Verbs followed by –ing form or to+infinitive

Some verbs have different meanings if we use them with different patterns:

• regret to do something - You feel sorry before you do something.
• We regret to inform you that your application wasn't successful.
• regret doing something - You do something and then feel sorry about it.
• I regret going to that concert; it was so boring.
• remember to do something - You remember that you have to do something later.
• I remembered to feed the cat but I forgot to water the plants.
• remember doing something - You remember that you did something earlier.
• I remember being here before but I don't know when it was.
• stop to do something - You interrupt an activity in order to do something else.
• I stopped to buy a newspaper.
• stop doing something - You are doing something and interrupt this activity.
• I stopped running because was out of breath. Stop crying and tell me what's the matter.
• try to do something - You make an effort to do something.
• I tried to run faster but I was too tired.
• try doing something - You do something as an experiment to find out if it produces the result you want.
• The lift stopped between floors so I tried pressing the red button to call for help.
• forget to do something - You forget to do something important.
• Don’t forget to phone Mr Saunders tomorrow morning.
• forget doing something - You forgot that you had something done in the past.
• I forgot giving Marina my email address so I was very surprised when I received an email from her.