Forget + Gerund vs Infinitive

The secret lies in the direction of time. When you use forget with to, you look forward. It is about a task you need to complete. When you use forget with -ing, you look backward. It is about a memory of an event that happened. It is like a mental time machine in your head. One path leads to things you must do. The other path leads to things you have already done. Even native speakers pause for a second on this one! Just remember: to is for the future, -ing is for the past.

1. 1For tasks: Subject + forget + to + base verb. Example: I forgot to call my mom.
2. 2For memories: Subject + forget + verb-ing. Example: I forgot calling my mom.
3. 3Negative form: Subject + did not forget + to / -ing. Example: Don't forget to pay the bill.
4. 4Question form: Did you forget + to / -ing? Example: Did you forget meeting him?
5. 5Future form: I will never forget + -ing. Example: I'll never forget seeing the Eiffel Tower.

Use forget to when you fail to do a duty. Imagine you are at a job interview. You might say, I forgot to bring my resume. This means the resume is still at home. Use it for chores, appointments, and daily responsibilities. It is the "oops, I didn't do it" pattern.

Use forget -ing when you lose a memory of an action. Imagine you are at a cafe with a friend. You tell them, I forgot meeting your brother last year. This means you met him, but the memory is gone. It is common with the word never. For example, I will never forget traveling to Japan. This emphasizes a vivid, lasting memory you cherish. It is the "I don't remember doing that" pattern.

Do not use forget -ing for things you still need to do. If you say, I forgot buying milk, people think you bought it and forgot. If the milk is not in your fridge, use to buy.

Avoid using forget to for long-term childhood memories. You wouldn't say, I forgot to live in London if you lived there. That sounds like you were supposed to live there but didn't.

Also, be careful with the present continuous forgetting. We usually use the simple past forgot or the future will never forget. Saying I am forgetting to go sounds very strange to a local. It is like trying to drive a car while reading the manual.

One big mistake is using -ing for a missed task. I forgot locking the door means you locked it but forgot. If the door is open, you forgot to lock it. This mistake might leave your house unprotected!

Another mistake is using to for a lost memory. I forgot to see that movie means you didn't watch it. If you watched it but don't remember the plot, say I forgot seeing it.

People also forget that forget is an irregular verb. The past is forgot and the participle is forgotten. Don't say forgetted unless you want to see a teacher cry. Just kidding, but it is a common slip-up!

This pattern is very similar to remember. Remember to is for future tasks. Remember -ing is for past memories. They are two sides of the same coin.

It also relates to stop. Stop to means you pause your movement to do something. Stop -ing means you quit an activity forever.

Regret follows this rule too. Regret to tell is for bad news you are giving now. Regret telling is for something you said in the past. It is all about the timeline of the action. If you master one, you master them all. It is like a grammar multi-tool for your brain.