speaking
Talk about: something you remember doing as a child, something you often forget to do, a habit you stopped, and advice (try + -ing) for a problem.
Writing
Write eight sentences about your life using remember, forget, stop, try and regret with both patterns.
Lesson quiz
I regret ___ so much money last year.
Review
Key points
- remember/forget + -ing = past memory; + to = duty.
- stop + -ing = quit; + to = pause in order to.
- try + -ing = experiment; + to = effort.
- regret + -ing / regret to (bad news).
What you learned
- ✓ I know how meaning changes.
- ✓ I can use these verbs correctly.
- ✓ I can give ‘try + -ing’ advice.
Grammar reference: Gerunds and infinitives