Gerunds and Infinitives: Remember and Forget

With remember and forget, the choice between gerund and infinitive completely changes the meaning. Remember + gerund means you have a memory of something in the past: "I remember meeting her" (I recall that I met her before). Remember + infinitive means you don't forget to do something in the future: "Remember to lock the door" (don't forget to do this). The same pattern applies to "forget": "I'll never forget seeing Paris" (past memory) vs "Don't forget to buy milk" (future task).

This difference is essential for clear communication. Saying "I remembered to call her" means you didn't forget — you made the call. Saying "I remember calling her" means you have a memory of making that call. If someone says "Did you remember to lock the door?", they are asking about a task. If they say "Do you remember locking the door?", they are asking about your memory of doing it. Cambridge B1-B2 exams frequently test this distinction because it is one of the clearest examples where gerund versus infinitive affects meaning.