Remember + Gerund vs Infinitive

The verb remember is very special in English.

It changes meaning based on what follows it.

If you use an infinitive, you mean a duty.

If you use a gerund, you mean a memory.

It is all about the order of events.

Did you remember first, then do the action?

Or did you do the action, then remember it?

This distinction is vital for clear communication.

Imagine you are at a busy airport.

You need to check your bags and tickets.

Using the wrong form could cause real confusion.

"I remembered to lock the door" is good news.

"I remember locking the door" is a mental image.

One is about a task you finished.

The other is about a movie in your head.

1. 1For tasks and duties, use: Subject + remember + to + Verb.
2. 2Example: I remembered to buy milk today.
3. 3For memories and past events, use: Subject + remember + Verb-ing.
4. 4Example: I remember buying milk yesterday.
5. 5You can use any tense for the word remember.
6. 6Example: I will remember to call you.
7. 7Example: I have always remembered meeting him.
8. 8Negative forms follow the same logic.
9. 9Example: I didn't remember to bring my keys.
10. 10Example: I don't remember bringing my keys.
11. 11Questions also follow this simple pattern.
12. 12Example: Did you remember to pay the bill?
13. 13Example: Do you remember paying the bill?

Use remember + to when you have a job.

This is perfect for reminders and daily routines.

Think about your morning routine at home.

Remember to brush your teeth before you leave.

Remember to turn off the lights to save money.

In a job interview, this is very important.

Remember to arrive ten minutes early for the meeting.

Remember to dress professionally for the first impression.

Use remember + -ing for your life stories.

This is for things that already happened.

Think about your favorite childhood vacation.

I remember swimming in the ocean every single day.

I remember eating ice cream on the beach.

It feels like watching an old family video.

Don't use remember + -ing for future tasks.

If the task isn't done, -ing sounds very strange.

"I remember to go to the gym tomorrow" is wrong.

It sounds like you have a memory of tomorrow!

Unless you are a psychic, this is impossible.

Don't use remember + to for old memories.

"I remember to visit my grandma in 1995" is wrong.

This sounds like you had a duty back then.

But usually, we want to describe the experience.

Also, avoid using remember with very short actions.

We rarely say "I remember to blink my eyes."

That is just too much detail for a conversation!

Keep it to meaningful tasks and vivid memories.

The biggest mistake is mixing up the timeline.

Many people say "I remember to meet him last year."

This is a classic error for B1 students.

Since it happened last year, use meeting instead.

Another mistake is forgetting the to in the infinitive.

"I remembered call my mom" is not correct English.

Always include that little word to for tasks.

Some people use that too much instead of these patterns.

"I remember that I saw him" is grammatically fine.

However, "I remember seeing him" sounds much more natural.

It makes you sound like a fluent speaker.

Don't let these small trips stop your progress.

Even a small mistake won't ruin your whole day!

Other verbs like forget and stop work similarly.

Forget to do means you missed a task.

Forget doing means you don't recall the event.

It is like the twin brother of remember.

Stop to do means you paused to start something.

Stop doing means you ended an activity forever.

Think of remember as the positive version of these.

Try to do means you make an effort.

Try doing means you experiment with an idea.

Remember is much more focused on the timeline.

It is either a goal or a reflection.

Once you master remember, the others become easier.

They all follow this logic of "Future vs. Past."