Grammar - Verb + -ing or to-infinitive (remember, regret, stop, etc.)

Read the text and complete the activities below.

In English, some verbs can be followed by either an -ing form (gerund) or a to-infinitive. The tricky part? The meaning of the sentence changes completely depending on which one you choose.

1. Remember & Forget

Verb + -ing:

Use this when talking about a memory of a past event. The action already happened.

• I clearly remember locking the front door before we left.

• She will never forget meeting her favorite singer.

• Do you remember going to that beach when we were kids?

Verb + to-infinitive:

Use this when talking about a task or a responsibility you need to do.

• Please remember to lock the door when you leave.

• I completely forgot to buy milk at the supermarket.

• Did you remember to call your mother on her birthday?

2. Regret

Verb + -ing:

Use this to express that you feel sorry about something you did in the past.

• I regret speaking so angrily to my best friend.

• He regrets not studying harder for his final exams.

• Do you regret moving to a different city?

Verb + to-infinitive:

Use this in formal situations to announce bad news.

• We regret to inform you that your application was denied.

• I regret to tell you that the flight has been canceled.

• The company regrets to announce the closure of the local branch.

3. Stop

Verb + -ing:

Use this when you quit, finish, or abandon an ongoing action.

• I stopped drinking coffee because it kept me awake at night.

• They stopped talking as soon as the teacher walked into the room.

• You really need to stop biting your nails!

Verb + to-infinitive:

Use this when you interrupt what you are doing in order to do something else.

• We were driving for hours, so we stopped to eat lunch.

• While walking home, she stopped to look at a beautiful garden.

• I stopped to answer my phone.

4. Try

Verb + -ing:

Use this when you do something as an experiment to see if it solves a problem.

• Have you tried restarting your computer to fix the issue?

• I had a headache, so I tried taking an aspirin, but it didn't work.

• Try adding some salt to the soup if it tastes bland.

Verb + to-infinitive:

Use this when you make a difficult physical or mental effort to achieve a goal.

• I tried to lift the heavy box, but I wasn't strong enough.

• She is trying to learn Japanese before her trip to Tokyo.

• We tried to catch the train, but we were too late.

ACTIVITIES

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Click on the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

1. Oh no! I forgot

to turn off turning off

the oven before we left the house.

2. If you can't sleep, try

to drink drinking

some warm chamomile tea.

3. We regret

to inform informing

you that the concert tonight is completely sold out.

4. Let's stop

to buy buying

some water at the next gas station; I'm thirsty.

5. I will never forget

to see seeing

the Eiffel Tower for the very first time.

Exercise 2: Gap Fill Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets (-ing or to-infinitive).

1. I really regret him my secret because now everyone in the office knows.

2. Please remember the dog before you leave for work this morning.

3. After running for three miles, the athlete stopped his breath.

4. I tried the jar of pickles, but the lid was completely stuck.

5. Do you remember video games all night when we were teenagers?

Exercise 3: Meaning Matching Select the sentence that perfectly matches the meaning provided.

1. Which sentence means "I quit smoking permanently"?

a) I stopped to smoke.

b) I stopped smoking.

2. Which sentence means "I did a quick experiment to see if it tasted good"?

a) I tried to add honey.

b) I tried adding honey.

3. Which sentence means "I have a memory in my brain of meeting him"?

a) I remember meeting him.

b) I remembered to meet him.

4. Which sentence means "I am formally giving you bad news"?

a) I regret to say this.

b) I regret saying this.

5. Which sentence means "I failed to do a task I was supposed to do"?

a) I forgot bringing my keys.

b) I forgot to bring my keys.