'Try to do' or 'Try doing'? Learn English with Simple English Videos

52,887 views ・ 2015-04-30

Simple English Videos


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

00:03
What are you doing? Oh, I'm trying to learn to touch type.
0
3239
4501
00:07
But what are all the sticky notes for? Oh, I'm trying not to look at the keys. Good luck with that
1
7740
7120
00:23
The verb 'try' can be followed by an infinitive
2
23160
2900
00:26
form or a gerund and the two structures have very similar meanings.
3
26220
5330
00:31
In fact they're so similar that in some situations you can use either.
4
31550
5980
00:39
Have you spoken to Rachel? No I tried calling her but the line was busy.
5
39540
7000
00:48
Have you spoken to Rachel? No I tried to call her but the line was busy.
6
48379
7000
00:56
In both cases Jay wanted to speak to Rachel. 'I tried calling' means he thought phoning
7
56570
7000
01:04
might be the way to do it. I tried to call' means he made an effort - made
8
64250
6320
01:10
an attempt to speak to her. So the difference is very subtle - very small.
9
70570
6880
01:17
'Try doing' is about getting results, achieving a successful outcome.
10
77450
6209
01:23
Try to do' is about making an effort. I'm trying to change this lightbulb but I can't reach.
11
83659
8240
01:32
. We often use 'try to do' when we think something is hard.
12
92080
5180
01:38
We're trying to do this jigsaw, but it's very difficult.
13
98380
4280
01:42
What's a frog's favourite drink? Jay, I'm busy.
14
102680
9580
01:52
Croak-a-Cola. Did you know cows have four stomachs?
15
112460
10280
02:03
Jay, I'm trying to work.
16
123040
7520
02:14
So we use 'try to' when an action itself is hard. When the action is easy but we don't know if it will achieve the result we want,
17
134420
9320
02:23
we use 'try doing'. What do you think? It's a bit tasteless.
18
143740
7000
02:32
Try adding some salt. OK. Adding salt is easy, so the issue here is
19
152080
6760
02:38
will salt make it better. Try doing' is about experimenting to find
20
158840
7000
02:46
something that works. The television's not working. Try plugging it in. Oh.
21
166070
9380
02:55
We often use 'trying doing' when there's a
22
175780
2920
02:58
problem and we're suggesting a possible solution. Coming? I want to finish my coffee. It's hot.
23
178700
7000
03:07
Try putting some ice in it. Good idea. I do wish you'd try going out with some of
24
187260
5530
03:12
the other boys as well as Geoff. Why? Mother I like Geoff a lot.
25
192790
4300
03:17
I know dear. I like him too. But after all, there are other boys in the world.
26
197090
7000
03:24
So 'try to do' - make an effort. 'Try doing' - experiment. You can see both forms in this
27
204310
7000
03:33
sentence here. Learning to touch type is hard. You have to
28
213240
5140
03:38
make an effort. Perhaps sticky notes will help, or perhaps not. They're an experiment.
29
218380
7000
03:46
One last example. What are you doing?
30
226990
10840
03:58
I'm trying to get a paper ball into Kathy's trash can. Oh well done! Can I try? Sure. OK. Here we go.
31
238040
15560
04:15
Try rolling it into a smaller ball. OK.
32
255200
4700
About this website

This site will introduce you to YouTube videos that are useful for learning English. You will see English lessons taught by top-notch teachers from around the world. Double-click on the English subtitles displayed on each video page to play the video from there. The subtitles scroll in sync with the video playback. If you have any comments or requests, please contact us using this contact form.

https://forms.gle/WvT1wiN1qDtmnspy7