word choice - "Forgot" vs "Forget"

Is the following correct, or is there more to it?

"I forgot his name" — I knew his name, but I forgot it.

"I forget his name" — I keep forgetting his name. Where using "forget" basically means that you tried to remember this information before as well, but you couldn't then either.

Answer

I forgot his name

means that at some time past, I no longer remembered his name, but leaves open whether I can currently remember it.

I forget his name

can be construed in a couple of different ways:

• I forgot his name and I still can't remember it (but I hope you know who I'm talking about even so).


• I keep on forgetting his name.

Both are valid; the context might disambiguate between the two.