Verbs Taking Gerund or Infinitive With a Change in Meaning
Introduction
Understanding when to use gerunds or infinitives after certain verbs can be tricky for both novice and intermediate English learners. While many verbs maintain a consistent meaning regardless of the form that follows, a select group of verbs alters its meaning depending on whether a gerund or an infinitive is used. This distinction, often overlooked, significantly impacts sentence clarity and meaning. Therefore, this guide aims to untangle the confusion surrounding these verbs by providing clear examples.
Many verbs in English can be combined with verbs in the gerund (doing) or infinitive (to do) form.
Verb + Gerund
Some verbs are followed by the gerund (or ing) form of the verb:
consider doing ->
- I haven't considered looking for a new job.
appreciate doing ->
- I appreciate listening to music on a daily basis.
Verb + Infinitive
Some verbs are followed by the infinitive form of the verb:
hope to do ->
- I hope to see you next week at the party.
decide to do ->
- I've decided to find a new job next week.
Most verbs take either the gerund or the infinitive, but not both forms. In this case, it's important to learn which verbs take which form. However, there are a number of verbs which can take both forms. Most of these keep the meaning the same:
- She started to play the piano. = She started playing the piano.
- I like to go to the beach at least once a year. = I like going to the beach at least once a year.
Some verbs which can take both forms have a change in meaning depending on whether the verb is followed by the gerund or the infinitive. Here is an explanation of these verbs with examples to help provide context.
Forget
Forget to Do
Use forget to do to indicate that someone did not do something:
- She often forgets to lock the door when she leaves the house.
- I forgot to get the groceries at the supermarket.
Forget Doing
Use forget doing to say that someone doesn't remember something that they have done in the past:
- Mary forgets meeting Tim in Italy.
- Annette forgot locking the door before she left her home.
Remember
Remember to Do
Use remember to do when speaking about something someone should do:
- Make sure you remember to pick up some eggs at the supermarket.
- I'm sure I'll remember to invite Peter to the party. Don't worry about it!
Remember Doing
Use remember doing to speak about a memory that someone has:
- I remember buying him a present.
- Jeff remembers living in Italy like it was yesterday.
Regret
Regret to Do
Use regret to do in the case that someone must do something that is unpleasant:
- I regret to tell you the bad news
- They regret to inform us that we've lost all our money!
Regret Doing
Use regret doing to express that someone doesn't like what they did at some time in the past:
- Peter regrets moving to Chicago.
- Allison regrets falling in love with Tim.
Stop
Stop to Do
Use stop to do in order to say that someone stops one action in order to do another action:
- Jason stopped to speak with his boss about the convention.
- My friend stopped to smoke a cigarette before he continued with the conversation.
Stop Doing
Use stop doing to show that someone has completely quit some action. This form is often used when speaking about bad habits:
- I stopped smoking cigarettes.
- You should stop complaining about money all the time.
Try
Try to Do
Use try to do to encourage someone to do something:
- He should try to learn a new language.
- I think you should try to save some money this month.
Try Doing
Use try doing when speaking about an experiment or something that is new:
- He tried going to a fitness club, but it didn't work out for him.
- Have you ever tried cooking fish in olive oil?