“I think they forgot about my order”: forget about or forget to?

Your coffee is twenty minutes late. To complain politely in English, you need two things: the past form forgot and the difference between forget about and forget to.

The phrase: I think they forgot about my order

This is the English for «Я думаю, вони забули про моє замовлення». I think softens the statement, forgot is the past of forget, and about my order names what was forgotten.

• I think they forgot about my order.The standard translation of «Я думаю, вони забули про моє замовлення».
• I think they forgot my drink, too.Same pattern; about is optional here.
• I think the waiter forgot our table.The subject changes, the structure stays the same.

In Ukrainian, «я думаю» can soften a statement, and so can I think: you suggest that a mistake happened instead of accusing anyone.

Forget about or forget to?

Both structures are correct, but they are used differently:

• forget (about) + noun — not remember, or fail to deal with something: They forgot my order. The meaning is almost the same with or without about.
• forget to + verb — forget to do an action: They forgot to bring the bill. Never add about here.
• forget about + -ing — forget a task you had to do: I forgot about calling the bank.

• They forgot to bring the bill.The action (bringing the bill) didn’t happen.
• They forgot about my order.The order was not dealt with.

Past Simple or Present Perfect?

Use they forgot for a finished event: the order should have come earlier. Use they’ve forgotten when the result matters now, for example when you realise nobody remembers you are waiting. For more on this difference, see I’ve heard that.

• I think they forgot — it’s been half an hour.A finished event with a clear time frame.
• I think they’ve forgotten all about me.The result matters now: nobody is coming.

Common mistakes

If you are still ordering, it helps to know lesson 72 too: Can I get a latte to go, please? Here are the typical mistakes with this phrase:

• They forget my order → They forgot my order: the past tense of forget is forgot.
• They forgot of my order → no of: say forgot about or just forgot.
• They forgot about to bring it → They forgot to bring it: after forget to, use the base verb.
• A Ukrainian-style «I think not they forgot» → I don’t think they forgot: the negation goes with I think.

Check yourself

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