Verbs + -ing or to: stop doing or stop to do? -ing or to exercises for verbs that change meaning

This B2 drill lesson gives gerund or infinitive exercises for verbs whose meaning changes: stop doing or stop to do, remember, forget, regret, try, mean and go on.

Grammar: Both forms after one verb: stopped biting / stopped to look, remember flying / remember to send, tried adding / trying to understand, plus needs washing.
Topic: Bus 14 on Route 9: an invented library's blog shares an excerpt from a retired driver's memoir, then come her note, a former rider's email, a news piece and a chat.
Activities: True or false, sorting, choices, gap-fills, meaning quizzes, matching, tables, word order, drag-and-drop texts, a memory game and a chat with Yesenia.

What's inside

Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: verbs + -ing or toGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: looking back or looking forward?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right formChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: the right form of the verbFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2Memories and jobs: remember, forget, regret
- Fill in the gaps: remember and forgetFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right form: regretChoose the optionUnlock
- Match the sentences and their meaningsMatchUnlock
- Choose the right answer: what does it mean?QuizUnlock
- Fill in the table: say it another wayFill in the tableUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: remember, forget, regretUnjumbleUnlock
- Read Rafael's note and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 3Stop and try (and need)
- Choose the right form: stopChoose the optionTry it
- Fill in the gaps: stopFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right form: tryChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: stop, try and needFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right answer: stop, try and needQuizUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Read the baking forum post and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 4Mean, go on and all together
- Fill in the gaps: mean and go onFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right form: mean and go onChoose the optionUnlock
- Sort the sentences: what do mean and go on mean here?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
- Fill in the table: two meanings of one verbFill in the tableTry it
- Put the words in the right order: mean and go onUnjumbleUnlock
- Read Ms. Okonjo's speech and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: Forty years of stops
- Read the library's blog postReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the excerpt again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Bernie's note for the new driver and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Darnell's email and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read the newspaper article and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Yesenia texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right form: at workChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: memories and regretsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: on a road tripFill in the gapsUnlock
- Match the sentences with the same meaningMatchUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: mixed sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
- Sort the sentences: a memory or a job?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Fill in the table: write it another wayFill in the tableUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: everyday EnglishQuizUnlock
- Choose the right answer: what do these sentences mean?QuizUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: phrase and meaningMemory gameUnlock
- Choose the right form: at homeChoose the optionUnlock
- Read the hotel's email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Tadeusz's postcard and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: problems and solutionsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Gretchen's review and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock

Grammar: verbs that change meaning with -ing or to

After stop, remember, forget, regret, try, mean and go on, both forms are grammatical, but they say different things: She stopped biting her nails is not We stopped to look at the map. The context decides between the two, so each drill sentence carries a clue.

Stop doing or stop to do? One verb, two meanings

These verbs take -ing or to + verb, and the meaning changes. Both forms are grammatical, so the context decides.

Seven verbs, two meanings

Each verb has a pair of uses: remember flying a kite is a memory, remember to send the card is a job; try adding salt is a test, trying to understand is an effort; went on talking continues, went on to become moves on.

Verb	+ -ing	+ to + verb
stop	not do it anymore: She stopped biting her nails.	stop one thing to do another: We stopped to look at the map.
remember	a memory of the past: I remember flying a kite here.	a job, don't forget it: Remember to send the card.
forget	a moment you'll always remember: We'll never forget meeting you.	a job you didn't do: I forgot to reply.
regret	sorry about the past: I regret selling my bike.	polite bad news, with verbs that give news (say, tell, inform, announce): We regret to inform you that…
try	a test, to see what happens: Try adding some salt.	an effort, it's hard: I'm trying to understand this.
mean	it involves, it leads to: The job means working late.	plan, intend: Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.
go on	continue the same thing: She went on talking.	do the next thing: He went on to become a doctor.

-ing looks back, to looks forward

With stop, go on, remember, forget and regret, -ing means the action came first or was already happening, and to means it comes next: I remember switching off the heater against Remember to switch off the heater.

-ing: it is already happening or it happened first

stop / go on + -ing: you were already doing it.
remember / never forget / regret + -ing: it happened before, and now you think about it.
I remember switching off the heater. (I switched it off. Now I remember it.)

to: it comes next

stop / go on + to: you stop or finish one thing, and then you do the next.
remember / forget + to: a job for later. Did you do it?
Remember to switch off the heater. (First remember, then switch it off.)

Clues in the sentence

A past time such as when I was six points to remember + -ing; a job for later points to to. Halfway or on the way home signals stop to, while anymore or years ago signals stop + -ing.

a past time (when I was six, in 2015) → remember / never forget / regret + -ing
a job for later (tomorrow, before you leave, Don't…!) → remember / forget + to
a break on the way (halfway, for a minute, on the way home) → stop + to
something that ended (anymore, years ago, finally, as soon as…) → stop + -ing
a result (It worked. It didn't help.) → try + -ing
an effort (hard, my best, I'm trying…) → try + to
a thing as the subject (The job…, A dog…) → mean + -ing; a person's plan → mean + to
even after, for another hour → go on + -ing; later, after college → go on + to

Try, mean and regret

Try + -ing is a test with a result; try to is an effort. Mean to is a person's plan, mean + -ing is what a thing involves. Regret to goes only with news verbs: We regret to inform you…

Try: a test or an effort?

try + -ing = do something as a test and see what happens: The room was hot, so I tried opening the window. It didn't help. try + to = make an effort to do something difficult: I'm trying to finish this, but it's so noisy! The negative is try not to: Try not to be late.

Mean and regret

mean + to = a person's plan: I meant to text you. mean + -ing = what a thing involves: A bigger car means paying more for gas. regret + to goes only with verbs that give news (say, tell, inform, announce). regret + -ing = sorry about the past: I regret not going. having + past participle means the same: I regret saying that. = I regret having said that.

Need + -ing

Need to means a person has to do it: I need to wash the car. Need + -ing has a passive meaning: The car needs washing equals The car needs to be washed, which American English uses more often.

Need + -ing

need + to = a person has to do it: I need to wash the car. need + -ing = the thing has to be done (a passive meaning): The car needs washing. = The car needs to be washed. Both are correct; American English uses "needs to be…" more often.

Common mistakes

My grandpa stopped to drive at 85 needs stopped driving, and Remember buying bread on your way home needs Remember to buy. Watch for We regret informing you and Living in a big city means to pay high rent too.

My grandpa stopped to drive at 85.
My grandpa stopped driving at 85.
he doesn't drive anymore → stop + -ing
Remember buying bread on your way home.
Remember to buy bread on your way home.
a job for later → remember + to
We regret informing you that the flight is canceled.
We regret to inform you that the flight is canceled.
polite bad news → regret + to
Living in a big city means to pay high rent.
Living in a big city means paying high rent.
what it involves → mean + -ing

Examples

I remember climbing this tree as a kid.a memory of the past
Don't forget to sign the form.a job for later
On the way home, we stopped to help a lost tourist.stop + to: a break to do something else
The printer jammed, so I tried turning it off and on again. It worked!try + -ing: a test with a result
Becoming a doctor meant studying for many years.mean + -ing: what it involves
After the break, the coach went on to explain the new plan.go on + to: the next thing

More lessons on this grammar: Gerunds and infinitives lessons and exercises

Try the gerund or infinitive exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

What's in the lesson

42 auto-checked exercises
4 games
1 real-life document
1 grammar scheme
1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

tell a habit that ended from a break on the way: I stopped buying fast fashion two years ago but we stopped to ask a farmer for directions
use remember and forget for memories and for jobs: I remember getting lost in a big mall; Don't forget to sign the birthday card.
regret the past or give bad news politely: I regret not saving more money. We regret to announce that tonight's concert has been canceled.
tell a test from an effort: I tried adding a little lemon juice but I'm trying to remember where I put my glasses
use mean and go on both ways: Getting a puppy means walking it twice a day. After high school, Rita went on to study medicine in Boston.

Grammar:: gerund or infinitive · stop doing / stop to do · remember / forget + -ing or to · regret, try, mean, go on · need + -ing
Topic:: grammar practice · memories · memoir · school bus · everyday life

Teaching tips

Draw a timeline on the board: mark now, then place I remember locking the door and Remember to lock the door on it, so students see which action happens first.
Hunt for the clue words: while checking answers, students underline halfway, years ago, tomorrow or It worked and say which form each one called for.
Swap a memory and a regret: each student writes one I'll never forget… and one I regret… sentence about their own life, then reads both to a partner.

Liked it?

Teach the whole lesson in edio

46 exercises in 6 chapters, ready to teach. edio is an online platform for language schools and teachers: ready-made interactive lessons, live classes, homework and student progress in one place.

Start a free trial
7 days, no credit card.
Open the lesson
Find it in the library of 621 ready lessons. Teach it as it is, or copy any chapter into your own lessons.
Teach it live or as homework
Students work in their own accounts, in sync with you during the lesson, and the practice exercises check themselves.

Teach it free for 7 days

The whole course: English Grammar Practice · B2

English Grammar Practice · B2 has 24 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the future perfect and continuous, the third and mixed conditionals, wishes, past modals, the impersonal passive, have something done, participle clauses, reporting verbs and verb patterns. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

Unlock full lesson

About this lesson

What's inside

Grammar: verbs that change meaning with -ing or to

Seven verbs, two meanings

-ing looks back, to looks forward

Clues in the sentence

Try, mean and regret

Need + -ing

Common mistakes

Examples

Try the gerund or infinitive exercises

What's in the lesson

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

Teaching tips

Teach the whole lesson in edio

Start a free trial

Open the lesson

Teach it live or as homework

The whole course: English Grammar Practice · B2

Teach this lesson with your students