forget
forget — verb
1. When facts, events, or skills no longer stay in your mind and you cannot bring t
When facts, events, or skills no longer stay in your mind and you cannot bring them back when you need them.
Wren forgot her cousin's birthday last week and felt terrible about it.
forget + noun phrase
Eli completely forgot that the post office closes at noon on Saturdays.
forget + that-clause
Adisa forgot where he had left the car keys and searched for nearly an hour.
Anna never forgets a face and recognised the visitor after ten years.
The children forgot about their chores once the cartoon started on television.
- fail to recall
more formal; used in writing or careful speech
- slip one's mind
informal idiom; only for things you meant to do or say, not for skills
文法句型
forget + noun phrase
forget + that-clause
forget + wh-clause
forget + about + noun phrase
forget + -ing form (gerund)
常見錯誤
2. When you intend to carry out an action but the thought leaves your mind before y
When you intend to carry out an action but the thought leaves your mind before you can do it.
Eli forgot to lock the front door before leaving for work this morning.
forget + to-infinitive for an uncompleted intention
Sayaka forgot to buy milk on the way home from the gym last night.
Did you forget to water the plants while the neighbours were on holiday?
The driver forgot to check the tyre pressure before the long trip began.
- neglect
implies some responsibility or duty; more formal and slightly stronger
- remember to
the direct opposite: you keep the intention in mind and carry it out
文法句型
forget + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Do not confuse with 'forget + -ing' (gerund), which means you did something but no longer remember doing it. Example: 'I forgot locking the door' means you locked it but have no memory of doing so.
常見錯誤
3. To unintentionally leave an object in a place because you do not remember that y
To unintentionally leave an object in a place because you do not remember that you need to bring it with you.
Sayaka forgot her umbrella on the bus and had to buy a new one.
Ramón forgot his passport at the hotel and missed his flight to Japan.
forget + noun phrase + at [location]
Christopher forgot his lunch box on the kitchen counter this morning.
The children forgot their raincoats at school and got soaked walking home.
- leave behind
more neutral; can be intentional or unintentional
- leave
simpler; does not specify forgetfulness
- bring
the intended action that was not carried out
- remember to take
actively keeping the object in mind
文法句型
forget + noun phrase
forget + noun phrase + prepositional phrase
常見錯誤
4. To have the ability to remember a person's appearance or name after meeting them
To have the ability to remember a person's appearance or name after meeting them only once or briefly.
My grandmother never forgets a face and still recalls neighbours from sixty years ago.
negative construction: 'never forget a face'
Omar claims he never forgets a name once someone tells him at a party.
Devika has a gift for remembering people and says she never forgets a student.
The doorman never forgets a regular guest and always greets them by name.
- recognise instantly
focuses on the moment of seeing again, not on the general ability
文法句型
forget + noun phrase (typically a face, name, or person)
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the negative: 'never forget a face' or 'don't forget a face.' The subject is a person with an unusually good memory for people.
5. Used when you are listing things and want to add something else to the list, giv
Used when you are listing things and want to add something else to the list, giving it special emphasis.
The resort has a golf course, a spa, and not forgetting a children's club.
fixed phrase: 'not forgetting' to add to a list
Mayor Diya thanked the teachers, the volunteers, and not forgetting the kitchen staff who fed everyone.
The package includes three novels, a notebook, and not forgetting a set of pens.
We visited the museum, the old market, and not forgetting the famous harbour bridge.
- including
neutral and more common; no special emphasis
- not to mention
similar function but slightly more formal
文法句型
not forgetting + noun phrase
用法筆記
Only used in the pattern 'and not forgetting + noun phrase.' This is a set expression; you cannot use 'forget' alone in this sense without 'not'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Not forgetting' is used ONLY to add items to a positive list. It cannot mean 'don't forget' as in 'you should remember.'
6. To deliberately stop letting a person, a past event, or a problem occupy your th
To deliberately stop letting a person, a past event, or a problem occupy your thoughts so you can move forward.
After the argument, Devika tried to forget the whole thing and move on with her life.
Let us forget about work and enjoy the weekend together as a family.
forget + about + noun phrase for letting go
Élise found it hard to forget the sad look on the old woman's face.
Try to forget that the exam is tomorrow and get some sleep instead.
- put out of one's mind
more deliberate and active; emphasises effort
- let go of
broader; can be about emotions or attachments, not just thoughts
- dwell on
keep thinking about something repeatedly
- obsess over
stronger; cannot stop thinking about something
文法句型
forget + noun phrase
forget + about + noun phrase
forget + that-clause
用法筆記
Frequently used in imperatives ('forget about it', 'forget it') or with 'try to' to suggest a deliberate mental effort. Distinguish from sense 1: here the emphasis is on the conscious choice to stop thinking, not on a memory failure.
7. You say this to make someone stop talking about a subject, to show a suggestion
You say this to make someone stop talking about a subject, to show a suggestion is impossible, or to say a matter is no longer worth attention — often when you feel irritated.
Anong started to explain, but Wren said, "Forget it — I do not want to hear excuses."
imperative 'forget it' to dismiss or end a topic
"Forget it," said the manager when the clerk tried to apologise again for the error.
Forget finding a taxi at this hour — the last train has already left the station.
Just forget what I said earlier; I was tired and did not mean any of it.
- never mind
softer and more polite; less annoyed
- drop it
stronger; implies the speaker is irritated and wants to end the topic
- skip it
informal; suggests moving on to something else
文法句型
forget it
forget + noun phrase
forget + (about) + -ing clause
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 6 (PUT OUT OF MIND): sense 7 is a conversational tool addressed to someone else ('forget it'), while sense 6 is about your own mental effort. Sense 7 often appears as a complete utterance in the imperative.
常見錯誤
❌ Using 'forget it' when you mean 'I don't remember' instead of 'never mind' can confuse the listener.
8. When strong emotions such as anger or excitement push aside your normal self-con
When strong emotions such as anger or excitement push aside your normal self-control, causing you to do or say something socially unacceptable — like shouting or speaking rudely.
The coach forgot himself and shouted at the referee during the final match.
reflexive: 'forget oneself' for losing composure
Evelyn was so offended that she nearly forgot herself and said something unkind.
I apologise for raising my voice earlier — I completely forgot myself for a moment.
During the heated debate, the politician forgot herself and made a personal attack.
- lose one's temper
specifically about anger; more common in everyday speech
- lose control of oneself
broader; can apply to any emotion, not just anger
- keep one's composure
maintain calm and appropriate behaviour
文法句型
forget oneself
用法筆記
Always used reflexively as 'forget oneself.' The subject is always a person who loses composure. Common after conflict, shock, or extreme excitement. Never use with a direct object.