Zorg Spacestop doing or stop to do
The rule
A2 taught which verbs take -ing and which take to. B1 has to hear the pairs where BOTH are possible and the meaning changes. I stopped smoking means I gave it up; I stopped to smoke means I stopped in order to have one. Remember to lock the door is the reminder before; I remember locking the door is the memory after. Try to open it is an effort; try opening it is an experiment. And after every preposition the verb takes -ing: good at cooking, instead of waiting, without asking.
stop / remember / forget / try + -ing or + to · preposition + -ing
Examples
I stopped smoking two years ago.
We stopped to ask for directions.
Remember to take your medicine.
She is good at explaining difficult things.
Common mistakes
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Wrong: I am interested in to learn Spanish.
Right: I am interested in learning Spanish.
After a preposition the verb always takes -ing.
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Wrong: Remember locking the door before you go out.
Right: Remember to lock the door before you go out.
A reminder about the future takes to; -ing would be a memory of the past.
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Wrong: He tried to move the sofa, so he asked a neighbour instead.
Right: He tried moving the sofa, but it was too heavy.
try to is an attempt; try + -ing is testing whether it helps.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
- She stopped to working at six and went home.
- She stopped work at six to going home.
- She stopped working at six and went home.
- She stopped for work at six and went home.
Show answer
Answer: C She stopped working at six and went home.
stop + -ing means the activity ended.
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2Choose the correct sentence.
- On the way we stopped to buy some water.
- On the way we stopped buy some water.
- On the way we stopped buying some water.
- On the way we stopped for to buy some water.
Show answer
Answer: A On the way we stopped to buy some water.
stop to do gives the purpose of stopping.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- I remember to meet her at a wedding.
- I remember met her at a wedding.
- I remember meeting her at a wedding.
- I am remembering to meet her at a wedding.
Show answer
Answer: C I remember meeting her at a wedding.
A memory of something already done takes -ing.
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4Choose the correct sentence.
- Thank you for to help me yesterday.
- Thank you to helping me yesterday.
- Thank you for helping me yesterday.
- Thank you for help me yesterday.
Show answer
Answer: C Thank you for helping me yesterday.
for is a preposition, so the verb takes -ing.
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5Fill in the gap.
Do not forget _____ the gas before you leave.
- turn off
- for turning off
- to turn off
- turning off
Show answer
Answer: C Do not forget to turn off the gas before you leave.
A task still ahead of you takes to.
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6Fill in the gap.
I will never forget _____ the sea for the first time.
- see
- to see
- seeing
- to seeing
Show answer
Answer: C I will never forget seeing the sea for the first time.
A memory of the past takes -ing.
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7Fill in the gap.
She left without _____ goodbye.
- said
- to say
- saying
- say
Show answer
Answer: C She left without saying goodbye.
without is a preposition.
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8Fill in the gap.
If it does not start, try _____ the battery.
- to changing
- change
- changing
- for change
Show answer
Answer: C If it does not start, try changing the battery.
try + -ing suggests an experiment that might solve it.
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9Put the words in the right order.
I am thinking of changing jobs
Show answer
Answer: I am thinking of changing jobs.
of is a preposition, so changing follows it.
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10Put the words in the right order.
We stopped to look at the map
Show answer
Answer: We stopped to look at the map.
to here gives the reason for stopping.
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