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

53,033 views ・ 2015-04-30

Simple English Videos


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

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What are you doing? Oh, I'm trying to learn to touch type.
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But what are all the sticky notes for? Oh, I'm trying not to look at the keys. Good luck with that
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The verb 'try' can be followed by an infinitive
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form or a gerund and the two structures have very similar meanings.
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In fact they're so similar that in some situations you can use either.
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Have you spoken to Rachel? No I tried calling her but the line was busy.
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Have you spoken to Rachel? No I tried to call her but the line was busy.
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In both cases Jay wanted to speak to Rachel. 'I tried calling' means he thought phoning
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might be the way to do it. I tried to call' means he made an effort - made
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an attempt to speak to her. So the difference is very subtle - very small.
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'Try doing' is about getting results, achieving a successful outcome.
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Try to do' is about making an effort. I'm trying to change this lightbulb but I can't reach.
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. We often use 'try to do' when we think something is hard.
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We're trying to do this jigsaw, but it's very difficult.
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What's a frog's favourite drink? Jay, I'm busy.
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Croak-a-Cola. Did you know cows have four stomachs?
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02:03
Jay, I'm trying to work.
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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,
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we use 'try doing'. What do you think? It's a bit tasteless.
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Try adding some salt. OK. Adding salt is easy, so the issue here is
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will salt make it better. Try doing' is about experimenting to find
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something that works. The television's not working. Try plugging it in. Oh.
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We often use 'trying doing' when there's a
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problem and we're suggesting a possible solution. Coming? I want to finish my coffee. It's hot.
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Try putting some ice in it. Good idea. I do wish you'd try going out with some of
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the other boys as well as Geoff. Why? Mother I like Geoff a lot.
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I know dear. I like him too. But after all, there are other boys in the world.
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So 'try to do' - make an effort. 'Try doing' - experiment. You can see both forms in this
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sentence here. Learning to touch type is hard. You have to
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make an effort. Perhaps sticky notes will help, or perhaps not. They're an experiment.
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One last example. What are you doing?
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I'm trying to get a paper ball into Kathy's trash can. Oh well done! Can I try? Sure. OK. Here we go.
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Try rolling it into a smaller ball. OK.
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