to infinitive or ing form

Difference in
meaning
between the
to-infinitive
and –ing
form

1


Forget + to infinitive = not
remember

Forget + –ing form = not
recall

He
Heforgot
forgot to
to lock
lock the
thedoor.
door.

IIwill
willnever
neverforget
forget living
living inin
Hawaii.
Hawaii.

Remember + to infinitive =
not forget

Remember + –ing form =
recall

Did
Didyou
you remember
remember to
to post
post
the
theletter?
letter?

II remember
remember hearing
hearing him
him
say
saythat.
that.

Mean + to infinitive =
intend to

Mean + –ing form = involve

IInever
never meant
meant to
to make
make
you
youfeel
feelso
sobad.
bad.

If
IfIIlose
losemy
myjob,
job,I’m
I’mafraid
afraiditit
will
will mean
mean selling
selling my
mycar.
car.

Regret + to infinitive = be
sorry to( +say,tell, inform)

Regret + -ing form = feel
sorry about

We
We regret
regret to
to inform
inform you
you
that
thatyou
youhaven’t
haven’tbeen
beenaccepted.
accepted.

II regret
regret losing
losing touch
touch
with
withmy
myfriends
friendsininAmerica.
America.

Try + to infinitive = do
one’s best , attempt
She
She tried
tried to
to tell

tell him
himthe
the
truth
truthbut
buthe
hedidn’t
didn’tlisten.
listen.

Try + - ing form = do sth
as an experiment
Why
Why don’t
don’tyou
youtry
try adding
adding
more
moresugar
sugar??

2


closing

to close

1. Please remember ________ the door when you go out.

(CLOSE)

paying

to pay

2. I paid the electricity bill, but I don’t remember _______
the rent . (PAY)
3


visiting

to visit

1. I will never forget _______ Paris for the first time.
(VISIT)

phoning

to phone

2. You mustn’t forget ________ Monique when you’re in Paris.
( PHONE )
4


telling

to tell

1. I really regret _______ everyone what happened. I should
have kept it a secret. (TELL)

telling

to tell

2. I regret _______ you that there has been an accident.
(TELL)
5


working

to work

1. I tried _____ in a department store, but it wasn’t a very
good job. (WORK)

covering

to cover

2. You’ve burnt the cake. Why don’t try _________ it with
grated coconut? ( COVER)
6


Good

Goodluck!!
luck!!

7