Remember to do vs Remember doing - English In A Minute

Welcome, everyone!

Sam from BBC Learning English here.

You probably already know

that in English we have some verbs that are always

followed by the infinitive – for example: want.

And other verbs that are always followed by the gerund

For example: enjoy.

But we also have some verbs in English

that can be followed by either

the infinitive or the gerund

and the meaning will change - for example: remember

Remember to bring your umbrella

- where first you remember and then

you bring your umbrella.

This is commonly used when talking about the future.

I remember meeting my best friend when I was little

- where first I met my best friend

and then I remembered it.

This is now a memory,

so it's commonly used when talking about the past.