When do I use "Infinitivo" and when do I use "Gerundio"?

"Stop/remember/forget TO do" = future action (yet to happen). "Stop/remember/forget DOING" = past or habitual action. "Regret TO say" = you regret what you are about to say. "Regret SAYING" = you regret having said it.

What is the most common mistake with "Infinitivo" and "Gerundio"?

The four meaning-changing pairs: 1. "stop to smoke" (pause to have a cigarette) vs "stop smoking" (quit smoking). 2. "Remember to call" (remember you must call) vs "remember calling" (recall having called). 3. Most common error: "I stopped to smoke" when you mean you quit the habit.

How do I remember the difference between "Infinitivo" and "Gerundio"?

Infinitive = action yet to occur (future). Gerund = action already occurred or in progress (past or habitual). "Remember TO do it" = you still need to do it. "Remember DOING it" = you already did it.

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Which one to use?Advancedstructurestructure

InfinitivovsGerundio

With certain verbs (remember, stop, try), the choice between infinitive and gerund completely changes the meaning.

Side-by-side comparison

Infinitivo

structure

With certain verbs, choosing the infinitive or the gerund changes the meaning. "Stop smoking" means to quit; "stop to smoke" means to pause in order to smoke.

Please remember to lock the door when you leave, it is very important for security.
She stopped to look at the flowers in the market window on her way home from work.
I regret to say that the last ticket was sold just five minutes before you arrived here.

Gerundio

structure

The same happens with "remember", "forget", "try", and others. The infinitive refers to something future or intentional; the gerund refers to something past or habitual.

I remember meeting him at a friend's birthday party about three years ago in the summer.
He stopped smoking last year and says he feels so much healthier and happier now.
She regrets not studying harder, she could have done much better in the final exam.

Common mistake

The four meaning-changing pairs:

1."stop to smoke" (pause to have a cigarette) vs "stop smoking" (quit smoking).
2."Remember to call" (remember you must call) vs "remember calling" (recall having called).
3.Most common error: "I stopped to smoke" when you mean you quit the habit.

Trick to remember it

•Infinitive = action yet to occur (future).
•Gerund = action already occurred or in progress (past or habitual).
•"Remember TO do it" = you still need to do it.
•"Remember DOING it" = you already did it.

Quick rule

•"Stop/remember/forget TO do" = future action (yet to happen).
•"Stop/remember/forget DOING" = past or habitual action.
•"Regret TO say" = you regret what you are about to say.
•"Regret SAYING" = you regret having said it.

Did you know?

Verbs like stop, remember, forget and regret change meaning depending on whether an infinitive or an -ing form follows. The choice of complement changes the time perspective: the infinitive looks toward the future ("I remembered to lock the door" = I did it as planned), while the -ing form looks back at the past ("I remember locking the door" = I recall the earlier action).