Verb Patterns: Infinitives & Gerunds
Master tricky verbs like stop, remember, and forget that change meaning depending on whether they take an -ing verb or 'to'.
- check_circleI can use 'stop', 'remember', and 'forget' with gerunds and infinitives correctly.
- check_circleI can understand how verb patterns change meaning in a sentence.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Anna: Hi Mark! How was your trip to London?
Mark: It was amazing! I will never forget seeing Big Ben for the first time. The architecture is just stunning.
Anna: That sounds wonderful. Did you remember to buy the tea I asked for?
Mark: Oh, I’m so sorry! I was walking to the market, but then I stopped to take a photo of a street artist, and it totally slipped my mind.
Anna: No worries. Have you completely stopped drinking coffee anyway?
Mark: Yes, I had to. The doctor told me to stop drinking it because it was affecting my sleep. So now I’m trying to drink more tea, but it’s hard.
Anna: Well, try not to forget to drink plenty of water, too. Staying hydrated is key.
Mark: Good point. By the way, I remember locking my suitcase at the hotel, but I can’t find the key anywhere! I hope I didn’t lose it.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
Most verbs have fixed patterns, but some tricky verbs can be followed by either a gerund (verb + -ing) or an infinitive (to + verb), and their meaning changes completely! Let’s focus on three common ones: stop, remember, and forget.
1. Stop
Stop + infinitive (to do): To pause one activity in order to do something else.
“I was driving, but I stopped to buy some coffee.”
Stop + gerund (-ing): To quit or finish an action completely.
“You should stop smoking. It’s bad for your health.”
Think of stop + gerund as ending a habit or an action. Think of stop + infinitive as interrupting your path for a new purpose.
2. Remember
Remember + infinitive (to do): To not forget to do a task; looking forward to a responsibility.
“Please remember to lock the door before you leave.”
Remember + gerund (-ing): To have a memory of a past action; looking backward.
“I remember locking the door, but now it’s open!”
Use remember + infinitive when you need to complete a task. Use remember + gerund when you are thinking about a past memory.
3. Forget
Forget + infinitive (to do): To fail to do something you were supposed to do.
“Oh no! I forgot to call my mom on her birthday.”
Forget + gerund (-ing): To lose the memory of an experience (often used in the negative).
“I will never forget visiting Paris for the first time.”
Common mistake:
Spanish speakers often use the infinitive for everything.
I remember to go to the beach when I was young. (Incorrect)
I remember going to the beach when I was young. (Correct - it’s a memory!)
- Stop + to do: Pause to do a new action.
- Stop + -ing: Quit doing the action.
- Remember / Forget + to do: About a task or responsibility.
- Remember / Forget + -ing: About a memory of the past.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?