To Misremember vs Misremembering Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To misremember (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to misremember" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I promise to misremember the details of the incident.

Misremembering (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "misremembering" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Misremembering can lead to misunderstandings.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To misremember (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To misremember is a common occurrence.

  To misremember is a common occurrence.

  • "*To misremember*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common occurrence).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to misremember what happened.

  She wants me to misremember what happened.

  • "Me *to misremember* what happened" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to misremember* what happened).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a reliable source to misremember the facts.

  I need a reliable source to misremember the facts.

  • "*To misremember* the facts" modifies the noun "source."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable source *to misremember* the facts).

Misremembering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Misremembering is a common cognitive bias.

  Misremembering is a common cognitive bias.

  • "*Misremembering*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common cognitive bias).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy misremembering the details of the story.

  I enjoy misremembering the details of the story.

  • "*Misremembering* the details of the story" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*misremembering* the details of the story).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a tendency for misremembering important dates.

  She has a tendency for misremembering important dates.

  • "For *misremembering* important dates" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a tendency for *misremembering* important dates).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• plan
• refuse
• attempt
• wish
• demand

Example

He plans to misremember his lines in the play.

They refuse to misremember their previous statements.

She attempted to misremember the password multiple times.

We wish to misremember our embarrassing moments.

The boss demanded to misremember any negative feedback.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• suggest
• consider
• resist
• understand

Example

He avoids misremembering people's names.

They suggest misremembering minor details to make the story more interesting.

I am considering misremembering the events for my convenience.

She resisted misremembering the instructions given by her teacher.

Can you understand the consequences of misremembering important information?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• try

Example

He likes to misremember small details. He likes misremembering small details.

We began to misremember the sequence of events. We began misremembering the sequence of events.

She tried to misremember the conversation. She tried misremembering the conversation.