✨ Lesson 6: Verbs with a Change in Meaning
You know that some verbs are followed by a gerund1 (e.g., enjoy doing) and some are followed by an infinitive2 (e.g., want to do). Today, we look at a special group of verbs that can be followed by *either* form, but the meaning changes completely. Understanding this subtle3 difference is a key B2 skill.
1. stop + gerund vs. stop + infinitive
stop + gerund (-ing) = to quit an action or habit.
"He was unhealthy, so he stopped eating fast food." (He quit the habit.)
stop + infinitive (to + verb) = to pause one action to do another.
"He was driving to Battambang and he stopped to eat lunch." (He paused his journey for the purpose of eating.)
2. remember + gerund vs. remember + infinitive
remember + gerund (-ing) = to have a memory of a past event.
"I still remember visiting Angkor Wat for the first time. It was amazing." (I have this memory in my head.)
remember + infinitive (to + verb) = to not forget to do something.
"Please remember to lock the door when you leave the house." (First remember, then lock.)
3. try + gerund vs. try + infinitive
try + gerund (-ing) = to do something as an experiment4 to solve a problem.
"My motorbike won't start. I'll try pressing this button." (Maybe this experiment will work.)
try + infinitive (to + verb) = to make an effort5 to do something difficult.
"I tried to lift the box, but it was too heavy for me." (I made an effort, but I might have failed.)
4. regret + gerund vs. regret + infinitive
regret + gerund (-ing) = to feel sorry about something you did in the past.
"I regret not studying harder for my exam." (I feel sorry about my past lack of studying.)
regret + infinitive (to + verb) = a formal way to give bad news.
"We regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful." (This is a formal way to say "We are sorry to tell you...")
🧠 Practice Quiz: What's the Meaning?
Choose the correct verb form based on the meaning of the sentence.
- Please remember _______ the lights when you leave. (to turn off / turning off)
Answer: to turn off (This means 'don't forget to do it'.) - He was very tired, so he stopped _______ a rest. (to take / taking)
Answer: to take (He paused what he was doing for the purpose of taking a rest.) - I'll never forget _______ the sunrise over the sea in Kep. It was beautiful. (to see / seeing)
Answer: seeing ('forget + gerund' works like 'remember + gerund' for past memories.) - A: "I can't sleep at night." B: "You should try _______ coffee in the evening." (not to drink / not drinking)
Answer: not drinking (Try this as an experiment to solve the problem.) - The airline _______ that Flight 257 to Bangkok has been delayed. (regrets to announce / regrets announcing)
Answer: regrets to announce (This is a formal announcement of bad news.)
📝 Homework: Show the Difference
For each verb, write two sentences that clearly show the different meanings of using a gerund or an infinitive.
- stop
Gerund (-ing): _________________________
Infinitive (to): _________________________
(Example: He stopped smoking. vs. He stopped to smoke.) - remember
Gerund (-ing): _________________________
Infinitive (to): _________________________
(Example: I remember meeting her. vs. I remembered to meet her.) - try
Gerund (-ing): _________________________
Infinitive (to): _________________________
(Example: I tried opening the window. vs. I tried to open the window.)
Vocabulary Glossary
- Gerund: (Noun) - កិរិយានាម (kĕ'rĭ'yaa'néam) - A verb form which functions as a noun, ending in "-ing". ↩
- Infinitive: (Noun) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទដើម (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp daem) - The basic form of a verb, usually with 'to'. ↩
- Subtle: (Adjective) - ល្អិតល្អន់ (lâ'ĭt'lâ'ân) - Not obvious; small but important. ↩
- Experiment: (Noun) - ការសាកល្បង (kaa saak'lbâng) - A test done in order to learn something or to discover if something works. ↩
- Effort: (Noun) - ការខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែង (kaa khĭt'khâm'prœ̆ng'praeng) - Physical or mental activity needed to achieve something. ↩