"To forget doing something" and "to forget to do something"

Question

1. I think you've forgotten meeting them.

2. I think you've forgotten to meet them.

Dear teachers:

Do they have the same meaning, please? I think that in (1), the "meeting" actually took place, i.e., the person met them but don't remember it, while in (2), the action of meeting didn't occur. The person didn't remember to meet them. Am I right about it?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Laborious
1. I think you've forgotten meeting them.
2. I think you've forgotten to meet them.

Dear teachers:
Do they have the same meaning, please? I think that in (1), the "meeting" actually took place, i.e., the person met them but don't remember it, while in (2), the action of meeting didn't occur. The person didn't remember to meet them. Am I right about it?

Yes, you are right.

Here are some additional typical examples:

I'll never forget going to the circus when I was 8 years old.
They were in such a hurry they forgot to bring a search light.
You can forget playing on the team at that school if your grades are bad.

Note especially in the case of forget -ing, it's frequently will never forget -ing (something already done), or can forget -ing (because it will be impossible to do that under the given circumstances).

CJ

"To forget doing something" and "to forget to do something"

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