Joy English
Joy English

B1 Grammar

B1Verb patterns15 min

Verb + -ing or to + infinitive

Learn which verbs are followed by an -ing form and which are followed by to + infinitive.

When one verb follows another, the second verb is either an -ing form (I enjoy cooking) or to + infinitive (I want to cook). The choice depends on the first verb, so it helps to learn the verbs in groups.

PatternCommon verbsExample
verb + -ingenjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep, practise, consider, missJamal enjoys running in the morning.
verb + to + infinitivewant, hope, decide, plan, agree, refuse, learn, offer, promise, needWe decided to stay at home.
both, with little change in meaninglike, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continueIt started raining. / It started to rain.

After prepositions and as a subject

After a preposition such as about, of, at, in, for, without, before or after, always use the -ing form. We also use the -ing form when an activity is the subject of a sentence.

  • Lena is good at drawing.
  • Thanks for helping me.
  • Swimming is my favourite way to relax.
  • Ravi left without saying goodbye.
  • Would you mind opening the window?
  • Sofia hopes to study medicine next year.

A verb that changes meaning

With stop, the pattern changes the meaning. Stop + -ing means you no longer do something: She stopped eating meat last year. Stop + to + infinitive means you stop one activity in order to do another: We stopped to buy some water on the way.

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the correct form

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

  1. Mina enjoys _____ old films at the weekend.

  2. We've decided _____ a new car.

  3. Would you mind _____ the door, please?

  4. Jamal is interested in _____ Japanese.

  5. The children promised _____ quiet during the film.

  6. Have you finished _____ your report?

  7. On the way home, we stopped _____ some bread.

  8. _____ every day is good for your health.

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Write the verb

Type the -ing form or to + infinitive of the verb in brackets.

  1. I hope (see) you again soon.

  2. Kofi suggested (go) to the beach.

  3. She is very good at (fix) bicycles.

  4. They refused (pay) for the broken chair.

  5. Please keep (try). You're nearly there!

  6. Aiko learned (swim) when she was six.

  7. It started (snow) just after midnight.

  8. Do you feel like (eat) out tonight?

0 of 8 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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