English Mastery
Module 4 · Gerunds & Infinitives

Verbs That Take Both — Different Meanings

Advanced55 min25 questions7 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

The danger zone. Seven verbs — STOP, REMEMBER, FORGET, REGRET, TRY, GO ON, NEED — accept both forms, but the meaning CHANGES with the form. ‘He stopped smoking’ and ‘He stopped to smoke’ describe opposite men. The master key: the GERUND looks backward at the activity itself; the INFINITIVE looks forward to a purpose or duty.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
The master key
gerund = the activity (often already done) | infinitive = the purpose/duty (still ahead)
STOP
stopped smoking = quit the habit | stopped to smoke = paused in order to smoke
REMEMBER
remember locking = I recall doing it | remember to lock = don’t forget the duty

The golden rule: point the arrow. If the second action happened BEFORE the main verb (a memory, a completed activity), use the gerund. If it comes AFTER (a task, purpose, or intention), use the infinitive. Remember LOCKING = memory of the past. Remember TO LOCK = duty in the future.

The master key: point the arrow
GERUND ← looks BACKINFINITIVE looks AHEAD → I remember locking the door.the locking happened BEFORE → a memoryRemember to lock the door.the locking comes AFTER → a dutyPASTFUTURElocking (already done)to lock (still to do)the main verb: remember
A gerund looks back at the activity itself; an infinitive looks ahead to a purpose or a duty.
Step 2

When to Use It

-ING · QUIT stopped smoking= quit the habitTO · PAUSE FOR stopped to smoke= paused for a smokethe activity itselfpurpose / duty ahead
Use 1

STOP — quit vs. pause-for

Gerund ends the activity; infinitive gives the reason for pausing.
  • He stopped taking cash deals after the raid. (quit)
  • We stopped to take photos of the boundary wall. (paused for that purpose)
  • Stop calling him ‘sir’ — he’s your junior now. (quit)
-ING · MEMORY remember locking= I recall doing itTO · DUTY remember to lock= don’t forget the taskthe activity itselfpurpose / duty ahead
Use 2

REMEMBER / FORGET — memory vs. duty

Gerund = the film of a past event in your head. Infinitive = the task list.
  • I clearly remember handing him the original file. (memory)
  • Remember to carry two witnesses on Friday. (duty)
  • I’ll never forget seeing the Taj at sunrise. (memory)
  • Don’t forget to renew the fire NOC. (duty)
-ING · PAST regret trusting= wish I hadn’tTO · FORMAL NEWS regret to inform= official-letter opener
Use 3

REGRET — past regret vs. formal bad news

Gerund = wishing you hadn’t. Infinitive = the official-letter opener.
  • I regret trusting that contractor with the advance. (past regret)
  • We regret to inform you that the unit is no longer available. (formal announcement)
  • She regrets selling the Meerut shop so cheap.
-ING · TEST try applying= test a methodTO · EFFORT try to lift= attempt a hard taskEASYHARD
Use 4

TRY — experiment vs. effort

Gerund = test this method, it’s easy to do. Infinitive = attempt something difficult.
  • The seepage won’t stop? Try applying two coats of sealant. (experiment — a method)
  • He tried to lift the generator alone and hurt his back. (effort — hard task)
  • Try calling him after 8 — he picks up then. (method)
-ING · SAMEtalkingwent on talking= same activity continuesTO · NEXTcallerheadwent on to head= moved to the next stage
Use 5

GO ON — continue vs. move to the next

Gerund = same activity continues. Infinitive = finish one, start the next.
  • He went on talking even after the client left. (same activity, continued)
  • She started as a telecaller and went on to head the sales team. (next stage)
  • After the plots, the company went on to build group housing.
-ING · THING needs repainting= needs to be repaintedTO · PERSON need to repaint= I will do it
Use 6

NEED — the passive shortcut

need + gerund carries a passive meaning: the thing requires action done TO it.
  • The terrace needs waterproofing. (= needs to be waterproofed)
  • These agreements need updating — the stamp duty changed.
  • Compare: I need to repaint the gate. (I will act) / The gate needs repainting. (it must receive action)
The seven double-meaning verbs
-ING the activity itself ←TO the purpose / duty ahead →STOPstopped smoking= quit the habitstopped to smoke= paused in order to smokeREMEMBERremember locking= I recall doing itremember to lock= don’t forget the dutyFORGETnever forget seeing= a treasured memorydon’t forget to renew= a task to doREGRETregret trusting= wish I hadn’tregret to inform= formal bad newsTRYtry applying= test a methodtry to lift= attempt something hardGO ONwent on talking= same activity continueswent on to head= move to the next stageNEEDneeds repainting= it receives the actionneed to repaint= I will act
Same verb, different form, different meaning — check which way the arrow points.
Step 3

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
यहाँ form बदलते ही मतलब बदल जाता है। चाबी एक है: gerund पीछे देखता है (हो चुका काम), infinitive आगे (करना है / करने के लिए)।
STOP: उसने सिगरेट छोड़ दी He stopped smoking. / वह सिगरेट पीने के लिए रुका He stopped to smoke. — दो उल्टे आदमी!
REMEMBER: मुझे याद है मैंने ताला लगाया था I remember locking the door. / याद से ताला लगाना Remember to lock the door.
REGRET: मुझे उस पर भरोसा करने का पछतावा है I regret trusting him. / खेद के साथ सूचित करना है (सरकारी चिट्ठी) We regret to inform you...
TRY: यह तरीक़ा आज़माओ Try calling after 8. / कोशिश की पर मुश्किल था He tried to lift it alone.
NEED का shortcut सुनहरा है: छत को waterproofing चाहिए The terrace needs waterproofing (= needs to be waterproofed)। चीज़ + needs + -ing = passive मतलब।
Step 4

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
He stopped to smoke last year. (meaning: quit the habit)
He stopped smoking last year.
Quit = gerund. ‘Stopped to smoke’ means he paused FOR a cigarette.
Remember locking the office tonight. (instruction for later)
Remember to lock the office tonight.
A future duty takes the infinitive. ‘Remember locking’ asks about a memory.
I regret to sell that plot in 2016.
I regret selling that plot in 2016.
Past regret = gerund. ‘Regret to’ only opens formal bad news (regret to inform/say).
We regret informing you that the offer has lapsed. (formal letter)
We regret to inform you that the offer has lapsed.
The formal-letter pattern is fixed: regret to inform.
The pump needs to repair.
The pump needs repairing. / The pump needs to be repaired.
Thing as subject needs + gerund (or needs to be + V3). Never ‘needs to repair’ — the pump can’t repair anything.
I’ll never forget to meet Dr. Kalam in 2011. (a treasured memory)
I’ll never forget meeting Dr. Kalam in 2011.
A memory of the past = gerund. ‘Forget to meet’ = fail to attend.
Step 5

Signal Words

Arrow-pointing signals:
Happened already / a memory / a habit ended gerund (stopped smoking, remember signing)
Task ahead / purpose / to-do list infinitive (remember to sign, stopped to rest)
Formal bad news regret to inform/say/announce
Testing a method try + -ing; attempting something hard try to
Thing that must receive action needs + -ing (the wall needs painting)
Step 6

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    He stopped (drink) tea after sunset — doctor’s orders.
  2. 2
    On the way to Hapur, we stopped (check) the Badalpur site.
  3. 3
    I remember (pay) the watchman for October — I have the entry.
  4. 4
    Please remember (switch) off the water motor before leaving.
  5. 5
    We regret (inform) you that the booking stands cancelled.
  6. 6
    She regrets (not/buy) the adjacent plot when it was cheap.
  7. 7
    The intercom isn’t working — try (press) the reset button first.
  8. 8
    He tried (convince) the seller for two hours, but failed.
  9. 9
    After school buildings, the firm went on (construct) hospitals.
  10. 10
    The overhead tank needs (clean) before the tenants move in.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    I’ll never forget to visit Kashmir with my parents in 1995. (a memory)
  2. 12
    He stopped to work at 6 and went home. (meaning: ended work for the day)
  3. 13
    Remember locking the almirah before you leave tonight. (instruction)
  4. 14
    We regret informing you that the flight is cancelled. (airline notice)
  5. 15
    The generator needs to service before summer.
  6. 16
    Try to add a little jaggery — the dal tastes better. (suggesting a method)
  7. 17
    She went on to argue with the clerk for another hour. (same argument, continued)
  8. 18
    I regret to shout at the office boy yesterday.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    उसने पान खाना छोड़ दिया।
  2. 20
    हम चाय पीने के लिए ढाबे पर रुके।
  3. 21
    मुझे याद है मैंने तुम्हें papers दिए थे।
  4. 22
    याद से bijli का bill भर देना।
  5. 23
    खेद के साथ सूचित किया जाता है कि आपका आवेदन अस्वीकार हो गया है।
  6. 24
    दीवार को रंगाई की ज़रूरत है।
  7. 25
    उसने अकेले अलमारी उठाने की कोशिश की।
Step 7

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
drinking
2
to check
3
paying
4
to switch
5
to inform
6
not buying
7
pressing
8
to convince
9
to construct
10
cleaning
Answers · Set B
11
I’ll never forget visiting Kashmir with my parents in 1995. (Memory gerund.)
12
He stopped working at 6 and went home. (Ended the activity gerund.)
13
Remember to lock the almirah before you leave tonight. (Future duty infinitive.)
14
We regret to inform you that the flight is cancelled. (Formal notice regret to inform.)
15
The generator needs servicing / needs to be serviced before summer. (Thing as subject passive pattern.)
16
Try adding a little jaggery — the dal tastes better. (Method gerund.)
17
She went on arguing with the clerk for another hour. (Same activity continued gerund.)
18
I regret shouting at the office boy yesterday. (Past regret gerund.)
Answers · Set C
19
He stopped eating paan. / He gave up chewing paan.
20
We stopped at a dhaba to have tea.
21
I remember giving you the papers.
22
Remember to pay the electricity bill.
23
We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.
24
The wall needs painting. / The wall needs to be painted.
25
He tried to lift the almirah alone.

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Next up · Chapter 6Gerunds After Prepositions

One iron law, and the trap that catches even fluent speakers: ‘looking forward to hearing’, never ‘to hear’.