Instructions
After certain verbs we use the -ing form, and after other verbs we use the infinitive. Sometimes we can use either form and there is no change in meaning. Occasionally we can use either form and there is a change in meaning.
So what’s the rule for whether we use the -ing form or the infinitive?
Sorry, there isn’t a rule. You have to learn which verbs go with which pattern.
The verbs followed by -ing include enjoy, mind, stop and recommend.
I told him you really enjoy cooking.
Would you mind helping me?
It didn't stop raining all day yesterday.
Daisy recommends trying Alfie’s tiramisu.
The negative is verb + not + -ing.
Imagine not having pizza! I eat it all the time.
Verbs usually followed by -ing
stop finish imagine suggest recommend avoid mind miss risk enjoy
I thought you could say: 'I recommend that you see that film'?
Yes, you’re right, you can. But we’re not looking at the more complex patterns with that or an object today.
OK, what about the verbs followed by the infinitive?
These include decide, want, promise, plan and forget.
She decided to go with Elliot instead.
I wanted to visit Rome.
She promised to take me there.
I planned to go to some real Italian restaurants.
She didn’t forget to phone.
The negative is verb + not + infinitive.
They decided not to make pizza.
Here are more verbs that are usually followed by the infinitive:
hope offer fail agree forget manage learn afford arrange ask expect would like decide plan promise want invite
What about the verbs that can be followed by either form?
These include start, begin, continue and bother.
It started raining. or It started to rain.
Don’t bother waiting for me. or Don’t bother to wait for me.
The verbs like, love and hate can be followed by -ing or the infinitive when talking about repeated actions.
I love reading long novels. (British English or American English)
I love to read long novels. (American English)
But when we are talking about situations, we use the -ing form.
Paulo loves living by the beach in Rio.
Do you like working as a waitress?
So, 'I love learning grammar rules' or 'I love to learn grammar rules' are both OK?
Exactly. But there are some more verbs which can be followed by -ing or the infinitive, but the two options have different meanings, for example remember and stop.
I never remember to lock the door, and my mum gets really angry!
(remember + infinitive = remember something and then do it)
I never remember locking the door, but when I go back and check I always have.
(remember + -ing = remember something you did before)
She stopped smoking three years ago.
(stop + -ing = to not do something any more)
It was hot, so we stopped to have a drink. (we stopped walking)
(stop + infinitive = to not do something in order to do something else)
Let’s stop to have a rest now.
OK, later on you can try to remember all the patterns.
Worksheets and downloads
Transcript
Discussion
Think about your week. What do you enjoy doing? What do you not mind doing? And what do you avoid doing if possible?
Comments
Hi tai,
Yes, that's right. Your first and second phrases have the same meaning in this context. For example:
Customers who wish to exchange products should go to the first floor.
= Customers wishing to exchange products should go to the first floor.
Your third sentence may not be correct. It depends how you continue the sentence.
Best wishes, Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens team)
Thank you a lot. That is helpful information
I love watching TV.and going to cinema. I also love reading books. but I don' like the other things
I enjoy dating with beautiful grils and have fun but I hate grils who get jealous easly. :)
Sometimes I hear my friends saying : you are going to be mad for grils but don't care what they whispering behind me. I enjoy to see my friends laughing because we use to joke all time.
I'm only trying to practise in my english that why I wrote a little joy.
Thanks , (LearnEnglish Teens)
we know that, the meaning of gerund(verb +ing) and infinitive(to+verb) are under the segment of noun.but they are kind of non-finite verbs.then,,what parts of speech they are?
Hi efty! Quite right, gerunds and infinitives can work like nouns. For example:
Watching films at home is cheaper than going to the cinema.
Playing the violin is difficult.
To play football professionally is her dream.
We call these nonfinite verbs because they don't have a tense. Some grammar references also say they are nouns, because they name activities. So both of your suggestions are correct! :)
Not all -ing verbs are gerunds, though. In these examples, they are present participles:
I am working.
He was running.
Best wishes,
Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens team)
i want to know that,,,,,,what will we call them?noun or verbs?
Hi efty,
We call them verbs, normally. But it's really useful to know that you can use a gerund in exactly the same way as a noun.
I like chocolate. (=noun)
I like skiing. (=gerund)
Hope that helps!
Joanna
(LearnEnglish Teens team)
Hi Jo, I am new here.I need your help. "I am sorry to disturb you",here "to disturb" used whether as an adjective or adverb?
Hi sam10, In your example, 'disturb' is an action, so it is a verb. Here are some more examples with the verb 'disturb':
Am I disturbing you?
We didn't want to disturb the neighbours.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.
Does that answer your question? Best wishes, Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens team)
thanks
Hi LearnEnglish Team,
Is it correct to say, "I'm inviting you FOR dinner" or should it be, "I'm inviting you TO dinner"? Please help me.
Thanks, Pest
Hi again LearnEnglish Team,
Can someone help me out with my previous question please?
Thanks, Pest
Hi PestR,
You can say both of those. They are both correct.
Unfortunately, we can't always answer individual user's grammar questions immediately. We do our best, but sometimes we're just too busy! Can I recommend www.linguee.com? On this website you can search for a word or phrase and see many examples of how it was translated in different contexts. I find it's better than other translation tools because you can which option really makes sense for what you want to say.
Why don't you try it and come back and tell us what you think? :)
Best wishes,
Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens team)
Hi Joanna,
Thank you very much. I find that website really useful.
Pest
Could you explain me the patterns with 'that' or an object after those verbs?
Hi Monisa! Thanks for your question.
One thing to notice about a couple of verbs on this list - 'recommend' and 'suggest' - is how they work with 'that'. For example, you can say:
Clara's teacher recommends applying for university this year. (General recommendation)
Or
Clara's teacher recommends that she apply for university this year. (Recommendation specifically for Clara)
Notice that it is 'apply' not 'applies' in the second sentence. This is an example of the subjunctive in English. We use this with verbs like insist, demand, recommend, suggest to talk about a situation which is recommended, desirable or demanded. For example:
The headteacher demands that he leave the school at once.
I strongly suggest that you forget all about this episode.
Well, I hope that answers your question!
Best wishes,
Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens)
Thank you very much! That was, indeed, helpful. just another doubt: can these verbs be followed both by an infnitive and an -ing?
Thank you,
Monisa
Glad to hear it was useful! :) In answer to your second question, no - 'suggest' and 'recommend' are both followed by the gerund and can't be followed by the infinitive.
Joanna
(LearnEnglish Teens team)
I enjoy read book, listening to music, and cooking.
I go to school,after doing the homework,play the computer games.
I go to school,read book,listening music and watched TV
I enjoy hanging out with my friends, playing some sport with them or riding roler blades. I also like listening to music, reading books, painting. I watch TV and surf on the internet when I am boring.
I like listening to music
i enjot talking with my friend because i love my friend
İ like reading books in English or listening music in English.
I enjoy talk my friend BECAUSE I like my friends...
I wanna talk about my week although there are ma y mistake in y sentences but.....
Te be honest i really enjoy to study english a d read short story maybe i dont have any talent in english buuuuuuut i am trying and i hope one day i learn englisg well....
My english is ery ery bad and i dont speak even a simple onversation :(
i enjoy talking with my friend because i love my friend and them friendly they nice talking.
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