Mastering the Grammar of 'Try' in Advice-Giving

In this episode of Learning English Grammar, hosts Pippa and Phil explore the nuanced usage of the verb "try" when providing life advice. By analyzing real-world conversations and expert explanations from guest Georgie, the podcast clarifies how the grammatical structure following "try" changes the intended meaning and tone of a sentence.

The Three Primary Structures of 'Try'

When offering suggestions or advice, English speakers commonly use three distinct patterns after the verb "try." Understanding these is essential for both formal and informal communication:

1. Try + Infinitive (to + verb): This is the standard way to express an attempt to do something that might be difficult or requires effort. For instance, when Beth says, "you should try to find activities that you know you will enjoy," she is suggesting an action that requires a conscious effort to achieve. Similarly, the advice "try to see the funny side of things" implies that maintaining a positive perspective can be challenging, thus necessitating the infinitive form.

2. Try + -ing form: This structure is used when suggesting an action as an experiment—doing something just to see what happens or to observe how it affects one's feelings. As Neil illustrates with his father’s advice, "Just try waiting for the next one instead," the act of waiting is not difficult, but rather a strategy to reduce stress. By using "try waiting," the speaker suggests testing a new behavior to see if it improves the situation.

3. Try + and + verb: This is a common, informal construction used frequently in spoken English. As Beth notes, "you should try and put yourself in the other person's shoes." Georgie clarifies that this is a valid alternative to "try to," provided that the verb remains in the base form (i.e., one should avoid saying "tries and" or "tried and"). However, it is explicitly noted that this form is best reserved for casual conversation and should be avoided in formal writing.

Distinguishing Intent: Effort vs. Experimentation

One of the most valuable takeaways from the discussion is the distinction between effort and experimentation. When a task is inherently difficult—like "staying calm"—one should use the infinitive: "try to stay calm." In this context, there is a possibility of failure, and the advice acknowledges the struggle involved.

Conversely, when the advice is meant to encourage a person to test a new approach to see if it yields a positive result, the -ing form is the appropriate choice. As the hosts demonstrate in their practice segment, when someone wants to "take up running" but finds it hard, the advice is "try doing very short runs first." Here, the focus is not on the difficulty of the task itself, but on the outcome of the experiment.

Practical Application

To solidify these concepts, the hosts engage in a practical exercise. When faced with the challenge of being "really busy at work," the suggested advice is to "try and do all the hardest things first." This highlights the versatility of the informal "try and" structure in everyday problem-solving. Furthermore, the advice to "try to find a great podcast" to learn a language correctly uses the infinitive, as language acquisition is recognized as an effortful, ongoing process.

In summary, whether you are suggesting a difficult goal or a simple experiment, the verb "try" acts as a flexible tool in the English language. By choosing between the infinitive, the gerund (-ing), or the informal "try and," speakers can precisely calibrate the tone and intent of their advice.