"try to do something" and "try doing something"

[Tofu]

I'm back. I thought about "try to call someone" many times after clearing my head, but I haven't reached the conclusion yet.


http://tinyurl.com/2a3vmwu
- I tried to call him, but I didn't have a good connection...
- I tried to call him, but didn't get through...
- I tried to call him, but all I got was busy signals...
- I tried to call him but there was no response...

http://tinyurl.com/2dq84xd
- I tried to call him, but no one answered...
- I tried to call him, but I couldn't get a signal from his line...
- I tried to call him, but he wouldn't answer...
- I tried to call him, but couldn't get an answer...

http://tinyurl.com/267mj73
- I tried to call him, but couldn't get in touch with him...
- I tried to call him, but he didn't answer the phone...



If the speaker in each example above used this phone, it seems like he or she picked up the receiver and dialed the other party's number, doesn't it?

[Alan]

Yes !!!
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English as a Second Language
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[Mordant]

Lol at both Alan and Tofu.

[Tofu]

I tried calling him, but...
What did the speaker did, then?

[Beeesneees]

What did the speaker do?

He picked up the receiver handset and dialled the number. He heard a busy (engaged) tone. He replaced the handset.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Our Tort System]

Hello Mordant and Alan and Bev

This topic piqued my curiosity, I didn't think it was so complicated.
Can we sum up the usages of "try + ing" and "try + to" with this example?

A: I tried to get rid of the vermin in my house, but to no avail!
B: What did you do to that end?
A: I tried setting up traps all over the house to get rid of them.
B: Try buying an expensive poison, it should help.

Thanks!
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If it's not easy, don't do it!
That's how I got where I am.

[Tofu]

[Beeesneees]

No difference.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Tofu]

I tried to call her, but I couldn't find my cell phone.
This sentence doesn't make sense, doesn't it?

[Beeesneees]

It does make sense if that was the only phone available to the speaker.

I can understand your confusion here. To be more accurate, the sentence ought to be 'I meant to call her' but lots of native speakers would use 'tried' in the sense of 'meaning to', and the phrase is perfectly understood in this way.

'I tried to call her' in this instance would mean the speaker thought about calling her, decided he would call her at that point, looked for his phone to call her but couldn't find it, so failed in his attempt.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Tofu]

Oh, no. My confusion is growing bigger and bigger.

[Mordant]

Tofu, try to make a post.

Now, if you successfully reply, does that mean you didn't try?

[Alan]

Hi Tofu,

You seem to be leading everyone a merry dance. What is there about 'try to call someone' that you find so hard to grasp?

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms