Special Gerund / Infinitive Verbs

Use this when the action already happened and the speaker has or lacks the memory now.

Use this when the action is still expected and the person must not miss it.

-ing names the activity that ends. to + verb gives the purpose of the pause.

-ing suggests a tested method. to + verb shows an effort to achieve something.

With regret and mean, the choice changes the message completely: past action or result vs formal bad news or intention.

Past memory vs future duty

Remember and forget look backward with -ing and forward with to + verb. Ask: did the action already happen, or is it still a duty?

Quit vs pause for a purpose

Stop + -ing ends the named activity. Stop + to + verb pauses one action so another action can happen.

Method vs effort

Try + -ing suggests a method: one possible solution. Try + to + verb shows an effort, often when success is difficult.

Formal messages

Regret + to + verb often appears in formal notices: We regret to inform you... Regret + -ing is personal and looks back at an earlier action.

With remember, forget, stop, try, regret, and mean, the form choice changes the meaning. Learn the two messages as a pair.

To + verb often points forward with remember and forget, but with regret and mean it can express bad-news wording or intention, not simple future time.

Use remember + -ing for a memory of an earlier action

Use remember + -ing when the action happened first and the speaker has the memory now. The focus is the past experience, not a future duty.

Use remember + to + verb for something you must do

Use remember + to + verb when the action is still ahead at that moment. The focus is not forgetting a duty or plan.

Use forget + -ing when someone has no memory of a past action

Use forget + -ing when the person did the action but does not remember it now. The action happened before the forgetting.

Use forget + to + verb when someone does not do a planned action

Use forget + to + verb when the action should happen but does not happen because it slips the person's mind. The action is expected, not remembered as an experience.

Use stop + -ing to end an activity

Use stop + -ing when the person ends the activity named by the verb. The activity was in progress and then it ended.

Use stop + to + verb when one action pauses for another purpose

Use stop + to + verb when the person interrupts one action in order to do a different one. The infinitive gives the purpose of the pause.

Use try + -ing to test an idea or method

Use try + -ing for an experiment, method, or possible solution. The speaker suggests one option to see what happens.

Use try + to + verb for an effort that may be difficult

Use try + to + verb when someone makes an effort to do something. The focus is the attempt itself, often with difficulty.

Use regret + to + verb in formal bad-news messages

Use regret + to + verb before saying something unpleasant, often in formal announcements or letters. The regret is about saying the message now.

Use regret + -ing to feel sorry about something already done

Use regret + -ing when the speaker feels bad about an earlier action or event. The action happened first; the regret comes later.

Use mean + -ing for the result of an action

Use mean + -ing when one thing results in another. The meaning is consequence: if X happens, it involves Y.

Use mean + to + verb for intention

Use mean + to + verb when someone intends or plans to do something. The focus is what the person wanted to do.