Verbs that take gerund or infinitive with a change of meaning
forget Forget to do something:
Used to talk about things that
we need to do, and we forget
to do them.
 I think forgot to
lock the door when we
left.  
 Don’t forget to
call me when you
finish.
  Remember to do
something: You remember
remember first and then you do
something. Used to talk
about things we need to do.
 He didn’t remember
to turn off the heating
after class.  I remember eating on this
 Please, will
you remember to
close the windows if
you leave?
try Try to do something
(effort) : When we try to do
something, we make an
effort to achieve something
that we maybe we will or
will not accomplish.
 Could you please try
to be a bit less rude?
 I’ll try to convince
him, but I’m not sure
Forget doing something: It’s
normally used in negative
sentences. Used to talk about
memories, normally about
things that we did in the past
and that we will not forget.
I’ll never forget
walking on that
amazing beach for the
first time. 
Remember doing
something: Used to talk
about memories. We
remember things from the
past.
same chair the day I
graduated. 
 I remember
mentioning the
issue to Elisabeth last
week.
Try doing something:
(experiment) Used when we
want to achieve something
and try something as an
experiment to see if it help us
achieve what we want. We try
a method (one of the many we
could try) in order to achieve
something.
 A: “I need to sleep but
 that’s going to change
anything.  I can’t.” B: “Why
stop Stop to do something: Used
when we stop doing an
activity so as to start doing a
different one.
 We had been driving
for hours, so we had
to stop to
eat something and go
to the toilet. 
need Need to do something: It’s
necessary to do something
 I need to see you
immediately.
‘
don’t you try
drinking a glass of hot
milk?”
 I can’t contact Jane.
I‘ve tried calling her
home number and also
on her mobile, but
nothing. 
Stop doing something: It
means to finish doing
something that we are doing.
 Could you stop
biting your nails? 
 I need to stop
smoking once and for
all. 
Something needs doing: It’s
like a passive use. It
means that something needs
to be done.
 Your car needs
cleaning. (=Your car
needs to be cleaned.)
1 Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets in the appropriate form.

1. 1  I can't stand ________________ in queues. ( to wait )

2. 2  I wouldn't like ________________ in his shoes. ( to be )
3. 3  Jim loves ________________ in Thailand. ( to work )
4. 4  I hate ________________ the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )
5. 5  Blast! I forgot ________________ milk. ( to buy )
6. 6  In the end we decided ________________ in. ( to stay )
7. 7  I need ________________ some information about Portugal. ( to find )
8. 8  My parents like ________________ for long walks at the weekend.
( to go )
9. 9  Tony gave up ________________ years ago. ( to smoke )
10.10  I wanted ________________ and see Troy but no one else was
interested. ( to go )
11.11  Mrs Leith offered ________________ us to the airport. ( to take )
12.12  Clare refused ________________ clean up after the party. ( to help )
13.13  I tried ________________ him to come but it was no use. ( to
persuade )
14.14  Do you mind not ________________ ? ( to smoke )
15.15  Everybody really enjoyed ________________ the cha-cha-cha. ( to
dance )
16.16  Lionel admitted ________________ my chocolate mousse. ( to eat )

1. 1  We arranged _____________ under the station clock at half nine. ( to

meet )
2. 2  I always try to avoid _____________ him whenever I can. ( to see )
3. 3  I long _____________ in Scotland again. ( to be )
4. 4  My Mum demanded _____________ the manager. ( to see )
5. 5  My brother denied _____________ my chocolate mousse. Maybe his
hamster ate it. ( to eat )
6. 6  I tried _____________ but I just couldn't. ( to understand )
7. 7  In the end I gave up _____________ to persuade her. ( to try )
8. 8  Charlie was pretending _____________ a chicken. ( to be )
9. 9  They chose _____________ in a cheap hotel but spend more money on
meals. ( to stay)
10.10  We like Galicia so much that we keep _____________ back there.
( to go )
11.11  He deserves _____________ severely punished. ( to be )
12.12  When we visit my aunt, they expect me _____________ on my best
behaviour. ( to be )
13.13  I didn't mean _____________ her feelings. I'm really sorry. ( to hurt )
14.14  I always put off _____________ my homework until the last possible
moment. ( to do )
15.15  He goes on _____________ me the same thing over and over again.
( to tell )
16.16  I can't stand _____________ in the queue at the baker's. ( to wait )
17.17  The firemen managed _____________ the fire pretty quickly. ( to put
out )
18.18  I never risk _____________ through that part of town. ( to go )
19.19  Clare offered _____________ me to the airport, which was very kind
of her. ( to take )
20.20  Dad threatened _____________ my pocket money if I didn't do my
homework. ( to stop )