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I answered a grammar exercise about try. (try+infinitive & try+ing)The sentence was this...I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. Then I tried knocking the door but still no one answered.The answer here is tried+ing. Why?Can't you say "tried to knock"?And one more thing.Which is correct here?Don't you know how to play the piano?Do you not know how to play the piano?And here too.Aren't you...?Are you not...?

Alda1119 · Accepted Answer

Thanks so much!!!

Philip · Answer

1. I tried knocking = I used this process. I tried to knock = I made the attempt to do this, but I couldn't do it.
I tried pleasing her by baking an apple pie, but she was in a bad mood anyway ~ I tried to bake an apple pie, but it burned in the oven.

2. In these examples, don't you and aren't you sound more American, but the others (used more in Britain, I think) are not wrong.

P.S. In the States, at least, we knock on or at the door.

ChrisD · Answer

Hmm, maybe the first example is to do with semantics. If you said 'I tried to knock the door', the hearer would assume that you attempted, but failed in knocking the door. However, 'I tried knocking the door..' automatically gives us the kind of interpretation we expect.

As for playing the piano, both examples are correct, but again differ in meaning (in my opinion). The second example is more emphatic on the negative particle 'not', because in the first example 'not' isn't actually said at all, as with the contracted form.

The same kind of applies to the last example, but personally I would never say 'are you not?'

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,
I'm not aware of any variety of English in which it is OK to say 'I knocked the door'. Say 'on' (or 'at'), as suggested above.

Best wishes, Clive

ChrisD · Answer

Well, yeah, I agree (although I think it could pass as acceptable in some informal situations), but what I was trying to say was that the inclusion of 'to' in 'tried to knock the door' changes the meaning.
If you said 'I tried to knock on the door', opposed to 'I knocked on the door' or 'I tried knocking on the door', the first example seems different.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
The only people I've ever heard say'I knocked the door, he knocked my door, etc.' are the students in my ESL class.

Clive

Alda1119 · Answer

Thanks people...just forgot to write "on".  <img src="http://www.EnglishForward.com/emoticons/emotion-1.gif"/>

CalifJim · Answer

try + to + verb = make an attempt to perform the action of the verb
try + verb + ing = use the action of the verb as a strategy for obtaining a desired result
I tried to knock on the door, but my hand was suddenly paralyzed, so I was unable to complete the action.
I had no idea what to do to get the attention of the people inside the house, but I hit upon a great idea: I would try knocking on the door as a means of getting their attention.
I tried to drink some warm milk, but I forgot that I had just been to the dentist, and my lips were still numb from the anesthetic, so I spilled the milk all over myself.
If you want to get to sleep easily, try drinking warm milk before you go to bed. (use drinking milk as a means for falling asleep) (Certainly you'll succeed if you simply try to drink warm milk. That's easy enough to do! But performing the act of drinking milk is not at issue. The milk drinking is a means to an end.)
I tried to open the window, but it was stuck.
Try opening the window. We need some fresh air in here.
CJ

CalifJim · Answer

alda1119And one more thing.
Which is correct here?

Don't you know how to play the piano?
Do you not know how to play the piano?

And here too.

Aren't you...?
Are you not...?

Don't you know and Aren't you are the usual and most natural patterns. In my opinion, using the others makes you seem like you think you're better than everybody else. All are grammatically correct, however.
CJ

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