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Verbs whose meaning changes depending on whether they are followed by an infinitive or a gerund.
Some verbs can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund, but changing the form changes the meaning or the time relationship.
The most important examples include remember, forget, regret, stop, try, mean, and go on.
Remember + to-infinitive refers to remembering that an action needs to be performed.
For example, Remember to lock the door means that you should not forget to lock it.
Remember + gerund refers to having a memory of a past action or experience.
For example, I remember meeting her means that I have a memory of meeting her.
Forget + to-infinitive refers to failing to remember that an action should be performed.
For example, I forgot to call him means that I did not remember to make the call.
Forget + gerund refers to losing or lacking a memory of a past action or experience.
For example, I will never forget meeting her means that the memory of the meeting will remain.
Regret + to-infinitive is commonly used in formal language when announcing or reporting unpleasant information.
For example, We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
Regret + gerund refers to feeling sorry about an action that has already happened.
For example, I regret saying that means that I am sorry that I said it.
Stop + gerund means to end or cease an activity.
For example, He stopped smoking means that he ended the activity of smoking.
Stop + to-infinitive means to interrupt one activity in order to perform another activity.
For example, She stopped to answer the phone means that she paused what she was doing in order to answer it.
Try + to-infinitive means to make an effort or attempt to do something.
For example, Try to be more careful means make an effort to be more careful.
Try + gerund means to test or experiment with an action as a possible solution.
For example, Try restarting the computer means experiment with restarting it to see whether it solves the problem.
Mean + to-infinitive expresses intention or an intended action.
For example, I meant to call you means that I intended to call you.
Mean + gerund expresses that one action or situation involves, requires, or results in another.
For example, This job means working late means that working late is an unavoidable part of the job.
Go on + gerund means to continue the same activity.
For example, She went on talking for another hour.
Go on + to-infinitive means to move from one activity, subject, or stage to another.
For example, After discussing the problem, she went on to explain the solution.
Continue can normally be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund without a major change in meaning.
For example, She continued to work and She continued working.
Begin can normally be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund with little difference in meaning.
For example, It began to rain and It began raining.
Start can normally be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund with little difference in meaning.
For example, She started to laugh and She started laughing.
Like can take either a to-infinitive or a gerund, with the choice sometimes reflecting a difference between a specific preference or habit and general enjoyment.
For example, I like swimming describes enjoyment of the activity, while I like to check my email in the morning can describe a preferred routine.
Love, hate, and prefer can often be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund, with differences that may depend on context, aspect, and style.
For example, I love reading and I love to read both describe positive preference, while I would prefer to leave is a common specific-choice construction.
Need + to-infinitive means that the subject needs to perform the action.
For example, I need to wash the car means that I need to perform the washing.
Need + gerund can express that something needs to receive an action and has a passive meaning.
For example, The car needs washing means that the car needs to be washed.
Need + gerund and need + to be + past participle can express similar passive meanings in appropriate contexts.
For example, The house needs painting and The house needs to be painted.
Can't help is followed by a gerund and means that someone cannot prevent themselves from performing or experiencing an action.
For example, I cannot help laughing means that I cannot stop myself from laughing.
Choose the infinitive or gerund according to the meaning intended by the preceding verb.
Common mistakes include confusing remember to do with remember doing, stop doing with stop to do, try to do with try doing, mean to do with mean doing, and go on doing with go on to do.