Menu
For free
Registration
Home  /  Success stories/ Infinitive after verbs in English. Infinitive and gerund: forms and use

Infinitive after verbs in English. Infinitive and gerund: forms and use

Many verbs are, or may be, followed by another verb in the infinitive form. All verbs in the list on this page can be followed by an infinitive with to, in cases where an infinitive is used. Verbs marked with an asterisk can be followed by that clauses, as shown in the examples. Verbs marked with two asterisks can only be followed by a that clause when the subject of the primary verb is "it".

Verbs followed by an infinitive

afford agree* aim appear** arrange* bother care
claim* condescend consent decide* demand* determine* endeavor
fail guarantee* happen* hasten have (= be obliged) hesitate hope*
learn long manage offer prepare pretend* proceed
promise* propose prove (= turn out) refuse resolve* seek seem**
strive swear* tend threaten* trouble undertake volunteer
vow*
Examples
  • I hope to see you next week.
  • I hope that I"ll see you next week.
  • He claimed to be an expert.
  • He claimed that she was an expert.
  • I managed to reach the top of the hill.
  • Would you care to swim?
Examples
  • Itappeared that no-one had locked the door.
  • He appeared to be lost.
  • It seems that she is running late.
  • She seems to be running late.

Verbs followed by a noun + infinitive

accustom aid appoint assist cause challenge command*
defy direct* drive empower enable encourage entice
entitle entreat force get implore* incite induce
inspire instruct* invite lead leave (= make someone responsible) oblige order*
convince* press prompt provoke remind* require* stimulate
summon teach tell tempt trust* warn*
Examples
  • The professor challenged his students to argue with his theory.
  • This law empowers the government to charge higher taxes.
  • You can't force me to do something I don't agree with.
  • I invited the new student to have dinner with me.
  • What inspired you to write this poem?
Verbs without a noun before a clause with that

In cases where verbs are followed by a conditional clause with that, there is no noun before that clause, even if there is a noun before the infinitive. These are just the cases for verbs command, direct, entreat, implore, order, require, & trust.

Examples
  • I trust you to tell the truth.
  • I trust that you are telling the truth.
  • The general commanded his men to surrender.
  • The general commanded that his men surrender.
Verbs with a noun before a clause with that

Other verbs, when followed by subordinate clause with that, a noun is required before that, as well as before an infinitive. These are verbs persuade & remind.

Examples
  • You can't persuade people to buy small cars.
  • You can't convince people that small cars are better.
  • He reminded me to take my notebook for school.
  • He reminded me that I would need my notebook.
Verbs with an optional noun before a clause with that

AND last group Verbs followed by a that clause can have an optional noun before that. These are verbs instruct, teach, & warn.

Examples
  • She taught her students to appreciate poetry.
  • She taught her students that poetry was valuable.
  • She taught that poetry was valuable.

Verbs followed by an infinitive or noun + infinitive

ask* beg* choose dare desire* elect expect*
help mean* (=intend) request* want wish*
Examples
  • I asked him to show me the book.
  • I asked to see the book.
  • She helped me to put away the dishes.
  • She helped to put away the dishes.
  • We expect you to do your best in the exam.
  • We expect to do well on our exams.
  • Do you want to go to the beach?
  • Do you want me to go with you to the beach?
Using to dare

In negative and interrogative sentences An infinitive with or without "to" is used when the subject of both verbs is the same, although a more common method is to simply leave out the "to" in the sentence. If two verbs have different subjects, then you should use to.

Examples
  • I never dared to tell him what happened.
  • Do you dare tell him?
  • Would you dare (to) jump out of a plane?
  • I dare you to tell him the truth.
  • She dared me to jump off the wall.

Infinitive in English – this is a non-personal form. Like a verb, an infinitive names an action, but unlike a verb, it does not indicate person or number. In its basic form (Simple Infinitive), the infinitive answers the questions: what to do? what to do?

to purchase – to purchase.

The infinitive is also called the “indefinite form of the verb” or “ initial form verb."

Table: infinitive forms in English (briefly)

The infinitive can have 4 forms in the active voice and 2 in the passive voice.

However, the most common and relevant for study is the form “simple infinitive in the active voice” (to ask). In fact, when they say “infinitive”, usually, in most cases, I mean this particular form - most of this article is devoted to it.

Below we will look at the same table again and analyze each form in detail, but first we need to clarify two more points:

  • The infinitive can be with or without the particle to.
  • How is the negative form of the infinitive formed?

After that, let's return to the analysis of each form.

Infinitive with the particle to and without the particle to

The infinitive can be used with or without the particle to:

  • I want to help you. - I want to help you.
  • I must help you. - I have to help you.

Most often the infinitive is used with to, but there are a number of cases when the infinitive is used without the particle to, they apply to all forms of the infinitive(i.e. all forms from the table above). I note that most often the infinitive without to occurs after modal verbs, other cases are quite rare.

1. After modal verbs (the most common case)

Negative infinitive

The negative form is formed using a particle not– it is placed before the infinitive. If the infinitive is with the particle to, the negation not is placed before it.

I decided not to go to London. – I decided not to go to London.

He asked me not to be late. - He asked me not to be late.

I might not come. – I may not come.

All forms of the infinitive in English (details)

Let's look again at all forms of the infinitive:

There are six forms in total in the table:

1. Simple Infinitive:

I want to ask you – I want to ask you.

2. Simple Infinitive Passive:

I want to be asked- I want to be asked.

3. Continuous Infinitive:

I happened to be asking her about you when you came in. “It so happened that I asked her about you when you came.”

4. Perfect Infinitive:

You could have asked me first - You could ask me first.

5. Perfect Infinitive Passive:

She could have been asked by anybody – Anyone could have asked her.

6. Perfect Continuous Infinitive:

He doesn't seem to have been asking wrong people - Looks like he was asking the wrong people questions.

Please note that the most common, necessary and important form to study is Simple Infinitive. In second place - Simple Infinitive Passive. Other forms are used less frequently.

Forms Perfect And Perfect Continuous(that is, those where there are have) – largely overlap with the themes “ and . If you already know these topics, you will see familiar things, but just from a different perspective - everything is explained in more detail below.

Simple Infinitive - simple infinitive (the most necessary form)

The most common and important form of the infinitive to study is the simple infinitive in the active voice (Infinitive Indefinite Active or Simple Infinitive Active). It is used to denote an action that:

1. Occurs simultaneously with the action of the main verb:

Tell him to stop. - Tell him to stop.

2. Refers to the future tense:

I want you to come with me tomorrow. – I want you to come with me tomorrow.

3. Regardless of the time of commission:

To know such tricks are useful. – Knowing such tricks is useful.

Let's name the main cases of its use.

1. With verbs that do not give full meaning

The infinitive is often used in combination with verbs that do not make full sense without it, for example:

  • Tell- say/command something,
  • Begin- start,
  • Continue- continue,
  • Want- want,
  • Intend- intend
  • Try- try, try,
  • Hope- hope
  • Promise- promise,
  • Decide- decide, make a decision.

I want to see your permission. - I want to see your permission.

Do you promise to quit smoking? – Do you promise to quit smoking?

Nina decided not to sing the agreement. – Nina decided not to sign the agreement.

I'll try to help you. - I'll try to help you.

These verbs include modal verbs. I remind you that after them the infinitive is used without the particle to:

I must see your permission. - I need to see your permission.

Can you quit smoking? -Can you quit smoking?

2. To indicate the purpose of an action

In Russian, when we need to express the purpose of an action, we say “to” or “with a purpose.” In English we use the infinitive:

She came to collect her letter. - She came (to) pick up her letter.

We came to help you. - We came (to) help you.

I am calling to ask you about dad. – I’m calling you (to) ask about dad.

You sister has gone to finish her homework. - Your sister left to finish her homework(left to finish finishing).

In this case to can be replaced by a union in order to(with a purpose), the meaning will be the same, but sentences with in order to sounds more formal:

You sister has gone in order to finish her homework. – Your sister left to complete her homework.

3. Infinitive as subject

The infinitive is used as a subject in formal speech, often in writing.

To be or not to be, that is the question. – To be or not to be, that is the question.

To know she is to love her. “To know her is to love her.”

To visit the Grand Canyon is my life-long dream. – Visiting the Grand Canyon has been my life’s dream.

To understand statistics, that is our aim. – Understanding statistics is our goal.

4. To indicate the purpose of the item

If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a pie.”

You could have helped him. – You could have helped him (but you didn’t).

In the case of the verb should there is a hint of regret or reproach:

Where should have taken more gas. – We should have taken more gasoline (but, unfortunately, we didn’t).

You should have been prepared for anything! – You should have been ready for anything! (but you weren't and therefore you let us down)

Perfect Continuous Infinitive - an infinitive denoting a continuous-perfect action

Scheme: to have been + Present Participle. Example: to have been talking.

This form is used in the following cases:

1. Long completed action

The infinitive denotes a continuous action that was performed but completed before the action expressed by the verb.

The woman seemed to have been crying. “The woman looked like she was crying.

He pretended to have been working all day. “He pretended that he had been working all day.”

2. After modal verbs must, may, should

The assumption is expressed that some long-term action took place, but has already ended.

You must have been waiting for hours! “You must have waited for hours!”

They might have been talking before you came in. “They must have been talking before you came in.”

In the case of a modal verb should there is a tinge of regret or reproach that some long-term action could have occurred, but in reality did not occur.

You should have been studying for your test. – You should have studied for the test (but you didn’t).

Note:

Please note that in all perfect forms of the infinitive, that is, in forms where there is have, the word itself have never takes shape has, as in the case of a verb in its personal form. Word have in this case it is part of the infinitive, therefore it cannot be correlated with person and number, and accordingly cannot take a personal form has(has = 3rd person, singular).

He has a fox. - He has a fox.

The has form is used because it is the personal form (3rd person, singular) of the verb.

He might have a fox. - He might have a fox.

Here have– infinitive, it has no person and number.

Friends! I'm often asked, but I'm not a tutor at the moment. If you need a teacher, I HIGHLY recommend it - there are native (and non-native) language teachers there👅 for all occasions and for every pocket😄 I recommend this site because I myself have completed more than 80 lessons with teachers I found there - and I recommend try it for you!

Gerund is one of the impersonal verb forms available in English. The gerund is sometimes also called a verbal noun because it has a lot in common with nouns. In English, a gerund is formed by adding the suffix –ing to the verb.

The infinitive is another impersonal verb form in English. The standard form of the English infinitive is formed using the base form of the verb, preceded by the particle to.

After some verbs only the infinitive is used, after others only the gerund, and after some you can use both. In addition, there are verbs that will have different meanings depending on whether a gerund or an infinitive is used after the verb.

There is no need to memorize these lists; usually, some experience with the English language is enough to intuitively understand which of the impersonal forms of the verb should be used in a particular case.

1. Verb + Gerund

In such cases, the object of the action is another action.

You don't mind breaking the law?– Do you mind breaking the law?


You don't mind breaking the law

(Not in the least can be translated as “not at all.”)

The gerund is used after the following verbs:

Stop
finish
delay
go on
put off
keep
give up
enjoy
mind
suggest
dislike
imagine
regret
admit
deny
avoid
consider
involve
practice
miss
postpone

After the words deny, suggest, regret, admit, not only a gerund can be used, but also a subordinate clause with the conjunction “that”, which can be pronounced or omitted.


Then I suggest that we carry on this conversation in rather more comfort

2. Verb + infinitive

The object of the action is, as in the previous case, another action. To appear to be a burglar - look like a robber.


To appear to be a burglar, and if necessary, make good his escape across the courtyard.

The infinitive is used after the following verbs:

Agree
refuse
promise
threaten
offer
attempt
manage
fail
decide
plan
arrange
hope
appear
seem
pretend
afford
forget
learn
dare
tend
need
mean

3. Verbs after which you can use both an infinitive and a gerund.

You can use both after the following verbs:

Begin
start
continue
intend
like
love
hate
can't stand


No, he continues to be polite and considerate and courteous

But after the verb try, you can use both the infinitive and the gerund, but the meanings will differ. Try to do something means to try to do something. The criminal will try to escape. Here we use the infinitive.


But won't his suspicions be roused?. Will he not try to escape

But try doing something would mean doing something as an experiment. Something that will probably work out, but will not necessarily lead to the desired result, for example, “try asking Vasya.”

4. I want you to give me money

The grammatical construction “want somebody to do something” is widely used to express a wish, request or order.

It works like this: want+(one who must perform the action)+(action in the infinitive)


I want you to take this note to a Mr. Abe Slaney

The complement can be not only the object of the indication, but also the object of the intended action: “I want the house to look quite ordinary.”


I want this house to look quite normal

5. Gerund after prepositions

Everything is even simpler here. Feel free to form a gerund from any English verb and use it with prepositions like any noun:

Blame somebody for doing something- blame someone for certain actions


I don"t blame you for not knowing this, you are young and inexperienced

Prevent somebody from doing something- prevent someone from doing something


From that moment on, there were always at least two of you in there,
preventing him from regaining his treasure

By doing something - through the specified actions


By allowing him to lead me to the hiding place, I saved myself an infinity of trouble

Without doing something - without doing anything


In the meantime, take no step without letting me know.

That a gerund is something between a verb and a noun: reading - reading, leaving - departure.

A gerund can be any part of a sentence, including an object. And today we will talk in detail about this function. Supplement - a member of a sentence that complements the action and answers questions about indirect cases: what? what? how? What? about what?

An example of a noun object in Russian:

I'm planning (what?) moving;
I'm thinking (about what?) about moving.

An example of a gerund object in English:

I'm tired of waiting. – I’m tired (of what?) from waiting.
I appreciate being polite to seniors. – I appreciate (what?) polite attitude towards the elderly.

Infinitive and gerund in English: rule

So the infinitive can also be an addition. This applies to both Russian and English. An infinitive is the initial form of a verb.

In Russian he answers the questions: what to do? what to do?
In English it is a form of a verb with a particle to(sometimes the particle may fall).

An example of an infinitive complement in Russian:

Igor asked his sister (about what?) help to him.
I made him (what?) answer.

An example of an infinitive object in English:

She agreed to come back later. - She agreed (to what?) to return later.
He asked to change the ticket. - He asked (about what?) to change the ticket.

The question arises: how to determine when an infinitive is needed as an object, and when a gerund is needed? Let's figure it out.

1. Need to remember: infinitive and gerund, list of verbs

Let's start with something simple: it is customary to use a gerund with some verbs, and an infinitive with others. That's it. You just need to remember these verbs.

Verbs followed by a gerund

⠀Verb ⠀Example
⠀to admit (admit) ⠀He was admitted committing the crime.
⠀He admitted to committing a crime.
⠀to appreciate (appreciate) ⠀I appreciate being polite to seniors.
⠀I appreciate polite treatment of older people.
⠀to avoid (avoid) ⠀Please, avoid speeding!
⠀Please do not speed! (=avoid exceeding)
⠀to consider (consider) ⠀They consider traveling without children.
⠀They are thinking about traveling without children.
⠀to delay (put off) ⠀He delayed visiting a doctor.
⠀He put off visiting the doctor.
⠀to deny (to deny) ⠀They denied selling the house.
⠀They refused to sell the house.
⠀to keep (keep, store) ⠀He kept asking silly questions.
⠀He kept asking stupid questions.
⠀to miss (miss) ⠀She misses living with her parents.
⠀She misses the time when she lived with her parents.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀to suggest (to suggest) ⠀They suggested moving to another town.
⠀They offered to move to another city.
⠀to quit (throw) ⠀He quits working.
⠀He quits his job.
⠀to finish (finish) ⠀We finished renovating our flat.
⠀We have finished renovating the apartment.
⠀to practice (to practice) ⠀He needs to practice reading before the exam.
⠀He needs to practice reading before the exam.
⠀to imagine (imagine) ⠀A girl imagines being a princess.
⠀The girl imagines that she is a princess.
⠀to risk (to take risks) ⠀You risk getting a bad mark.
⠀You risk getting a bad grade.
⠀to mind (to object) ⠀Do you mind opening the window?
⠀Could you open the window?
⠀to enjoy (enjoy) ⠀He enjoys swimming in the sea.
⠀He is enjoying swimming in the sea.


Gerund is also used after a verb go, if we are talking about some kind of pastime, active activities: Let's go swimming!

The gerund is often used after phrasal verbs, for example: to look forward to, to give up, to put off etc.

List of verbs with infinitive

⠀Verb ⠀Example
to agree She agreed to come back later.
She agreed to return later.
to appear (seem) He appeared to be a decent person.
He seemed like a decent man.
to be able (to be capable) I won't be able to make it.
I won't be able to do this.
to can afford (to be able to afford) We can’t afford to travel more than once a year.
We cannot afford to travel more than once a year.
to choose (choose) She chose to enter a university.
She chose to go to university.
to decide (to decide) They decided to start up their own business.
They decided to start their own business.
to expect (expect) I expected them to call.
I was expecting a call from them.
to hope (to hope) They hoped to get a loan.
They were hoping to get a loan.
to learn Mary learned to swim when she was at a summer camp.
Mary learned to swim while at summer camp.
to manage (be able to) He managed to escape from the police
He was able to elude the police.
to offer (offer) A manager offered to change the soup when I saw a fly in it.
The manager offered to change the soup when I saw a fly in it.
to plan (plan) I plan to start learning Italian soon.
I'm going to start learning Italian soon.
to prepare (get ready) She prepared to welcome her new relatives.
She prepared to welcome her new relatives.
to pretend (pretend) He pretended not to see me to avoid an awkward situation.
He pretended not to see me to avoid an awkward situation.
to promise (promise) Jack promised not to beat other children at school.
Jack promised not to hit other children at school.
to refuse (refuse) A student refused to retake a test.
The student did not agree to retake the test.
to seem (to seem) She seems to care a lot about her health.
She seems to be very health conscious.
to tend (to have a tendency) Prices tend to rise these days.
Prices have been trending upward recently.
to want (to want) He wants to find out more about special offers.
He wants to know more about special offers.
to would like, would prefer, would love (to prefer) I would like to get some information about your services.
I would like to receive information about your services.


In order for all these cases to be “deposited in the subcortex”, we advise you to periodically undergo our grammar training: .

2. Verbs followed by both an infinitive and a gerund

The next point is more difficult: there are verbs after which you can use both a gerund and an infinitive.

What's so difficult about it? The fact is that some of these verbs will change meaning depending on whose company they are in - in the company of a gerund or an infinitive.

Verbs that change meaning: table of gerunds and infinitives in English

to remember

remember doing = remember something. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I remember leaving my cell phone on the table. (I definitely remember that I left the phone on the table)

remember to do = remember, don’t forget. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Remember to take your keys before you go out. (Don't forget to grab your keys before you go to work).

to forget

forget doing = forget/not have the strength to forget about something that has already happened.

I will never forget meeting her. It changed all my life! (I'll never forget...)

forget to do = forget to do something in the present or recent past.

I think I forgot to turn off the iron. (I think I forgot to turn it off...)

to regret

regret doing = to regret something that has already happened.

I regret talking to her that way! (I regret talking to her like that!)

regret to do = to regret something that you have to do now.

We regret to inform you that you have not been admitted to Johns Hopkins University. (We regret to inform you, we are forced to inform you...)

stop doing = stop doing something completely.

I finally stopped eating at night! (I finally stopped eating at night!)

stop to do = stop one action in order to start doing something else.

He stopped to ask for directions. (He stopped to ask for directions)

to go on

go on doing = continue to do something, the same action.

After a break shewent on talking about her health. (After the break, she continued to talk about her health)

go on to do = continue, but switch from one action to another.

She, first, melted chocolate, added butter and thenwent on to make icing. (She first melted the chocolate, added butter and continued making frosting)

try doing = try to do something as an experiment.

She tried learning English but gave up after a while. (She tried to learn English, but gave up after a while).

try to do = try to do complex action, try, and make significant efforts.

I tried to work, but couldn’t because of a terrible headache. (I tried to work, but due to the terrible headache I couldn't).


Verbs that don't change meaning

There are other verbs that are also used with both a gerund and an infinitive. But they don’t change the meaning significantly: begin, continue, prefer, start, hate, love, like.

She begins sneezing every time she sees a cat.
She begins to sneeze every time she sees a cat.
(She starts sneezing every time she sees a cat).

After verbs advise, allow, recommend, encourage, permit You can also use both the gerund and the infinitive. BUT! If after the main verb there is an object (to whom the action is directed), then we use the infinitive:

Mum allowed me to stay overnight at my friend’s place. (Mom allowed to me spend the night with a friend).

If there is no object, then we use a gerund:

Mum allowed staying overnight at my friend’s place. (Mom allowed a sleepover with a friend).

3. A few more points: gerunds and infinitives in English

There are a few other uses of the gerund and infinitive that are worth remembering.

Gerund: example sentences

After prepositions.

If there is a preposition after the verb, then we use a gerund. These are the prepositions: for, before, without, by, about, of, from, in.

I'm interested in drawing. – I am interested in drawing.

Using the infinitive in English

After adjectives in phrases like: It is good (important, happy, hard, etc.) to…

It is nice to see you again. - It's good to see you again.

WITH question words in statements.

I don't know how to open this door. – I don’t know how to open this door.

To express the purpose of some action.

I came here to meet you. – I came here (why?) to meet you (though this is no longer an addition, but a circumstance).

To summarize: the use of infinitives and gerunds

A gerund is something between a verb and a noun. An infinitive is the initial form of a verb that answers the question “what to do?”

The infinitive and gerund can be objects in a sentence, in which case they are placed after the main verb.

There are verbs that are always followed by a gerund: admit, avoid, consider etc. You just need to remember them.

Other verbs are always followed by an infinitive: agree, choose, decide etc. They also need to be remembered.

Another group of verbs are those that can be followed by both an infinitive and a gerund, and the meaning of the verb itself will change: remember, forget, stop etc.

Luckily for us, there are also verbs after which you can use both forms of the verb without significant damage to the meaning: love, hate, begin etc.

Infinitive and gerund in English: exercises

Yes, there is a lot of information, and you won’t be able to simply memorize it. You need a lot of practice, which we will be happy to provide you with.

To get started, go through. From it you will learn about Complex Object (complex addition), which I did not dwell on today, and a few more nuances of using the infinitive and gerund.

And then periodically to bring the selection of the desired form to automaticity.

Conclusion: infinitive and gerund

That's all for today. Next month, as part of this grammatical series of articles, we will discuss another mysterious entity - the verbal noun. Let's compare it with the already familiar and native gerund. See you!

Add to favorites

In English, both and can be used after some verbs. In this case, there may be no difference in meaning at all (or it will be insignificant), or the sentences will be very different in meaning.

Verbs followed by an infinitive or gerund without changing the meaning of the sentences

  • begin- start:
    The children began to play.
    The children began playing.
    The children began to play.
  • can't bear- not to endure, not to endure:
    He can't stand being alone.
    He can't bear being alone.
    He can't bear to be alone.
  • can't stand- do not tolerate:
    She hates working the night shift.
    She can't stand working the late shift.
    She can't stand to work the late shift.
  • continue- continue:
    She continued to write.
    She continued writing.
    She continued to write.
  • hate- to hate:
    She hates washing dishes.
    She hates washing dishes
    She hates to wash dishes.
  • like- to like, to love:
    I like to read.
    I like reading.
    I like to read.
  • love- to love:
    We love to travel.
    We love travelling.
    We love to travel.
  • prefer- prefer:
    He prefers to eat bananas.
    He prefers eating bananas
    He prefers to eat bananas.
  • propose- suggest:
    He offered to pay for the trip.
    He proposed paying for the trip.
    He proposed to pay for the trip.
  • start- start:
    I started learning English.
    I started learning English.
    I start to learn English.

As we see above, after the listed verbs it is permissible to use both an infinitive and a gerund. In this case, they are practically interchangeable. But still, although small, there is a difference in meaning, and this is especially noticeable in context. The infinitive denotes a shorter, more specific manifestation of an action, while the gerund suggests a process, that is, a longer action. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the use of a gerund implies that the speaker is referring to real experience and real actions. The infinitive, on the contrary, suggests possible experience and actions.

He likes living in New York.— He likes living in New York (he lives in New York and he likes it).

He likes to live in New York whenever he works in the USA. — He likes to live in New York when he works in the USA (he likes the option of living in New York when he comes to the USA on business, this is a short-term effect).

Verbs followed by an infinitive or gerund that changes the meaning of sentences

There are also verbs that can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but the sentences will convey different meanings.

forget- forget I forgot meeting him.
I forgot I met him.
forget + gerund
forget what has already been done
I forgot to meet him.
I forgot to meet him.
forget + infinitive
forget what needed to be done
remember- remember She remembered visiting her grandmother.
She remembered visiting her grandmother.
remember + gerund
remember what has already been done
She remembered to visit her grandmother.
She remembered that she needed to visit her grandmother.
remember + infinitive
remember what needs to be done
stop- stop, stop I stopped calling you.
I stopped calling you (maybe we had a fight).
stop + gerund
stop doing something, stop doing something
I stopped to call you.
I stopped to call you.
stop + infinitive
stop to do something
try- try, try I tried opening the window.
I tried to open the window (the room was hot, I tried to open the window, but it didn’t help).
try + gerund
try different ways
I tried to open the window.
I tried to open the window (but couldn't).
try + infinitive
try to do something, but often fail
regret- regret, regret I regret promising to help you.
I regret that I promised to help you.
regret + gerund
regret, regret what has been done
I regret to tell you that we can't help.
I regret to tell you that we cannot help.
regret + infinitive
to report something with regret
quit- stop, stop, give up She quit working here.
She stopped working here.
quit + gerund
stop doing something
She quit to work here.
She left her job to work here.
quit + infinitive
quit doing something for something else