remember + to do

Question

I remember telling her about the bowling.

In this case, 'remember' means that you have the memory of that action or event. You know it happened because you can now remember it.

I remembered to turn off the lights when I left the room.

In this case, remember means that you do not forget to do something. (I did turn off the lights)

So if I just had the memory that I had to turn off the lights but

I did not turn off the light, how can I say?

I remembered.....

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hello, borgess—and welcome to English Forums.

So if I just had the memory that I had to turn off the lights but I did not turn off the light, how can I say?

I remembered not turning off the lights.
I remembered not having turned off the lights.

CalifJim · Answer

borgessSo if I just had the memory that I had to turn off the lights but I did not turn off the light, how can I say it?

You might also be wondering about this one.

What if you remembered that you had to turn them off, but you don't remember if you turned them off or not?

Then you can say

I remembered having to turn off the lights, but I don't remember [if I turned them off / turning them off].

CJ

Borgess · Answer

what i'm asking is just remember it without any action.
and the answer is

I remembered having to turn off the lights,

right?

what i'm curious about is
whether or not the word remember always involves action In remember to do.

when we say 'I remember the poem.' it does not involve any action it just a thought or mind.

CalifJim · Answer

borgess... just remember it without any action. ... I remembered having to turn off the lights, right?

Right.

borgesswhether or not the word remember always involves action In remember to do.

Yes. It always involves action. It will even force an action interpretation on a verb that doesn't normally have such an interpretation. Here is an example:

Remember to be nice to Mr. Smith when he visits us.

be isn't an action, but in this sentence, be nice must be taken to mean 'act nice', 'act politely'.

When there is no way to interpret the verb as an action, the statement is anomalous and can't be used.

I remembered to understand the rules of the game. (Wrong.)

CJ

Borgess · Answer

If you promised your friend to post the letter on Jyly 10th.

he called you to confirm it on July 11th.
he could say "Did you remember to post the letter?"
it means did you do post the letter

In the case, he called you to confirm it on July 9th,
he could say "do you remember having to post the letter?"(right)
means do you still remeber that you have to post the letter

"Do you remember to post the letter?(wrong)

Am I correct?

CalifJim · Answer

borgessIf you promised your friend to post the letter on July 10th.he called you to confirm it on July 11th. he could say "Did you remember to post the letter?"it means did you post the letter

Correct.

borgessIn the case, he called you to confirm it on July 9th,he could say "do you remember having to post the letter?"(right)means do you still remeber that you have to post the letter

Correct. He can also say, "Do you remember that you still have to post the letter?" and this way is more common.

borgess"Do you remember to post the letter?(wrong)

It's wrong within the story you are telling, but it's not always wrong. Do you remember to asks if you habitually (regularly, always) remember to do something -- and do it. There is almost always an adverb like always or usually in the sentence when you mean it this way.

Do you (always) remember to take your medicine?
Do you (always) remember to send a birthday card to your friends?

In the case of posting the letter, this was a one-time action, so you can't say Do you remember to post the letter? because that would mean Do you remember to post the letter every time you are asked to post the letter? which doesn't make sense in your story.

CJ

Borgess · Answer

it answered all my questions.
Thank you so much.

Borgess · Answer

Sorry I have one more question for confirmation.

Do you (always) remember to take your medicine?
Do you (always) remember to send a birthday card to your friends?

these also involve actions, right?

Now I can organize my thoughts
and this is my main concern of all my questions,

remember to do is a dynamic verb(involve action)
remember doing, remember something or remember that~ are stative verb like the verb think, have ...(not involve action)

Is that right?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I don't consider remember to be a stative verb. It is OK with the progressive verb forms. Here are some examples:

What are you doing?
I am thinking about my lessons.
I am remembering the dream I had last night.

Do you remember doing your homework?
Yes. I finished it an hour ago. I remember that it was really hard.

What were you thinking about yesterday?
I was remembering our trip and how nice the beach was when we visited Hawaii last year.

CalifJim · Answer

borgessDo you (always) remember to take your medicine?Do you (always) remember to send a birthday card to your friends?these also involve actions, right?

Well when I take medicine I swallow a pill or I pour liquid on a spoon, put the spoon in my mouth, take the medicine into my mouth and swallow. Doesn't that sound like action to you?

When I send a card, I open it, write something in it, sign it, put it in an envelope, seal it, take it to the post office, and mail it. Doesn't that sound like action to you?

Yes, those things involve actions!

borgessremember to do is a dynamic verb(involve action)

You have to be more precise. "remember to do" is a group of three words. It can't be a dynamic verb. A dynamic verb can only be one word. Here's what you mean:

The verb that replaces do in the expression "remember to do" must be a dynamic verb or a verb that has a dynamic interpretation. If that's what you mean, then you are correct.

borgessremember doing, remember something or remember that~ are stative verb like the verb think, have ...(not involve action)

No. The verb that replaces doing in the expression "remember doing" can be dynamic or stative. The statives are probably less common.

I remember driving to work this morning.
I remember having my keys in my hand when I got there.
__________________

I hope you are not giving undue importance to the division between stative and dynamic verbs in these expressions. You can use any verbs that make sense in these expressions.

remember to do something means that you did it because you didn't forget.
I remembered to turn off the light. ~ I was supposed to turn off the light, and I turned off the light because I didn't forget that I was supposed to turn off the light.
In this one, there is a sort of obligation to do something; you have to remember your obligation to do it.

remember doing something means that you have a memory in your mind about it because you did it.
I remember turning off the light. ~ I know that I turned off the light. I remember that I turned off the light.
In this one, there is no obligation to do anything. You are just remembering what you did.

CJ

remember + to do

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