try to do/manage to do

try to do 是指“试图做某事”，至于是否做成了某事，它是管不着的。例如：

1. He is trying to give up smoking. 他在试图(设法)戒烟。

2. They tried to prevent the plane from landing on the runway. (CGEL) 他们企图阻止这架飞机在跑道上降落。

tried to do 常用于“试图做某事,但没有做成”的场合。

1. He tried to get the material, but failed. 他试图弄到那些材料，但没有成功。

2. We tried to stop him smoking in bed but he would do it. (PEG). 我们大家试图阻止他在床上吸烟,但他就是不听。

3. I tried to stop her, but she's on her way into the gallery. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 我尽最大的努力阻止她，但她现在已经朝画廊这边走来了。（《达·芬奇密码》）

manage to do 表示“(设法)做成某事”, 它总是含有“成功”“办成”的意思。

1. They managed to fulfil the task ahead of time. 他们设法提前完成了任务。

2. It was very dirty, but he managed to clean it. (Wilde) 那个东西很脏,但是他设法把它擦干净了。

3. How he managed to find us is beyond me. (EED) 我不明白他到底是怎样找到我们的。try to do/try doing

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”，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 $\$left\{ \begin{array}{l} to bribe the jailor. [1] \\ bribing the jailor. [2] \end{array} \right. (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 lesson. 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。