Infinitive and gerund query: [forgot running VS stopped running]

Question

I'm completely stumped on these 4 sentences. Could someone explain why (1) doesn't work, even though (2) functions perfectly fine despite their grammatical similarity?

And why, linguistically speaking, despite (3) and (4) also sharing the same grammatical structure, they have completely different meanings? (3) being 'I forgot to complete the act of running' vs (4) 'I stopped what I'm doing to run'

(1) I forgot running.
(2) I stopped running.
(3) I forgot to run.
(4) I stopped to run.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Dean WebberCould someone explain why (1) doesn't work,

The English catenative verbs operate very differently from each other. There is no rule, no rhyme nor reason as to why one takes an infinitive and another takes a gerund.

Here is a very good list of them and the patterns:

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

Dean Webber(1) I forgot running.

This is grammatical, but pretty much nonsense in meaning, so it is unheard of in everyday usage.

Dean Webber(2) I stopped running.

Perfectly good and normal.

When you are in a race, sometimes you interrupt the run (stop running) to have a drink.

More common are other objects:

My car stopped running. (It broke down,)

My watch stopped running. (The battery died.)

The trains stopped running. (There was a terrible storm and the trains could not operate.)

Dean Webber(3) I forgot to run.

It needs an adverb to complete the idea.

I forgot to run this morning.

Your habit is a morning run three times a week. This morning you forgot to do it.

I forgot to run by the store on the way to work.

Dean Webber(4) I stopped to run.

I stopped (in order) to run.

The reason why you stopped your car and got out during a road trip was to stretch and get some exercise.

CalifJim · Answer

Dean WebberI'm completely stumped on these 4 sentences.

Join the club!

There is no logical explanation for much of language. Languages grow and change over time in such a way that the reasons why some expressions have their current meanings are lost in history, or if not lost, require some heavy lifting to discover.

Dean WebberCould someone explain why (1) doesn't work

It doesn't work well in the past, but it works in a few other contexts with different shades of meaning.

Imperative.

Forget doing the dishes. We're going to a movie!

With 'can'.

After what you've done, young man, you can forget going out this weekend. You're grounded!

With negation.

I'll never forget living in Spain when I was young.

CJ

Infinitive and gerund query: [forgot running VS stopped running]

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions