67 Verbs Followed by an Infinitive or Gerund – Difference in Meaning
There are some verbs that need to be followed by Gerund (-ing) forms that are usually used as nouns and not as verbs or an Infinitive. {see Verbs + Gerund / Infinitive, A2 level}
When some verbs take Gerund or Infinitive, their meanings change.
| GERUND | INFINITIVE | |
| Remember | He remembered listening his favorite band.
*He had memories in the past. |
He remembered to listen his favorite band.
*He didn’t forget to listen his favorite band. |
| Forget | It seems she forgot loving me.
*She had no memories about loving in the past. |
She forgot to meet with her uncle.
*She needed to meet with her uncle but she forgot to do that. |
| Stop | I stopped searching my book
*Means that I tried a lot but I didnt succeed so I gave up. |
He was walking and suddenly he stopped to look around.
*He was doing another activity but in order to look around he stopped. |
- They stopped to talk about religion as Mary came. (they were doing one activity but they stopped in order to start to another one)
- Policemen stopped searching for evidence because they couldn’t fine any. (Policemen tried but failed)
- She remembered living in a dictator regime back in 1983. (a memory in the past)
- I remembered to give testimony against armed gang. (did not forget to give)
Meanings of some verbs change because of the Gerund or Infinitive usage. As you can see above verbs’ meanings have changed. There is no specific rule we just have to practice more to memorize these words and their usage in sentences.