forgot to do something VS forgot doing something?

Question

I forgot to mail / mailing her a few days ago.Which one is the correct one?If both are ok, I'd like you to give me the proper situations where each is natural.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I forgot to email http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/email her a few days ago.

Anonymous · Answer

I know the to-infinitive option is appropriate and I want to know the reason.
When it comes to 'forget doing something',
I understand it means the subject did something and he doesn't remember doing it.

So I'm guessing "I forget mailing her a few days ago." would be possible
if it's backed up with a context, like,
A: A letter again?! Hmm, I think you sent her a letter already...
B: Oh, I forgot sending her a letter a few days ago.

If it doesn't make sense, I'd like to know why it doesn't.
Maybe you could point out something strange in meaning about the structure.
I hope you help me out.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSo I'm guessing "I forget mailing her a few days ago." would be possibleif it's backed up with a context, like, A: A letter again?! Hmm, I think you sent her a letter already... B: Oh, I forgot sending her a letter a few days ago.

Yes, there are sources that say forget doing is the same as don't remember doing, but it sounds wrong to me and I never use it. I don't think I ever hear it here in California either. It could be a British thing. Here's an example from "Wicktionary":

I forget going to the shopping centre. (I cannot remember the experience of going to the store.)

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_catenative_verbs

________

In American English the only usage of forget doing (also forget about doing) that I can think of is when you tell someone they may as well abandon all hope of doing something.

Oh, no! A flat tire! I guess we can forget getting to the airport on time.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim but it sounds wrong to me and I never use it. I don't think I ever hear it here in California either. It could be a British thing.

Thank you for your answer, CalifJim.

So it seems to me that the 'forget doing something' problem is just another thing that I can only accept and try to avoid, (the way English works or a matter of usage) and no reason's to be found for its strangeness.

Vic Z · Answer

I would say "forgot doing something" is very common in British English.

Anonymous · Answer

Vic ZI would say "forgot doing something" is very common in British English.

Thank you, Vic Z. So is the dialogue valid in British English?

Fivejedjon · Answer

CalifJimYes, there are sources that say forget doing is the same as don't remember doing, but it sounds wrong to me and I never use it. I don't think I ever hear it here in California either. It could be a British thing.

I, a speaker of BrE, find it as unnatural as you do.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Vic Z I would say "forgot doing something" is very common in British English.

I don't agree. https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=I+forgot+doing%2CI+forgot+to+do&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=18&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2CI%20forgot%20to%20do%3B%2Cc0

CalifJim · Answer

fivejedjonI don't agree. Ngram

If you set it for AmE you get nearly the same thing. No instances of "forget doing".

I wonder why so many sources mention the -ing form after 'forget' as if it were an ordinary, everyday combination.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

I have wondered that.

forgot to do something VS forgot doing something?

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