Try + Gerund vs Infinitive

The secret lies in your intention. When you use an infinitive (to + verb), you focus on the struggle. You want to achieve a goal, but it is difficult. You might fail. When you use a gerund (verb + -ing), you focus on the result. You are looking for a solution to a problem. You are experimenting. Think of try to as a mountain climber. They are working hard to reach the top. Think of try -ing as a scientist in a lab. They are testing a theory to see what happens. Both are useful, but they tell very different stories. Even native speakers sometimes pause to choose the right one. Don't worry, you will master this quickly!

1. 1For effort: Subject + try (any tense) + to + base verb.
2. 2For experiments: Subject + try (any tense) + verb + -ing.
3. 3For negatives: Subject + try + not + to + verb.
4. 4For questions: Do / Did + subject + try + verb form?
5. 5Remember that try changes for the subject. Use tries for he, she, or it. Use tried for the past. The second verb stays as an infinitive or gerund.

Use try to when you face a challenge. Imagine you are at a job interview. You might say, "I will try to improve our sales." This shows you are ready to work hard. Use it when something is physically heavy or mentally tough. Use try -ing when you give advice. If your friend can't sleep, say, "Try drinking some warm milk." You are suggesting a possible fix. It is perfect for ordering food too. "I think I will try eating the spicy noodles today." You are testing a new flavor. It is all about the "vibe" of the sentence. Is it a struggle or a test?

Do not use try -ing for impossible tasks. You wouldn't say, "I tried jumping over the moon." That sounds like a weird experiment. Use try to there instead. Also, avoid try to for simple suggestions. If someone has a headache, "Try to take an aspirin" sounds like the pill is hard to swallow! "Try taking an aspirin" sounds much more helpful and normal. Be careful with the word try in the continuous form. "I am trying to sleep" is common. "I am trying sleeping" sounds very strange. Stick to the simple forms for experiments.

A very common mistake is mixing the two up. People often say, "I tried to call him" when they mean they tested a phone. Usually, "I tried calling him" is better if you just wanted to see if he would answer. Another mistake is adding to before the -ing form. Never say try to calling. That is a grammar car crash! Also, watch your tenses. "I try to exercise" is a habit. "I tried to exercise" is a specific event in the past. If you use the wrong one, people might misunderstand your effort level. It's like wearing socks with sandals; people will know what you mean, but it looks a bit off.

Try belongs to a group of "change-of-meaning" verbs. Stop is another famous one. Stop to smoke means you paused your walk to have a cigarette. Stop smoking means you quit the habit forever. Remember and forget follow this logic too. Remember to do is for the future. Remember doing is a memory of the past. Try is unique because it focuses on effort versus experiment. It is less about time and more about the "why" behind the action. Once you learn try, these other verbs become much easier to understand.