"forget" or "don't remember"

[GeneD]

I don't remember her name.
I forget her name.

Is the second sentence okay? If so, are the two interchangeable?

 

[GoesStation]

Yes and yes. It's probably more common in American English to say "I can't remember her name," but either of your sentences is correct and natural.

 

[Rover_KE]

Also: 'I have forgotten her name'.

 

[Tdol]

It's probably more common in American English to say "I can't remember her name,"

It's a common way of saying it in BrE too.

 

[emsr2d2]

My late grandfather (born 1921) always used to say "I forget" instead of "I can't remember". I don't think I hear it much these days.

 

[GeneD]

I forget her name.
I've forgotten her name.

Do the sentences above sound equally natural to the modern-day English speaker? Or is one of them more preferable? Or had I better stick to "can't remember" instead?

 

[emsr2d2]

I find "I've forgotten her name" and "I can't remember her name" most natural. "I don't remember her name" would be my next preference. I would understand "I forget her name", of course, but it would sound old-fashioned.

 

[GoesStation]

I forget her name.
I've forgotten her name.

Do the sentences above sound equally natural to the modern-day English speaker? Or is one of them more preferable? Or had I better stick to "can't remember" instead?

Either one is fine in American English. We're more likely to use the second if forgetting her name is unexpected: ​We had a passionate love affair in college. I can't believe I've forgotten her name!