Gerunds and InfinitivesWith a change in meaning

With a change in meaning

stopstop + gerundThey stopped talking when the bell

rang.(to end an activity)

stop + infinitiveWe stopped to buy petrol on our

way to Bristol.(the reason for stopping)

rememberremember + gerundI remember singing funny songs

with my grandfather(a memory)remember + infinitiveI remembered to put the rubbish

outside(I did it)

forgetforget + gerundI forget reading this book before( I read it but I have no memory of

it)

forget + infinitiveI forgot to turn my car lights off

and ended up with a flat battery.(I didn’t do it)

trytry + gerundI have tried taking paracetamol and

having a massage but my neck still hurts

(the various processes tried to reach an aim)

try + infinitiveI tried to catch the mouse but it was

too quick(my aim)

regret (hate)regret + gerundI regret dropping out of university.(I wish I hadn’t done it)

regret + infinitiveI regret to tell you/to inform you that your application wasn’t successfulregret/hate to tell/inform

go ongo on + gerundShe went on talking even though I had asked her to be quiet(to continue doing something)go on + infinitiveThey went on to open five more branches after the success of their first restaurant.(what they did afterwards)

likelike + gerundI like walking in the countryside(enjoy)like + infinitive

I like to do the house work before breakfast

(prefer)*the difference is very small

meanmean + gerundWe have to be at the airport by 7am. It

means getting up at 5am.(involve)mean + infinitiveI’m sorry I didn’t mean to tear the

paper.(It wasn’t my intention/it was an

accident)

needneed + Infinitive I need to clean my car(active)

need + gerund My car needs cleaning(passive)