Gerund vs to — changes in meaning
Some verbs take gerund or infinitive with different meanings — remember, stop, try, regret.
A — Sample sentences
Words like drizzle, thunderstorm, forecast, humid, gale, and blizzard.
1) remember / forget + gerund vs infinitive
gerund = memory of past; infinitive = something to do (now/future).
- I remember watching the lightning during last year's thunderstorm.
- Remember to check the weather forecast before you travel.
- She forgot closing the windows before the downpour started.
- Don't forget to bring a coat — it might get chilly.
2) stop + gerund vs infinitive
stop + -ing = quit an activity; stop + to = pause in order to do something.
- It stopped raining after a short drizzle.
- We stopped to watch the beautiful sunset over the valley.
- He stopped driving because the fog was too thick.
- They stopped to take shelter when the gale began.
3) try / regret + gerund vs infinitive
try + -ing = experiment; try + to = attempt. regret + -ing = past regret; regret + to = formal bad news.
- Try opening the window if the room feels humid.
- We tried to reach the coast before the blizzard arrived.
- I regret not listening to the weather warning yesterday.
- We regret to inform you that the outdoor event is cancelled due to hail.
The rest of this lesson is in the General English course:
- B — Meaning changes
Try it: Gerund or infinitive?
Choose the form that matches the meaning.
- I remember ___ the thunder during the storm last night.
(a) hearing (b) to hear (c) hear - Remember ___ the forecast before you leave.
(a) checking (b) to check (c) check - It stopped ___ around noon.
(a) to drizzle (b) drizzling (c) drizzle - We stopped ___ a photo of the lightning.
(a) taking (b) to take (c) take
Check your answers in the course — it marks them instantly. This is one of the unit's 4 exercises; the other 3 are in the General English course too.
Practise this unit in the course →