gerunds or infinitives with change in meaning

1. Section A

2. Some verbs can only be followed by a gerund:
VERB + GERUND

3. Some verbs can only be followed by a to- infinitive:
VERB + TO- INFINITIVE

4. A small group of verbs can be followed by either
a gerund or a to- infinitive:
VERB + GERUND OR TO- INFINITIVE

5. Section B

6. After some verbs, using a gerund versus a
to- infinitive changes the meaning of the
sentence. Sometimes the change is significant
and sometimes it is slight.
I remember seeing that movie with you.
(= First I saw that movie with you and now I remember it.)
After the verbs remember, forget, regret, and stop, we use a
gerund when we are are looking backward in time.
remember, forget, regret, stop + gerund

7. We use a to- infinitive when we are looking
forward in time.
I remembered to go to the store.
(= First I remembered and then I went to the store.)
remember, forget, regret, stop + to- infinitive

8. We use try + a gerund to say that something
happened, but it didn’t have the expected result.
She tried drinking water, but it didn’t make her feel any better.
(= She drank some water, but the water didn’t do what she wanted it to do.)

9. We use try + a to- infinitive to say that
something was possible, but it didn’t happen.
She tried to drink some water, but she couldn’t.
(= She made the effort, but she wasn’t able to drink any water.)

10. More examples with verb + gerund versus
verb + to- infinitive.
I could go on talking all day.
After college, she will probably
go on to become a doctor.
(= continue)
(= to do something after finishing
something else)

11. More examples with verb + gerund versus
verb + to- infinitive.
Having a sibling means having a lifelong friend.
I meant to call you.
(= involves)
(= intended)