Simple explanation
Why can the form change the meaning? Some English verbs can be followed by both a gerund, the -ing form, and a to-infinitive. However, these two patterns are not always interchangeable. The form you choose can change whether the second action is viewed as an experience, a completed event, a purpose, an intention, a duty or a possible solution. Gerunds often present an action as an event or experience With verbs such as remember, forget and regret, a gerund often refers to an action that has already happened. The speaker looks back on that action as an event, memory or experience. To-infinitives often point forward to a purpose, duty or intention With patterns such as remember to do, forget to do and mean to do, the infinitive often refers to an action that is intended, required or expected. With stop to do, the infinitive expresses the purpose of stopping another activity. Learn complete meaning pairs, not isolated verbs It is not enough to memorize that stop can take either a gerund or an infinitive. Learn stop doing as one meaning pattern and stop to do as another. Apply the same approach to remember, forget, try, regret, mean and go on.
Grammar formula
Ending an activity
subject + stop + gerundShe stopped complaining.
Stopping for a purpose
subject + stop + to-infinitiveShe stopped to answer the phone.
Remembering a past event
subject + remember + gerundI remember meeting him.
Remembering a duty
subject + remember + to-infinitiveRemember to lock the door.
Trying a method
subject + try + gerundTry restarting the computer.
Making an effort
subject + try + to-infinitiveI tried to restart the computer.
Regretting a past action
subject + regret + gerundI regret saying that.
Formally giving bad news
subject + regret + to-infinitiveWe regret to inform you that the event has been cancelled.
Expressing a consequence
subject + mean + gerundThe job means travelling frequently.
Expressing an intention
subject + mean + to-infinitiveI meant to call you.
Negative form
subject + do/does/did not + main verb + gerund/to-infinitiveI didn't remember to send the attachment.
Question form
auxiliary + subject + main verb + gerund/to-infinitive?Do you remember meeting her before?
Core rules
- 1
stop doing vs stop to do
Stop + gerund means to end an activity. Stop + to-infinitive means to interrupt one activity in order to perform another one.
- 2
remember doing vs remember to do
Remember + gerund means to have a memory of a past action. Remember + to-infinitive means not to forget an action that needs to be done.
- 3
forget doing vs forget to do
Forget + gerund refers to losing or lacking the memory of a past action, although this pattern is less common and often appears in contexts such as I'll never forget doing something. Forget + to-infinitive means failing to perform an intended or necessary action because you forgot it.
- 4
try doing vs try to do
Try + gerund means to test a method or possible solution. Try + to-infinitive means to make an effort to perform an action, whether or not the effort succeeds.
- 5
regret doing vs regret to do
Regret + gerund expresses regret about an action that has already happened. Regret + to-infinitive is mainly used in formal language when introducing unpleasant information.
- 6
mean doing vs mean to do
Mean + gerund means to involve, require or have something as a consequence. Mean + to-infinitive means to intend to do something.
- 7
go on doing vs go on to do
Go on + gerund means to continue the same activity. Go on + to-infinitive means to finish one activity and then move to a different one.
Useful examples
I stopped checking work emails after dinner.
I no longer check work emails after dinner.
Stop + gerund means the activity itself ended.
I stopped to check an urgent message on my way home.
I paused what I was doing so that I could check an urgent message.
Stop + to-infinitive expresses the purpose of the pause.
I remember meeting Maya at a conference in Madrid.
I have a clear memory of meeting Maya at a conference in Madrid.
Remember + gerund looks back at a completed event.
Remember to send Maya the updated schedule before noon.
Do not forget that you need to send Maya the updated schedule before noon.
Remember + to-infinitive refers to a task that still needs to be performed.
I'll never forget seeing the Northern Lights for the first time.
The memory of seeing the Northern Lights for the first time will always stay with me.
Forget + gerund refers to the memory of a past experience.
He forgot to attach the document to his email.
He did not attach the document because he forgot that he needed to do it.
Forget + to-infinitive usually means the intended action was not completed.
If the app keeps freezing, try clearing the cache.
Clearing the cache is one possible solution you can test.
Try + gerund presents an action as a method or experiment.
I tried to open the file, but it was corrupted.
I made an effort to open the file, but I was unable to do so.
Try + to-infinitive emphasizes effort toward a goal.
I regret saying that during the meeting.
I am sorry now that I said that during the meeting.
Regret + gerund refers to a completed action that the speaker now wishes had not happened.
We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
We are sorry to tell you that your application was not successful.
Regret + to-infinitive is common in formal announcements of unpleasant news.
Accepting the promotion would mean moving to another city.
One consequence of accepting the promotion would be having to move to another city.
Mean + gerund expresses a consequence or requirement.
I meant to call you yesterday, but I got home very late.
I intended to call you yesterday, but I did not manage to do it.
Mean + to-infinitive expresses intention.
She went on explaining the same point even after everyone understood it.
She continued explaining the same point although everyone had already understood it.
Go on + gerund means continuing the same activity.
After explaining the problem, she went on to suggest three possible solutions.
She finished explaining the problem and then moved to the next task: suggesting three solutions.
Go on + to-infinitive signals a change to a new activity.
Didn't you remember to book the tickets?
Did you forget that you were supposed to book the tickets?
The question asks whether a required action was remembered and completed.
Do you remember visiting this place when we were children?
Do you have a memory of coming to this place when we were children?
The gerund refers to a past experience being recalled now.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I stopped to smoke because I wanted to quit. ✅ I stopped smoking because I wanted to quit. If you mean that the habit ended, use stop + gerund. Stop to smoke would mean that you interrupted another activity in order to smoke.
- ❌ Remember locking the door before you leave. ✅ Remember to lock the door before you leave. The locking has not happened yet and is something the listener needs to do, so remember + to-infinitive is required.
- ❌ I forgot sending the email, so she never received it. ✅ I forgot to send the email, so she never received it. The sentence means the email was not sent because the speaker forgot the task. That requires forget + to-infinitive.
- ❌ The printer is not working. Try to restarting it. ✅ The printer is not working. Try restarting it. To restarting is not a valid pattern here. Because restarting is being suggested as a possible solution, try + gerund is appropriate.
- ❌ I regret to argue with him yesterday. ✅ I regret arguing with him yesterday. The argument already happened, so regret + gerund is used for present regret about a past action.
- ❌ Working remotely means to spend less time commuting. ✅ Working remotely means spending less time commuting. When mean expresses a consequence or implication, it is followed by a gerund.
- ❌ She went on to explain the same idea for another twenty minutes. ✅ She went on explaining the same idea for another twenty minutes. If the same activity continues, use go on + gerund. Go on to explain normally suggests moving to a new activity or point.
Learning tips
- Ask yourself what stop refers to: Is the -ing activity ending, or is another activity being interrupted for a new purpose?
- With remember and forget, build a timeline. A gerund often points back to an experience, while a to-infinitive often points toward a duty or intended action.
- Think of try doing as testing a solution and try to do as making an effort.
- Regret to inform, regret to announce and regret to say are common formal patterns for introducing unpleasant information.
- Connect mean doing with consequence or requirement, and mean to do with intention.
- For go on, check whether the activity stays the same or changes to a new one.
- Do not memorize only the verb. Memorize the verb pattern together with its meaning and a contrasting example.
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Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
Can the same English verb be followed by both a gerund and an infinitive?
Yes. Some verbs accept both forms. With certain verbs the meaning remains similar, but with verbs such as stop, remember, try, regret, mean and go on, the choice can create an important difference in meaning.
What is the exact difference between stop doing and stop to do?
Stop doing means to end an activity. Stop to do means to interrupt what you are currently doing in order to perform another action.
How can I tell the difference between remember doing and remember to do?
Use remember + gerund when you are recalling a past event or experience. Use remember + to-infinitive when you are talking about not forgetting a task that needs to be completed.
When should I use try doing instead of try to do?
Use try doing when you test a method or possible solution. Use try to do when you make an effort to perform an action or achieve a result.
Why do we say We regret to inform you?
Regret + to-infinitive is a conventional formal pattern used to introduce unpleasant information. Regret + gerund, by contrast, normally expresses regret about something that has already happened.
Is forget doing as common as forget to do?
No. Forget to do is much more common in everyday English. Forget + gerund is more restricted and is often seen in expressions about memories, especially forms such as I'll never forget meeting her.
Do I need to memorize all of these verbs?
You should learn the complete meaning patterns rather than memorizing isolated verbs. Learning stop doing and stop to do as two contrasting structures is more useful than simply learning that stop can take two different complements.