try后接不定式與接動名詞

■try to do sth 的意思是：設法做某事，想方設法做某事。如：

We must try to improve our service. 我們必須設法提高服務質量。

Parents try to cure their children of bad habits. 父母設法糾正孩子們的不良習慣。

Try to be nice to my father when he visits. 我父親到這里來時要盡量對他好些。

You really must try to overcome your shyness 你確實需要努力克服你的靦腆。

You shouldn’t try to leave the restaurant without paying. 你不應該試圖不付賬就離開飯店。

I try to turn out one room every month if I have time.  我盡量在有工夫的時候每個月徹底打掃一個房間。

Don’t spend all your salary. Try to put something by each month.  別把薪水都花了。盡量每個月存下一點。

■try doing sth 的意思是：試著做某事，嘗試著做某事(看有什么效果或看結果如何)。如：

Let’s try knocking at the back door. 咱們敲敲后門試試。

You try teaching 40 noisy children five days a week! 你來試試每周5天教40個吵鬧的孩子!

You were stupid to try climbing up there. You might have killed yourself. 你從那兒往上爬，太蠢了，你可能會摔死的。

I’ll try phoning him, but he may have gone out by now. 我要試著給他打個電話，但他現在可能出去了。

You might try asking your uncle for a job. 你去找你叔父要一份工作吧。

They tried putting wire netting all round the garden. 他們試著用鐵絲網把花園全圍了起來。

I tried imitating his handwriting. 我試著模仿他的筆跡(from www.hz123456.com)。

I tried sending her flowers, writing her letters, giving her presents, but she still wouldn’t speak to me. 我試著給她送花，給她寫信，送她禮物，但她依然不肯跟我說話。

■有的語法學家認為，談論努力做某件困難的事，既可以用 try to do sth，也可以用 try doing sth。如下面的例子摘自《英語用法指南》：

I tried to change the wheel, but my hands were too cold.

I tried changing the wheel, but my hands were too cold.

我試圖換輪子，但兩只手太冷了。