Help about sentences (Try to ring the bell vs Try ringing the bell)

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello everybody,

I really need your help to understand the difference between these two sentences:

  • Try to ring the bell
  • Try ringing the bell

What functions do the following sentences express?

  • Could you send me a quote by fax?
  • Do you mind if I smoke?
  • I’m afraid he’s not in the office.
  • Would you like a coffee?

Thanks in advance for your precious help

Sannie

2

  • Try to ring the bell: The action (to ring the bell) hasn’t yet been taken (but try to do so)

  • Try ringing the bell: The action (ringing the bell) has already been taken (ringing the bell is performed)

  • Could you send me a quote by fax? = Could you fax me your offer?

  • Do you mind if I smoke? = May I smoke (a cigarette)?

  • I’m afraid he’s not in the office. = He is absent from his office.

  • Would you like a coffee? = May I bring you a cup of coffee?

3

Hi, Haihao.

I’d like to take issue with you on this one.

In my book, “try doing something” means “try some action as a means to the end”.
For example:
–My car doesn’t start !
–Try turning the ignition key

Conversely, “try to do something” implies that the action is your goal.
–I know I cannot walk in this blizzard
–Have you tried to (walk)?

4

Hi Sonnete,

If I could add a little more to what Haihao has said about ‘try’.

‘Try to do’ basically means ‘make an effort to do something’. ‘Try doing’ suggests attempting to do something in the way of an experiment.

A I tried all day to get my computer to work but failed miserably.

B Have you tried turning it off, leaving it for five minutes and then turning it on again?

Alan

5

I really need your help to understand the difference between these two sentences:

  • Try to ring the bell
  • Try ringing the bell

To me, it’s not that complicated.

Try to ring the bell - suggests a single action at the moment of speaking
Try ringing the bell - suggest the use of a regular/common activity in a certain context (below, the action of “ringing the bell”).

Which of these sound odd?

Try to ring the bell, that often works.
Try ringing the bell, that often works.

To ring the bell often works.
Ringing the bell often works.

6

Thank you all, Alan, Alex and Molly. Your comments are really of much insight to me.

7

Both sentences are acceptable, but the latter is much better. It means experiment, it may help you (or not - you’ll see in the end). Try to ring means efforts or attempts to see if you can do this (I think, physically in this sentence). And I don’t think that ringing the bell is a regular activity, just an activity :slight_smile: . This question (try to do or doing smth, forget/remember to do/doing and especially stop to do/doing, etc) often makes my students confused (I tried to explain it to them, but during their exam they forgot all about it. ) :slight_smile:

8

Hm. not sure.

How about here?

Try to ring the bell yourself, that often works.
Try ringing the bell yourself, that often works.

9

:slight_smile:

10

I’ve changed my first note :slight_smile: not to sound categoric.