Verbs + to-infinitive and verbs + -ing

Verbs + -ing

Some verbs in English are followed by another verb in the -ing form. The most common of these verbs are verbs of liking and disliking: love, like, enjoy, don’t mind, don’t like, hate. If we use another verb after these verbs, it often takes the -ing form.

• I love going to the gym. 
• I like reading. 
• I enjoy travelling. 
• I don’t mind cooking. 
• I don’t like doing homework. 
• I hate getting up early. 

The second verb is in the -ing form in the past, too.

• When I was a child, I hated going to school.
• When I was a child, I hated went to school.

-ing spelling

You can check the spelling of the -ing form of the verbs in the table below.

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Verbs + to-infinitive

Many verbs in English are followed by to-infinitive. Some of these verbs are forget, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, remember, start, want and would like.

• I forgot to turn off the light. 
• I hope to see you soon. 
• I‘m learning to drive. 
• We need to arrive early. 
• She offered to help us. 
• We are planning to go to France. 
• Remember to lock the door. 
• I want to go home. 
• I would like to buy a new computer. 

The second verb takes the to-infinitive form in the past too.

• I wanted to go home.
• I wanted to went home.

Would like

The verb would like (or ‘d like) is different from like. We use would like + to + infinitive, and we normally use like + -ing verb to talk about general preference. You can learn more about this topic here.

• I‘d like to study English. 
• I like studying English. 

The meaning is also different.

• I‘d like to study English. (=I want to do it.)
• I like studying English. (=I enjoy it.)

We use the question would you like… when we offer or suggest something.

• Would you like a cup of coffee?
• Would you like to dance with me?