Verbs followed by an infinitive or gerund with a difference in meaning

try + infinitive

Many elderly people try to stay active.

Make an attempt/make an effort

try + gerund

My grandmother has tried taking long walks.

Experiment to find out if a new method works

regret + infinitive

I regret to admit that I'm over the hill.

Feel sorry about saying something negative (usually used with say, tell, inform, admit)

regret + gerund

I regret losing all my old

photographs.

Feel sorry about something that has already happened

remember + infinitive

I always remember to mail my bills on time.

The remembering occurs before the action

remember + gerund

I remember always mailing my bills late when I was young.

The remembering occurs after the action

forget + infinitive

My son never forgets to call on my birthday.

The result of forgetting is that the action doesn't take place.

Forget + gerund

I'll never forget calling my son when he was in Europe.

An action is not forgotten after it takes place. (usually used with never)

stop + infinitive

I always stop to buy the newspaper on my way home

Stop for the purpose of accomplishing a task

stop + gerund

I stopped buying the newspaper when my eyes went bad.

Interrupt an action in progress

need + infinitive

I need to go to the doctor.

It is necessary for me to go

need + gerund

My hair needs cutting

It needs to be cut - passive meaning

come + infinitive

After some years they came to accept her as an equal.

to talk about gradual change

come + gerund

He came hurrying up the path

to say that someone moves in the way that it is described

go on+infinitive

After the interval, Pavarotti went on to sing an aria from Tosca.

to mean that something is done after something else is finished

go on +gerund

Although she asked him to stop, he went on tapping his pen on the table

To say that someone moves in the way that it is described

.

mean+infinitive

I meant to phone you last week.

to say that we intend(ed) to do something

mean + gerund

If we want to get there by 7.00, that means getting up before 5.00.

To say that something has something else as a result

be afraid + infinitive

The streets in this city are not safe at night. Many people are afraid to go out alone. (they don’t want to go out alone because it’s dangerous)

I’m afraid to do smth = I don’t want to do smth because it’s dangerous or the result could be unpleasant.

be afraid of + gerund

We walked along the path very carefully because it was icy and we were afraid of falling. (not afraid to fall)

I’m afraid of smth happening = there is a possibility that something bad will happen.