할 것을 잊다 vs. 한 것을 잊다
forgot to do와 forgot doing의 차이를 마스터해서 더 자연스러운 영어를 구사해 보세요!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'to' for tasks you missed and '-ing' for memories you lost.
- Forgot to do: You didn't do the task. Example: 'I forgot to call him.'
- Forgot doing: You did it, but don't remember. Example: 'I forgot calling him.'
- Negative focus: 'Never forget doing' is common for vivid memories.
Overview
to do와 doing 사이의 이 작은 차이가 여러분의 이야기 전체를 바꿔놓는답니다. 잘못 사용하면 친구들이 여러분을 그냥 좀 덤벙거리는 게 아니라 기억상실증에 걸린 걸로 오해할 수도 있어요.forgetting to buy milk)과 우유를 이미 샀다는 사실 자체를 잊어버린 것(그래서 냉장고에 우유가 6팩이나 있게 되는 상황!)의 차이랄까요? 자, 이제 이 정신없는 머릿속을 정리해 봐요.-ing)를 좋아하고, 어떤 동사는 부정사(to)를 좋아하죠. 그리고 forget 같은 동사는 아주 '드라마 퀸' 같아요.forget 뒤에 부정사를 쓰면, 일어나지 않은 의무나 할 일에 대해 말하는 거예요.할 일 목록(to-do list) 버전이라고 보면 돼요. 반면 동명사와 함께 쓰면, 분명히 일어났던 기억이나 경험에 대해 말하는 건데, 그 이미지가 희미해지거나 혹은 영원히 남는 경우를 뜻해요. 보통 동명사 버전은 "I'll never forget..."처럼 부정문으로 자주 쓰여요.How This Grammar Works
동작 타임라인(Action Timeline)이에요. 비디오 게임 퀘스트라고 생각해 보세요. 퀘스트가 일지에 아직 활성화되어 있는데 완료하지 못했다면, 그건 부정사(to)예요.-ing)예요. 동작은 과거에 일어났고, 여러분은 이제 머릿속에 저장된 녹화본을 되돌아보는 중인 거죠. 만약 I forgot to meet him이라고 하면, 여러분은 집에 있었고 그 친구는 아마 화난 이모티콘을 보내고 있을 거예요.
I forgot meeting him이라고 하면, 실제로 같이 앉아서 커피도 마시고 한 시간 동안 수다도 떨었는데, 그 사건 자체를 기억 저장소에서 완전히 지워버린 거예요. 전자는 여러분을 좀 건망증 있는 사람으로 만들지만, 후자는 좀 냉정한 사람처럼 보이게 할 수도 있어요! 대부분의 사람들은 일상적인 잡일에는 부정사를, 인생의 큰 순간들에는 동명사를 사용한답니다.
Formation Pattern
forget 동사를 알맞은 시제로 쓰세요. forget, forgot, 또는 will never forget 등을 쓸 수 있겠죠.
to + 동사원형을 더하세요. (예: I forgot to post the TikTok).
-ing를 더하세요. (예: I'll never forget posting my first TikTok).
Conjugation Table
| Form | Example | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
| Infinitive (Task) | I forgot to lock the door. |
지금 문이 활짝 열려 있어요. 어이쿠. |
| Gerund (Memory) | I forgot locking the door. |
문을 잠그긴 했는데, 잠갔던 기억이 전혀 없어요. |
| Future Task | Don't forget to call me! |
미래의 나를 위한 리마인더예요. |
| Never + Gerund | I'll never forget traveling to Tokyo. |
그 여행은 정말 최고였고, 도쿄의 불빛이 아직도 눈에 선해요. |
When To Use It
forget + to를 사용하세요. 이건 '어른 노릇(adulting)'을 할 때 필요한 문법이에요. 알림이나 놓친 마감 기한, 혹은 버스에 우산을 두고 내렸다는 걸 깨달은 순간에 사용하죠.죄송해요, 마이크 음소거 해제하는 걸 깜빡했어요!(I forgot to unmute myself!)라고 말할 때 딱이에요. (완전 요즘 스타일이죠?). 경험에 대해 말할 때는 forget + -ing를 사용하세요.never와 짝을 이뤄 쓰여요. "이비자에서 그 일몰을 본 걸 절대 잊지 못할 거야(I'll never forget seeing that sunset in Ibiza)"라고 하면 멋진 인스타그램 캡션이 되겠죠. 또한 실제로 무언가를 하긴 했는데 뇌가 파일을 저장하지 않았을 때도 쓸 수 있어요.I'm so sorry, I totally forgot meeting you!)"라고 말할 수 있어요. 기억의 공백을 인정하는 예의 바른(혹은 어색한) 방법이죠.Common Mistakes
that을 사용하는 거예요. I forgot that I met him대신
I forgot meeting him이라고 해보세요. 데이터베이스를 읽는 로봇이 아니라 훨씬 더 자연스럽게 들린답니다. 또 다른 함정은 할 일에 동명사를 쓰는 거예요. 만약
I forgot calling my mom이라고 하면, 엄마한테 전화를 하긴 했는데 그걸 기억 못 한다는 뜻이 돼요. 엄마는 전화를 받으셨으니 여전히 기뻐하시겠지만요. 하지만 전화를 아예 안 했다는 뜻이라면, 반드시
I forgot to call my mom이라고 해야 해요. 여기서 잘못 쓰면 아주 혼란스러운 가족 저녁 식사 자리가 될 수도 있답니다. 그리고 시제도 조심하세요! 많은 분들이 forget이 불규칙 동사(forget, forgot, forgotten)라는 걸 잊곤 해요. I have forgetted라고 말하면 영어 선생님이 울어버릴지도 몰라요. 깔끔하게 I forgot이나 I have forgotten이라고 하세요.Contrast With Similar Patterns
remember, regret, stop과 같은 동네에 살고 있어요. 모두 같은 논리를 따르거든요. remember to는 미래의 할 일이고, remember -ing는 과거의 기억이에요.forget의 거울 이미지 같죠. regret to tell you는 곧 전할 나쁜 소식(격식 있는 줌 미팅 느낌)에 쓰이고, regret telling you는 이미 비밀을 다 털어놓고 나서 후회할 때 써요. stop to smoke는 담배를 피우기 위해 걷던 걸 멈춘 것이고, stop smoking은 드디어 담배를 끊었다는 뜻이에요.to는 아직 도착하지 않은 목적지라고 생각하고, -ing는 이미 지나온 길이라고 생각하세요. forget만 마스터하면 다른 동사들의 치트키도 다 얻은 거나 다름없어요. 결국 «동작이냐 기억이냐»의 차이랍니다.Quick FAQ
I forgot that I had to...라고 말해도 되나요?
가능해요. 하지만 문자나 일상 대화에서는 I forgot to...가 훨씬 더 임팩트 있고 흔하게 쓰여요.
I forgot meeting him은 항상 부정적인 의미인가요?
보통은 그래요. 기억을 잃어버렸다는 걸 나타낼 때 쓰거든요. 만약 기억이 난다면 remember를 썼겠죠.
이 문법이 will과 함께 쓰이나요?
당연하죠!
I will never forget visiting Paris는 핵심 기억(core memory)을 표현하는 전형적인 방식이에요.
음식에도 쓸 수 있나요?
물론이죠!
I forgot to eat lunch(점심 먹는 걸 잊어서 배고파요) vs.
I forgot eating that burger(너무 정신이 없어서 그 햄버거 먹은 기억이 안 나요).
격식 있는 이메일에 써도 괜찮을까요?
파일 첨부를 잊었을 때처럼 할 일에는
I forgot to attach the file처럼 부정사를 쓰세요. 동명사 버전은 은퇴하는 게 아닌 이상 비즈니스 이메일에는 보통 너무 개인적이거나 감성적일 수 있어요.
Conjugating 'Forget' with Complements
| Tense | Forget Form | Infinitive (Task) | Gerund (Memory) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
forget / forgets
|
I forget to call.
|
I forget calling.
|
|
Past Simple
|
forgot
|
I forgot to call.
|
I forgot calling.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
have forgotten
|
I've forgotten to call.
|
I've forgotten calling.
|
|
Future
|
will forget
|
I'll forget to call.
|
I'll forget calling.
|
|
Negative Future
|
will never forget
|
I'll never forget to call.
|
I'll never forget calling.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I did not forget
|
I didn't forget
|
I didn't forget to pay.
|
|
I will not forget
|
I won't forget
|
I won't forget to write.
|
|
I have forgotten
|
I've forgotten
|
I've forgotten to ask.
|
Meanings
The verb 'forget' changes meaning depending on whether it is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) or a gerund (verb + -ing).
Failure to perform a task
Using the infinitive indicates that a person did not perform an action because they did not remember it at the necessary time.
“Don't forget to buy milk on your way home.”
“She forgot to tell me about the meeting.”
Loss of memory of a past event
Using the gerund indicates that an action was performed in the past, but the person has no mental record or recollection of it.
“I'll never forget meeting you for the first time.”
“He forgot lending me the money, so he asked for it again.”
Neglecting a duty (Formal)
In formal contexts, 'forget to' can imply a failure of responsibility rather than just a memory slip.
“The defendant forgot to mention his previous convictions.”
“The company forgot to update its privacy policy.”
Reference Table
| 구조 | 의미 | 예시 |
|---|---|---|
|
Forgot + to + verb
|
무언가를 할 작정이었지만 하지 못했어요.
|
I forgot to send the email.
|
|
Forgot + verb-ing
|
무언가를 했는데 했다는 사실을 기억하지 못해요.
|
I forgot sending the email.
|
|
목적
|
완료하지 못한 의도나 할 일을 표현할 때.
|
I forgot to buy milk.
|
|
목적
|
이미 완료된 행동에 대한 잊어버린 기억을 표현할 때.
|
I forgot seeing that movie.
|
|
행동 상태
|
행동이 일어나지 않았습니다.
|
He forgot to turn off the light.
|
|
행동 상태
|
행동이 일어났습니다.
|
He forgot turning off the light.
|
|
흔한 실수
|
행동이 완료되지 않았는데 '-ing'를 사용하는 경우.
|
❌ I forgot calling him (meaning I didn't call).
|
|
흔한 실수
|
행동이 완료되었는데 'to + verb'를 사용하는 경우.
|
❌ I forgot to call him (meaning I called but don't recall).
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
I neglected to transmit the report. (Workplace communication)
I forgot to send the report. (Workplace communication)
I totally blanked on the report. (Workplace communication)
I straight up forgot the report, my bad. (Workplace communication)
Forget: 할 일 vs. 완료된 일
`To + Verb` (부정사)
- 미완료된 할 일 Forgot to send email
- 놓친 의무 Forgot to call mom
- 미래 의도 Don't forget to buy milk
`Verb-ing` (동명사)
- 잊어버린 기억 Forgot seeing film
- 기억 상실 Forgot meeting him
- 과거 행동 Forgot saying that
`Forget` 행동 비교
'Forget to do' vs. 'Forgot doing' 결정하기
행동이 일어났나요?
완료하지 못한 할 일인가요?
무언가를 하지 못한 것에 대해 사과해야 하나요?
일상생활 속 `Forget` 상황
할 일 목록 실패
- • Forgot to buy groceries
- • Forgot to pay bill
- • Forgot to call friend
- • Forgot to close window
기억 상실
- • Forgot seeing that movie
- • Forgot meeting that person
- • Forgot saying something silly
- • Forgot visiting that place
흔한 알림
- • Don't forget to lock door
- • Remember to set alarm
- • Never forget to be kind
수준별 예문
Don't forget to call me.
No te olvides de llamarme.
I forgot to do my homework.
Olvidé hacer mi tarea.
Please don't forget to close the door.
Por favor, no olvides cerrar la puerta.
He forgot to buy milk.
Él olvidó comprar leche.
I'll never forget meeting the president.
Nunca olvidaré conocer al presidente.
Did you forget to bring your passport?
¿Olvidaste traer tu pasaporte?
She forgot to send the email yesterday.
Ella olvidó enviar el correo ayer.
I forgot seeing that movie before.
Olvidé haber visto esa película antes.
I forgot to lock the car, so I had to go back.
Olvidé cerrar el coche, así que tuve que volver.
I completely forgot meeting him at the party last year.
Olvidé por completo haberlo conocido en la fiesta el año pasado.
Don't forget to check the weather before you leave.
No olvides revisar el clima antes de irte.
He forgot taking his medicine this morning.
Él olvidó que se tomó su medicina esta mañana.
I forgot to mention that the office will be closed on Friday.
Olvidé mencionar que la oficina estará cerrada el viernes.
I'll never forget walking across the stage at graduation.
Nunca olvidaré caminar por el escenario en la graduación.
Have you forgotten to sign the contract?
¿Has olvidado firmar el contrato?
She forgot telling me the secret, so she told me again.
Ella olvidó que me había contado el secreto, así que me lo contó de nuevo.
I forgot to include the citations in the first draft.
Olvidé incluir las citas en el primer borrador.
One never forgets being treated with such kindness.
Uno nunca olvida ser tratado con tanta amabilidad.
He had forgotten to set the alarm, which resulted in a chaotic morning.
Había olvidado poner la alarma, lo que resultó en una mañana caótica.
I forgot having promised to help him move house.
Olvidé haber prometido ayudarlo a mudarse.
The witness forgot to disclose his financial interest in the company.
El testigo olvidó revelar su interés financiero en la empresa.
I shall never forget standing atop the Himalayas, breathless and humbled.
Nunca olvidaré estar de pie en la cima del Himalaya, sin aliento y humilde.
To forget to act is one thing; to forget having acted is quite another.
Olvidar actuar es una cosa; olvidar haber actuado es otra muy distinta.
She forgot being reprimanded as a child for her curiosity.
Ella olvidó haber sido reprendida de niña por su curiosidad.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners mix up the task/memory distinction just like with 'forget'.
This rule is different. 'Stop to' means you stop one action to start another. 'Stop doing' means you end an action.
Regret to is for giving bad news; Regret doing is for feeling sorry about the past.
자주 하는 실수
I forgot call him.
I forgot to call him.
Don't forget buy milk.
Don't forget to buy milk.
I forgot my keys at home.
I left my keys at home.
I forgot to meeting him.
I forgot meeting him.
I forgot to meeting her last year.
I forgot meeting her last year.
I'll never forget to see the ocean.
I'll never forget seeing the ocean.
Did you forget to locking the door?
Did you forget to lock the door?
I forgot sending the email, so I sent it again.
I forgot to send the email, so I sent it now.
She forgot to having been there.
She forgot having been there.
I forgot to tell you that I already told you.
I forgot telling you that.
He forgot to be told.
He forgot being told.
I forgot to mention to have seen him.
I forgot to mention seeing him.
I forgot to do it yesterday (when I actually did it).
I forgot doing it yesterday.
문장 패턴
I forgot to ___ because ___.
I'll never forget ___ing ___.
Did you forget to ___ or did you just forget ___ing it?
Having forgotten to ___, I had to ___.
Real World Usage
Sorry, I forgot to reply!
I'll never forget leading my first team project.
Did you forget to include your order number?
Never forget chasing sunsets in Bali.
I forgot taking the pill this morning, so I took another one.
Don't forget to check your gate number.
의도와 기억
forgot to do로, 과거에 경험했지만 기억나지 않는 것은 forgot doing으로 생각해 보세요. I forgot to send the reportvs.
I forgot sending the report.
결과의 차이
I forgot sending the reportwhen you meant
I forgot to send the report.
'Remember'와의 연관성
I remember to lock the doorvs.
I remember locking the door.
사과와 책임
I forgot to do Xvs.
I forgot doing X.
'To'에 집중
Smart Tips
Always use 'to'. You are apologizing for a task you didn't do.
Use 'never forget' + '-ing'. It sounds much more natural than 'I will always remember'.
Use the gerund in a question to ask about the memory itself.
Use 'neglected to' instead of 'forgot to' to sound more professional and precise.
발음
Reduction of 'to'
In 'forget to', the 'to' is often reduced to a schwa /tə/.
Linking 'forget' and '-ing'
When using the gerund, the final 't' of 'forget' or 'forgot' often links to the vowel of the next word.
Emphasis on 'never'
I will NEVER forget meeting her.
Conveys strong emotional significance.
암기하기
기억법
To is for 'To-Do'; Ing is for 'In the past'.
시각적 연상
Imagine a 'To-Do' list with an empty checkbox for 'Forget to'. Imagine a photo album for 'Forget doing'.
Rhyme
If there's a task you didn't do, use the word that starts with TO. If it's a memory from the spring, use the word that ends in ING.
Story
John had a busy day. He forgot TO buy a ring (so he had no gift). Later, he forgot BUYING the ring (he found it in his pocket and was surprised).
Word Web
챌린지
Write down three things you forgot to do yesterday, and one amazing thing you will never forget doing in your life.
문화 노트
British speakers often use 'forgotten' as the past participle, but in casual speech, 'forgot' is sometimes heard. 'I've forgot to do it' is common in some dialects but considered non-standard.
American English strictly uses 'forgotten' as the past participle. 'I've forgotten to...' is the standard way to express a recent missed task.
In corporate settings, saying 'I forgot to...' is seen as taking responsibility. Saying 'I forgot doing...' can sound like you are disorganized or have a poor memory for your own actions.
The word 'forget' comes from Old English 'forgytan', meaning 'to lose grip on' or 'to let go'.
대화 시작하기
What is one thing you always forget to do in the morning?
Tell me about a trip you will never forget taking.
Have you ever forgotten to bring something important to an exam or interview?
Do you ever forget doing something, like locking the door, and have to check twice?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Don't ___ your umbrella, it's going to rain later.
Choose the correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
She completely forgot to watch that movie, even though she saw it last week.
Translate into English: 'Olvidé cerrar la puerta con llave.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Score: /4
연습 문제
8 exercisesI forgot ___ (buy) a gift for the party, so I had to stop at the store.
Which sentence implies the person has a memory of the event?
Find and fix the mistake:
I'll never forget to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time.
I didn't remember to lock the door.
'I forgot to pay the bill' means the bill is still unpaid.
A: Why are you late? B: Sorry, I forgot ___ (set) my alarm.
1. I forgot to call. 2. I forgot calling.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesDon't ___ your umbrella, it's going to rain later.
Choose the correct sentence:
I must have forgotten to download that game because I just found it in my downloads folder.
Translate into English: 'Olvidé enviar el correo electrónico.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the phrases with the correct meaning:
I always ___ my phone at home, it's so frustrating!
Choose the correct sentence:
I'm so sorry, I totally forgot taking out the trash today.
Translate into English: '¿Olvidaste apagar las luces?'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
I can't believe I forgot to visit London last summer, even though I have photos!
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Yes, 'forget about' is usually followed by a noun or a gerund. 'I forgot about the meeting' or 'I forgot about calling him.' It often means you stopped thinking about it.
It is less common than 'forgot to'. Most people use it with 'never' for big memories. In other cases, they might say 'I don't remember doing that' instead.
'Forgot' is for a specific time in the past. 'Have forgotten' is used when the forgetting still affects the present (e.g., 'I've forgotten my password').
This is very rare and usually grammatically incorrect. Stick to 'I forgot doing' for past actions.
Yes! 'Remember to do' is for tasks, and 'Remember doing' is for memories. They are perfect mirrors of each other.
For tasks: 'I didn't forget to...'. For memories: 'I'll never forget...ing'.
'Forgot' is the past tense. 'Forgotten' is the past participle used with 'have' or in the passive voice.
This is common in casual speech, but technically you should use 'left' when you mention a place. 'I left my keys at home' is better.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
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In Other Languages
Olvidar + infinitivo / Olvidar que...
Spanish lacks a direct gerund equivalent for memories.
Oublier de + infinitif / Oublier d'avoir + participe passé
French uses the infinitive for both, just in different tenses.
Vergessen zu + Infinitiv / Vergessen, dass...
German does not use the gerund (-ing) form at all.
〜するのを忘れる / 〜したのを忘れる
Japanese changes the tense of the internal verb (present vs past).
Nasiya an + subjunctive / Nasiya annahu + past
Arabic uses clause structures rather than simple verb endings.
忘记 (Wàngjì) + Verb
Chinese relies on aspect markers rather than infinitive/gerund distinctions.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
관련 동영상
PARTLY CLOUDY
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