【问】 try to do与try doing在意义上有何区别?
 【答】 英语里有几个动词(remember，forget，stop，go on)，其后跟动词不定式或动名词，意义是不同的。try也属于此种动词之列。try to do sth.是指“试图”、“想要”、“设法”、“努力”去做某事，实际上做与不做，做成未做成，视情况而定，而try doing sth.则是指实际上真的“试”、“试用”、“试验”(也就是说动作真的进行了或正在进行)，成败得视结果而定。R.Quirk等人举了一个浅显易懂的例子：
 Sheila tried (CGEL)
 他们解释说：“例(1)表示Sheila企图贿赂狱卒，但并没有实现这一动作;例(2)则表示她确实贿赂了狱卒，但不一定得到了她所需要的东西。”
 通过下面的实例，我们可以很容易地掌握try to do的含义：
 I tried to say something，but my mouth was full of cotton-wool. (New Concept English，Book 2，L. 48)
 我试图说些什么，但我嘴里满是药棉。
 请注意下列各例中try to do与try doing含义上的区别：
 1. I will work so hard，and try to improve. (Wilde)
 我将勤奋工作，设法做得好一些。
 2. He tried to break away from me. (Dreiser).
 他设法摆脱我。
 3. Scientists are now trying to discover if this is possible.
 科学家们现在正试图发现这是否是可能的。
 4. Then it tried to fly away，but one wing was broken. (VOA)
 它想飞走，但是有一只翅膀受伤了。
 5. It almost seemed as if the good man were trying to teach us all he knew at this last les-son.
 这个好心人仿佛要在这最后一堂课里把他的全部知识都教给我们。
 6. “Very well，there's the ax. Go ahead and try cutting and see what you can do.”(VOA)
 “好，斧头就在那儿。去劈劈看，看你干得怎么样。”
 7. She tried writing out her views. (Dreiser)
 她试着把她的看法写出来。
 8. Have you tried sleeping on your back as a cure for snoring? (ALD)
 你试没试过仰面睡觉来治打鼾的毛病?
 9. You really must try to overcome your shyness. (LEG)
 你确实须要努力克服你的腼腆。
 10. Try holding your breath to stop sneezing. (LEG)
 试着屏住呼吸以止住打喷嚏。
 请做下面的英语试题：
 1. “Maybe I can persuade Larry to study more. ”
 “There is no point____to persuade him to do anything. ”
 A. to try B. in trying C. of trying D. if you try(TOEFL，72. 6)
 2. “You haven't gotten the textbook for my chemistry course yet. ”
 “I know，and we_______to get it for the last five weeks. ”
 A. will have been trying B. will be trying
 C. had tried D. have been trying(TOEFL，73. 3)
 3. If you can't turn the key，try________some oil in the lock.
 A. being put B. putting C. put D. to put
 4. Fra Diavolo， an Italian bandit， real name was Michele Pezza， inNaples in 1806 for having tried Calabria to (TOEFL， 78.2)