Ing or To

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive
afford hope
agree intend
arrange learn
ask manage
choose offer
decide plan
demand pretend
fail promise
help refuse
Verbs followed by -ing

admit fancy
avoid feel like
can't help finish
can't stand give up
consider imagine
deny involve
dislike keep on
enjoy mind
miss practice
put off risk
suggest
Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing

hate like love prefer
-ing form -ing form -ing form -ing form
She hates cleaning her I like making jam. I love cooking Indian Most people prefer
room. (emphasis on the (emphasis on the food. (emphasis on the watching a film at the
process itself and no experience/action) process itself and cinema rather than on
enjoyment of it)) enjoyment of it) TV. (emphasis on the
process itself and
enjoyment of it)
to-infinitive to-infinitive to-infinitive to-infinitive
I hate to be the only I like to make jam I love to drink juice in We prefer to drive
person to disagree. every year. (a habit or the morning, and tea at during the day whenever
(emphasis more on the lunchtime. (emphasis we can. (emphasis more
preference)
result: I would prefer more on the preference on the result and on the
not to be in that or habit) habit or preference. The
situation.)) speaker doesn’t
necessarily enjoy the
process of driving at any
time of day.)
Hate, like, love, prefer with would or should. When hate, like, love and prefer are
used with would or should, only the to-infinitive is used, not the -ing form:
She’d love to get a job nearer home.
Not: She’d love getting a job nearer home.
Would you like to have dinner with us on Friday?
To-infinitive or -ing form with a change in meaning
go on need remember try
mean regret stop want
begin forget keep
start
- ing form to-infinitive

He went on singing after everyone else had She recited a poem, then went on to sing a
finished. (He continued singing without lovely folk song. (She recited the poem first,
stopping.) then she sang the song.)
Working in London means leaving home at I didn’t mean to make you cry. (I didn’t intend
6.30. (Because I work in London, this is the to make you cry.)
result or consequence.)
She began singing. (When "begin" is used in She is beginning to sing. (When "begin" is
non-continuous tenses, you can either use a used in continuous tenses, an infinitive is used.)
gerund or an infinitive.)
Marge started talking really fast. (When Marge is starting to talk really fast. (When
"start" is used in non-continuous tenses, you "start" is used in continuous tenses, an
can either use a gerund or an infinitive.) infinitive is used.)
The house needs cleaning. (When "need" is He needs to call his boss. ("Need" is usually
used with a gerund, it takes on a passive used with an infinitive or an object + an
meaning. The sentence above means "the house infinitive.)
needs to be cleaned.")
I regretted being late to the interview. We regret to inform you that your position at
("Regret" is normally used with a gerund.) the company is being eliminated. ("Regret" is
sometimes used with infinitives such as "to
inform." In the sentence above, "We regret to
inform you" means "We wish we did not have
to tell you (bad news)."
She forgot reading the book when she was a She forgot to pay the rent this month. (When
kid. (Forget + -ing refer to having (or not forget is used with an infinitive, it means "to
having) a memory of something in the past.) forget that you need to do something." The
sentence above means that she forgot that she
needed to pay the rent.)
I remember watching this film before. Please remember to buy some milk on the way
(Remember + -ing refers to having (or not home. (Remember + to + infinitive refers to
having) a memory of something in the past.) recalling (or not recalling))
She stopped crying as soon as she saw her We stopped to buy some water at the
mother. (She was crying, and then she didn’t motorway service area. (We were travelling and
cry anymore.) we stopped for a short time in order to buy
some water.)
She kept talking. ("Keep" is normally used The attackers kept hostages to prevent the
with a gerund to mean that you continue doing police from entering. ("Keep" can also be used
an action.) with an object followed by an infinitive, but
then the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in
order to... ." In the sentence above, the
attackers kept hostages in order to prevent the
police from entering.)
I tried searching the web and finally found an I tried to email Simon but it bounced back.
address for him. (Try + -ing means that you are (Try + to + infinitive means that something is
trying something as an experiment, especially difficult but you are making an effort to do it.)
as a possible solution to a problem, to see if it
works or not.)
The kitchen wants painting. (needs) When we I want to speak to the manager. (When want is
are talking about wishes or desires we can also followed by another verb, it must be in the to +
use the continuous form (is wanting, was infinitive form.)
wanting, will be wanting).
Grammar A1-A2: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive 1: 1

1) I enjoy playing online games.
2) My brother promised to take us to the airport.
3) If you feel ill, avoid doing any hard exercise.
4) I would like to make a reservation, please.
5) I suggest visiting the museums while you're in London.
6) Do you mind waiting for me a few minutes?
7) We can't afford to go on holiday this year.
8) I'm learning to drive at the moment.
Grammar A1-A2: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive 1: 2
1) I finished studying two years ago.
2) Avoid driving if you feel tired or sleepy.
3) We hope to see you again soon.
4) Next summer, we're planning to visit our relatives.
5) Now I've changed job, I miss seeing my old colleagues.
6) I'd like to come to the party.
7) They chose to write about the environment for their project.
8) I dislike having to work at weekends.
Grammar B1-B2: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive 2: 1
1) Please remember to cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend.
2) He says he feels a lot better since he stopped eating so much bread.
3) Have you got hiccups? Have you tried drinking a glass of water? That often
helps!
4) There's no milk. I forgot to buy more when I went to the supermarket earlier.
5) They stopped at the petrol station to fill the car up.
6) He'll never forget leaving his daughter at nursery school for the first time.
7) I know it's difficult but try not to think about it too much.
8) You've definitely got the keys. I remember giving them to you in the café this
morning.
Grammar B1-B2: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive 2: 2
1) I'd forgotten going to Canada when I was small, but then my parents showed
me the photos.
2) I always forget to set my alarm for Monday morning.
3) She tried to read the whole book but it was very long and complicated.
4) You'll be OK. I remember being really nervous on my first day too!
5) Try watching the video with subtitles. This might help you understand better.
6) She had to stop halfway through the race to repair the wheel on her bike.
7) Remember to pack your swimming costume in case we go to the pool.
8) He's stopped taking French classes and changed to Spanish.

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Verbs followed by a to-infinitive

Verbs followed by -ing

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing

- ing form to-infinitive

Grammar A1-A2: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive 1: 1

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