When do I use gerunds and when do I use infinitives?

This is a very difficult topic that many people have written about.  When do you use a gerund or an infinitive?  First, let's define what gerunds and infinitives are:

Gerund (AKA ~ing form) is the ~ing conjugation of a verb. e.g. like : liking, fish : fishing, etc...

Infinitive (AKA to-infinitive, base or dictionary form) is the form of the verb as it is found in the dictionary with 'to' added to the front. e.g.  like : to like, fish : to fish, etc..

These two forms of verbs are used in several ways in the English language.  Today, we want to talk about the following structure:

Subject + verb + (gerund/infinitive) - I like (fishing/to fish)

Let's look at remember and forget.  These are very often confused.

Remember + to-infinitive = thinking about the future at the time you remembered:
I remembered to lock the door. (I wanted to lock the door and I did.  I remembered.)

Remember + gerund = thinking about the past at the time you are remembering:
I remember walking to school in the snow.  (now, I'm remembering that time.  The time I was walking to school in the snow.)

Forget is very similar:

Forget + to-infinitive = forgetting a future action.  Thinking about a future action (at the time of forgetting).
I forgot to lock the door.  (In the past, I forgot.  I forgot an action.  That action was locking the door.)

Forget + gerund = thinking about the past at the time you are forgeting:
I forgot locking the door.  (I locked the door.  After locking the door, I forgot about the action.)

Please click on read more to view a graphic explaining forget and remember.

You can also watch the video.

Please look at the following drawing:

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