Which verbs take -ing, which take to, and the meaning-changing pairs (stop/remember/try doing vs to do)
I can pick gerund or infinitive by verb group and control the meaning-changing pairs.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
I stopped drinking coffee after lunch — now I stop to drink water instead.
I stopped drinking coffee after lunch — now I stop to drink water instead.
Remember to back up your files — I forgot doing it once and lost a thesis chapter... rather, I forgot to do it.
Remember to back up your files — I forgot doing it once and lost a thesis chapter... rather, I forgot to do it.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Three groups to internalize:
| Group | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + -ing | enjoy, finish, avoid, suggest, mind, keep | I enjoy cooking. |
| + to | want, decide, hope, promise, manage, refuse | She decided to stay. |
| meaning changes | stop, remember, forget, try | see below |
The pairs: stop smoking (quit) × stop to smoke (pause in order to); remember locking (memory of doing) × remember to lock (don't forget); try restarting (experiment) × try to restart (effort).
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesWrong complement type
Learn in groups: enjoy/finish/avoid + -ing; want/decide + to
stop/remember/try pairs conflated
stop -ing = quit; stop to = pause for
I stopped drinking coffee after lunch — now I stop to drink water instead.
I stopped drinking coffee after lunch — now I stop to drink water instead.
Both stop patterns contrasted in one habit.
Remember to back up your files — I forgot doing it once and lost a thesis chapter... rather, I forgot to do it.
Remember to back up your files — I forgot doing it once and lost a thesis chapter... rather, I forgot to do it.
remember to (don't forget) vs forget to (failed to do).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises