Verb + -ING vs Verb + TO + Infinitive
📌 Lesson Contents
🎯 Lesson goal
In this lesson you will learn to choose correctly 📖 between verb + -ing and verb + to + infinitive after some English verbs. You will see when to use each one 🧠, which verbs are the most common ✍️ and you will get real practice with the quiz at the bottom of the page! 🚀
🌟 What do Verb + -ing and Verb + to + infinitive mean?
- Verb + -ing ➔ a verb in the -ing form (the gerund) after another verb. 🖊️
- Verb + to + infinitive ➔ to + base verb (the infinitive) after another verb. 🛣️
🔍 When do we use Verb + -ing?
✅ After verbs about actions that are done, in progress or general.
✅ It is often about likes, habits, passions and feelings.
Examples of verbs that take -ING:
- enjoy (find it fun)
- like (😊)
- love (❤️)
- hate (😡)
- finish (reach the end of something)
- stop (not do it any more)
Example sentences:
- I enjoy reading books. ➔ (I like it.) 📚
- She finished doing her homework. ➔ (It is done.) ✅
🔍 When do we use Verb + to + infinitive?
✅ After verbs about decisions, wishes, intentions or future plans.
✅ It is about actions that will happen later or have not started yet.
Examples of verbs that take TO + infinitive:
- want (🙏)
- need (it is necessary)
- decide (make a choice)
- plan (📅)
- hope (🤞)
- learn (🎓)
Example sentences:
- I want to travel the world. ➔ (This is my wish.) ✈️
- He needs to study harder. ➔ (It is necessary.) 📖
🧩 Summary table – Verb + -ing / Verb + to + infinitive
| Main verb | Structure to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| like, enjoy, love, hate, finish, stop | verb + -ing | I like swimming. 🏊♂️ |
| want, need, decide, hope, plan, learn | to + base verb | She wants to buy a car. 🚗 |
❓ Basic doubts cleared up
- Are there verbs that accept both?
✔️ Yes, some verbs (like like, start, continue) can be followed by -ing or to + infinitive without changing the meaning much! - Does the form change the meaning with some verbs?
✔️ Sometimes, yes! E.g. stop smoking ➔ (quit the habit for good) vs stop to smoke ➔ (pause what you are doing to have a cigarette). - When do we use the base form without “to”?
✔️ Mainly after modal verbs (can, must, should). With verbs like want, need, decide we always need “to”!
🚫 Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake ❌ | Correct ✅ |
|---|---|
| I enjoy to play football. | I enjoy playing football. |
| She wants going to Spain. | She wants to go to Spain. |
| He finished to work late. | He finished working late. |
Gap Fill & Translation Exercises
Test yourself! In the first 15 sentences, complete with the correct form of the verb (e.g. ‘reading’ or ‘to read’). In the last 5, say the sentences in English from the situation given.