REMEMBER + infinitive or ING form (gerund)

In English, the verb “remember” means “to recall” or “to NOT forget” something. However, the exact meaning of “remember” depends on the structure of the sentence.

There are 2 structures we can use with “remember”:

1.  “remember” + infinitive form of a verb
2.  “remember” + ING form of a verb (gerund)

The meaning of “remember” in both of these structures is slightly different.

Look at these 2 sentences:

Mark remembers to lock the car.
Mark remembers locking the car.

Both of these sentences are grammatically correct. But the meaning is very different. In this lesson, you will learn the difference.

“remember” + infinitive

Look at this sentence:

Mark remembers to lock the car.

There are 2 actions in this sentence. The first action happens before the second action:

Action 1: Mark remembers
Action 2: Mark locks the car

(Mark does not forget. He thinks and recalls that he must not forget to lock the car.)

Therefore the meaning of “remember” + infinitive is: Do not forget to do an action that happens after the thought.

First, we remember (think) and then we do the action.

The infinitive form of a verb is:  “to” + the base form of the verb.

Example 1

Mother: “Remember to brush your teeth after breakfast.”

This means: “Do not forget to brush your teeth after breakfast.”

Action 1: Remember (think / do not forget)
Action 2: Then brush your teeth

Example 2

Mark remembered to call his mother.

This means that Mark did not forget to call his mother.

Action 1: Mark remembered. He thought. He did not forget.
Action 2: Then Mark called his mother.

“remember” + ING form (gerund)

Now let’s look at this sentence:

Mark remembers locking the car.

The order of the 2 actions is the opposite:

Action 1: Mark locks the car.
Action 2: Mark remembers that he has locked the car. (Mark recalls it in his mind. He is therefore certain he has already locked the car.)

Therefore “remember” + ING form (gerund) means: “to recall an action that happened before the thought.”

First, we do the action and then we remember the action.

Compare this meaning to “remember” + infinitive. It is a subtle but important difference.

The general rule for forming the ING form of a verb is to take the base form and add “ing”. However, there are exceptions. For all the rules on how to form the ING form of a verb, read this lesson: ING form of verbs

Example 1

“My teeth are clean. I remember brushing them after breakfast.”

Action 1: Mark brushed his teeth after breakfast.
Action 2: Now he remembers (recalls). So he doesn’t need to brush them again.

Example 2

“I remember calling my mother from the office.”

Action 1: David called his mother.
Action 2: Now he remembers.

If someone now tells David to call his mother, he will say:

David: No I have already called her.
Jane: Are you sure?
David: Yes, I remember calling her from the office.

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