Try to do and Try doing

[CrystalSpringston]

Hi Instructor,
Whether is there any difference between "try to do" and "try doing" in GMAT?
I have an example:

The politics try to establish restrictions on the gas emission by traffic.

the infinitive can represent the intention here.

Can we replace it with try establishing?
If not, why?
Thank you!

[tim]

You don't "try doing" something, you "try to do" something. Don't worry about the reason in this case, just memorize that that's how it is. (This is what idioms are all about!)

[CrystalSpringston]

You don't "try doing" something, you "try to do" something. Don't worry about the reason in this case, just memorize that that's how it is. (This is what idioms are all about!)

OK, thank you. I will go with "try to do sth" alway. It is just something different from what we were taught in school.

[RonPurewal]

well, you could have 'try ___ing', but the meaning would be different.

if THE GOAL is to '____', then you 'try to ____'.
in this case it is not certain whether the subject will successfully '____'.

on the other hand, if '____ing' is a method you're using to try to achieve some goal (and is not the goal itself), then you 'try ____ing' in order to achieve that goal.
here, the subject is definitely able to '____', although it's an open question whether the actual goal will be achieved.

[RonPurewal]

e.g.,

Tomorrow, Ram's five-year-old daughter will try to ride a bicycle.
--> THE GOAL is to ride a bike. it is not certain whether she will succeed.

I will try riding a bicycle to the store, because I don't have the time to walk there.
--> i know how to ride a bike. this isn't the goal. the goal is to get to the store in less time than it would take to go there on foot.
(in this example, 'riding' is no different from any other NOUN representing some method—e.g., I'm going to try the subway.)

[CrystalSpringston]

e.g.,

Tomorrow, Ram's five-year-old daughter will try to ride a bicycle.
--> THE GOAL is to ride a bike. it is not certain whether she will succeed.

I will try riding a bicycle to the store, because I don't have the time to walk there.
--> i know how to ride a bike. this isn't the goal. the goal is to get to the store in less time than it would take to go there on foot.
(in this example, 'riding' is no different from any other NOUN representing some method—e.g., I'm going to try the subway.)

Ron, thanks so much for the elaboration. Now, it is quite clear to me!

[RonPurewal]

you're welcome.