Summary: Verbs That Take Both Gerund and Infinitive With a Change in Meaning

In English, some verbs can be followed by both the gerund (-ing form) and the infinitive (to + base form) without changing the meaning, but other verbs show a change in meaning depending on whether they are followed by the gerund or the infinitive. Understanding the difference is key to mastering these verbs and ensuring the right interpretation of the sentence.

1. Remember – Recollection vs. Intention

• Gerund (Remember + gerund) – Recollection
  When "remember" is followed by a gerund, it refers to recalling an action or something done in the past.

  • Example:
    I remember meeting her last year.
    (This means I have a memory of meeting her in the past.)

• Infinitive (Remember + infinitive) – Intention
  When "remember" is followed by an infinitive, it refers to the intention to do something in the future or remembering to perform an action.

  • Example:
    Remember to meet her at 6 PM.
    (This means you should remember to do the action of meeting her at a specific time in the future.)

Explanation: The gerund form ("meeting") refers to something that has already happened, while the infinitive form ("to meet") refers to something that needs to happen in the future.

2. Stop – Cease vs. Pause for a Purpose

• Gerund (Stop + gerund) – Cease an Activity
  When "stop" is followed by a gerund, it means to cease an ongoing activity.

  • Example:
    She stopped smoking last year.
    (This means she quit the habit of smoking in the past.)

• Infinitive (Stop + infinitive) – Pause to Do Something
  When "stop" is followed by an infinitive, it means to pause an activity in order to do something else.

  • Example:
    She stopped to smoke.
    (This means she paused what she was doing to take a smoke break.)

Explanation: The gerund form ("smoking") refers to an activity that has been entirely stopped, while the infinitive form ("to smoke") refers to a pause in an activity for the purpose of smoking.

3. Try – Experiment vs. Make an Effort

• Gerund (Try + gerund) – Experiment or Attempt an Action
  When "try" is followed by a gerund, it means to experiment or test something to see how it works.

  • Example:
    I tried running faster, but I couldn't keep up.
    (This means I experimented with running faster to see if I could improve.)

• Infinitive (Try + infinitive) – Make an Effort
  When "try" is followed by an infinitive, it means to make an effort to do something, even if the result is uncertain.

  • Example:
    I tried to run faster, but I was too tired.
    (This means I made an effort to run faster but was not successful.)

Explanation: The gerund form ("running") implies an experiment or test of an action, while the infinitive form ("to run") emphasizes the effort to perform an action, regardless of the outcome.

4. Regret – Past Action vs. Future Action

• Gerund (Regret + gerund) – Acknowledge a Past Action
  When "regret" is followed by a gerund, it expresses sorrow or disappointment about something that has already happened.

  • Example:
    I regret telling you that information.
    (This means I feel sorry for having told you something in the past.)

• Infinitive (Regret + infinitive) – Apologize for Future Action
  When "regret" is followed by an infinitive, it is often used in formal contexts to express apology or sorrow for something that the speaker is about to announce or tell.

  • Example:
    I regret to inform you that your application was rejected.
    (This is a formal expression used to announce bad news about the future.)

Explanation: The gerund form ("telling") expresses regret for a past action, while the infinitive form ("to inform") is used in formal contexts to apologize for or announce something that will happen.