Gerunds vs Infinitives

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

English learners often make one mistake without noticing it. They write I stopped to smoke when they mean I stopped smoking. The two sentences describe completely different situations. The same problem appears with try, remember, and forget.

Grammar Reference · Gerunds vs Infinitives

stop + gerund vs

He stopped smoking. = quit. He stopped to smoke. = paused for a new purpose. Meaning changes completely.

try: experiment vs

Try adding salt — see if it helps. = experiment. Try to finish by noon. = make an effort toward a goal.

remember / forget

Remember meeting her = past memory. Remember to meet her = future task. Same logic applies to forget.

Common error

I stopped to check my email ✗ (if meaning: quit) → I stopped checking my email ✓

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Gerunds vs Infinitives

1.I'll never forget (meet) my first English teacher.

2.Don't forget (bring) your ID to the exam tomorrow.

3.She stopped (talk) when the director walked in.

4.He stopped (check) the time during the presentation.

5.If the recipe tastes bland, try (add) a little lemon juice.

6.She tried (explain) the issue three times but he didn't understand.

02Exercise 2 — Find and Correct the Error

find the error · rewrite the sentence

1.I stopped to check social media and now I feel much better.

2.Try to use a different password — just as an experiment.

3.She remembered to meet him at the conference last year.

4.Don't forget meeting your doctor's appointment on Thursday.

5.He stopped smoking a cigarette on the balcony before going inside.

6.I remember to lock my bike outside the station that morning.

7.Try to add more visuals to the slide deck — it might help.

8.She forgot meeting to reply to the client before the deadline.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Gerunds vs Infinitives01classplan.ai