Remember Doing vs. Remember To Do
With “remember + -ing,” the speaker recalls something that happened. With “remember + to-infinitive,” the speaker remembers an action that needs to be carried out.
“Remember doing” means have a memory of an earlier action or event. “Remember to do” means not forget to perform a task.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| have a memory of an earlier action or event | remember + -ing | The action happened first; the remembering looks back on it. |
| not forget a task that still needs to be done | remember + to-infinitive | The remembering happens before the intended action. |
| refer to a fact, person, or thing | remember + noun/clause | Use the ordinary recall construction instead of forcing either complement pattern. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Has the action already happened and are you recalling it now?
If yes: Use “remember doing.”
If no: If the point is not forgetting a task to perform, use “remember to do.”
Examples
I remember meeting her at the conference.
The meeting happened earlier and is now recalled.
Remember to lock the door before you leave.
The infinitive names the task that must not be forgotten.
He remembered sending the file, so he checked his outbox.
The -ing form points back to an earlier action.
Further guidance
Infinitive Pattern
Use remember + to-infinitive when you do not forget an action that needs to be done.
Ing Pattern
Use remember + -ing when you have a memory of an earlier event or action.
Time Boundary
The -ing pattern looks back to an event in memory; the to-infinitive pattern is about remembering the task at the point it needs to happen.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Remember or remind? — English Grammar Today (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Remember for retaining/recalling and remind for causing someone to remember