Do you ever find yourself pausing mid-sentence, wondering whether to say “I enjoy to read” or “I enjoy reading”? Knowing when to use an -ing form (gerund) and when to use to + infinitive after a verb is one of the trickiest parts of mastering English.
In this comprehensive guide, we will untangle the rules, share clear examples, and give you the tools to choose the correct form every single time.
Quick Comparison: Look at These Examples
Notice how the main verb completely changes the structure of the second verb:
- 🌍 I enjoy learning languages. (Enjoy + -ing)
- 🚀 I want to learn a new language. (Want + to + infinitive)
Both sentences look at the action of learning, but the first verb dictates the exact pattern you must follow.
1. Verbs Followed by the -ing Form (Gerunds)
When certain verbs are followed by another action, that second action must take the -ing form.
Core Examples to Remember:
- 🧳 Enjoy: I enjoy travelling to new places during the summer.
- 🛑 Admit: He admitted stealing the necklace from the store.
- ⏳ Mind: I don’t mind waiting if you are currently busy.
Other Common Verbs in This Group:
To expand your vocabulary, look at how these other common verbs behave in action:
- Avoid: She tries to avoid driving during rush hour.
- Can’t help: I can’t help laughing whenever he tells that joke.
- Consider: Are you considering moving to a different city?
- Dislike: They dislike washing the dishes after dinner.
- Feel like: I feel like ordering pizza tonight.
- Finish: Have you finished writing your essay yet?
- Give up: He decided to give up smoking for his health.
- Miss: I miss living near the beach.
- Practise: You need to practise speaking English every day.
- Suggest: The doctor suggested taking a short walk daily.
2. Verbs Followed by the ‘to + Infinitive’ Form
Other verbs require the second verb to be in the to + base form (the infinitive).
Core Examples to Remember:
- 🗣️ Want: I want to speak to the manager, please.
- 🎹 Learn: She is learning to play the piano.
- 🧼 Offer: He offered to help us wash up after the party.
Other Common Verbs in This Group:
Add these essentials to your daily speaking and writing patterns:
- Afford: We can’t afford to buy a new car right now.
- Agree: They agreed to sign the contract tomorrow morning.
- Ask: He asked to see the menu.
- Choose: Why did you choose to study engineering?
- Decide: We decided to stay at home because of the rain.
- Expect: I expect to hear from them by Friday.
- Hope: She hopes to visit Paris next year.
- Plan: We are planning to go on vacation next month.
- Prepare: The students are preparing to take their final exams.
- Promise: He promised to call me as soon as he arrives.
- Refuse: The shopkeeper refused to accept the broken item.
- Would like: I would like to book a table for two.
💡 The “Both Are Fine” Rule (Like & Love)
Good news! Some verbs are highly flexible. Verbs expressing strong preferences like like and love can comfortably be followed by either form without changing the core meaning. Both options are completely correct:
- 👍 Like: I like swimming in the ocean. / I like to swim in the ocean.
- ❤️ Love: She loves reading historical novels. / She loves to read historical novels.
Summary Cheat Sheet
Keep this quick reference guide handy whenever you write:
| Followed by -ing (Gerund) | Followed by to + Infinitive | Followed by Both (-ing or to) |
| Enjoy, Admit, Mind | Want, Learn, Offer | Like |
| Avoid, Can’t help, Consider | Afford, Agree, Ask | Love |
| Dislike, Feel like, Finish | Choose, Decide, Expect | |
| Give up, Miss, Practise | Hope, Plan, Prepare | |
| Suggest | Promise, Refuse, Would like |
🧠 Test Your Skills Interactively!
Ready to see how well you know these patterns? Head straight to our interactive quiz terminal at the top of the page on Advanced English Lab! Take Grammar Test 1 to put your knowledge to the test, receive instant corrections, and turn these rules into second nature.
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