One Verb, Two Meanings
I can use the complement after a verb to show whether an action was remembered, attempted or interrupted.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
Mara remembered to lock the studio before leaving. Later, she remembered locking it: she could picture turning the key. On her way home, she stopped talking to answer a message, then stopped to buy bread. The same verbs lead into different relationships between actions.
Read the situation transcript
Mara remembered to lock the studio before leaving. Later, she remembered locking it: she could picture turning the key. On her way home, she stopped talking to answer a message, then stopped to buy bread. The same verbs lead into different relationships between actions.
Does “remembered locking it” mean the same thing as remembering an obligation before acting?
Compare your idea
No. It describes a memory of the action; remembered to lock describes remembering the task and carrying it out.
How it works
Remember to do looks forward from remembering to a task; remember doing looks back at a memory. Stop doing ends that activity; stop to do interrupts another activity in order to do something else.
Try to do describes an attempt; try doing presents an action as a method or experiment. Regret doing evaluates a past action, while regret to say introduces unwelcome news in a formal formula. Keep the lesson focused on these meaning contrasts, not a long list of verbs.
Verb + -ing and verb + to-infinitive can express different action relationships.
Notice this
Mara remembered to lock the studio.
She remembered the task and did it.
Compare this
Mara remembered locking the studio.
She recalled the completed action.
Hear the examples
Mara remembered to lock the studio.
She remembered the task and did it.
Mara remembered locking the studio.
She recalled the completed action.
She stopped talking.
The talking ended.
She stopped to buy bread.
Buying bread was the purpose of a pause in another activity.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: She stopped to talk means her talking ended.
Say: She stopped talking means her talking ended.
Stop to talk means pausing something else in order to talk.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Give a remembered task that you then completed.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I remembered to lock the door.
Check yourself: Distinguish remembering the task from recalling it later.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Describe a clear memory of an earlier action.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I remember locking the door and putting the key away.
Check yourself: Use -ing for the remembered event.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Contrast ending an activity with interrupting one for a purpose.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I stopped working, then I stopped to buy bread on my way home.
Check yourself: Keep both action relationships understandable.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Choose the meaning: “Try restarting the device.”
Compare a model and explanation
Restarting is suggested as a possible method.
Try doing presents an experiment; it does not guarantee success.
Self-check 2
Rewrite to mean the talking ended: “She stopped ___.” Use talk.
Compare a model and explanation
She stopped talking.
Stop doing ends the named activity.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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She remembered ___ the studio before leaving, and did so.
to lock: Remembered to lock presents remembering the task and completing it.
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She has a memory of the action: She remembers ___ the key.
turning: Remember doing refers to a memory of an event.
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“Stopped talking” means ___.
ended the talking: Stop plus -ing ends the named activity.
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“Stopped to buy bread” gives ___.
the purpose of a pause: The infinitive gives the purpose of stopping another activity.
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Which sentence suggests an experiment or method?
Try moving the chair nearer the window.: Try doing presents a method to test.
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Correct “I remember to locking the door.”
I remember locking the door.: Use remember plus -ing for a memory of the action.
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Does “tried to open it” by itself prove failure?
No: It describes an attempt; the outcome needs context.
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Why did Mara pause her journey?
To buy bread: Stopped to buy gives the purpose of the pause.
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Which phrase conventionally introduces unwelcome formal news?
We regret to say that the event is cancelled.: Regret to say is a conventional formal introduction to unwelcome news.
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What should guide your choice of complement?
The relationship between the actions, not just the first verb’s spelling: These complement patterns can change the meaning of the whole message.
Take it with you
I can use the complement after a verb to show whether an action was remembered, attempted or interrupted.