I’m excited about today’s lesson, because it is based on a question from Speak English Ambassador Sandrine. She sent me a message saying “This grammar point makes us crazy! Please help!” What is this grammar point? When to use infinitive verbs and when to use -ing verbs.
Maybe you think that there is no logic here. It’s English, eh?
Fortunately, this grammar point is easier than it seems.
These difficult little grammar details are exactly the type of subject I cover in my course Successful Small Talk, where you learn how to feel comfortable in everyday conversations. And that includes having good grammar.
Quick grammar reminder
Before we start, here’s a quick reminder:
the infinitive = “to + verb”. Like to play, to go, to call, etc.
The -ing form, or verb + -ing is…the verb+ing. Like speaking, taking, going, etc.
You’ll hear those expressions, the infinitive and the verb+ing A LOT in this lesson.
Verb + infinitive
Here are 4 common verbs that take the infinitive after the verb:
- learn
- decide
- want
- help
After these verbs, you’ll put a 2nd verb in the infinitive.
Do you want to test yourself? Watch the video!
We play a game where I quiz you. It’s fun! Just click on the video below.
Verb + gerund
Now, here are 4 common verbs that take the -ing form (the gerund) after the verb:
- enjoy
- finish
- recommend
- practice
Here are a few examples, and some questions for you.
You can answer one of them in the comments to practice!
Enjoy + verb+-ing
I enjoy running on the weekends. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Finish +verb+-ing
Have you finished reading any good books recently? I recently finished reading Deep South by Paul Theroux.
Let’s continue this conversation with recommend + verb+-ing:
I recommend trying to read it, if you have a good level of English.
And practice +verb+-ing
What’s your favorite way to practice speaking English?
When you can use both
There are also a few words that can take both infinitive and verb+-ing after them: Love, hate, and start.
You can use both the infinitive and the -ing form, and there’s no change in meaning.
Like
I like to have eggs for breakfast.
I like having eggs for breakfast.
Same thing.
Love
I love to eat Mexican food. I love eating Mexican food.
And if you know a good Mexican restaurant anywhere in France, please tell me. (Please. I need some good Mexican food!)
Hate
I hate to hear people say they’re bad at English.
I hate hearing people say they’re bad at English.
You’re not bad at English, maybe you’re just not advanced. But that’s not bad, that’s just your level.
And you can improve your level! (A positive attitude helps!)
Start
If you start thinking you can do it, you’ll have more success.
If you start to think you can do it, you’ll have more success!
The special case of “stop”
Stop is a little special, because the meaning of your sentence will change if you use the infinitive or the verb+-ing.
If you say “Monica stopped taking piano lessons”, so stop + verb+-ing, stop taking, it means she used to take lessons in the past, but now she doesn’t take lessons. She stopped taking piano lessons.
If you say “Monica was driving to Miami and she stopped to have lunch”, so stop + infinitive, stop to have lunch, it means she was doing one activity–driving–and she stopped this activity to do another activity: to have lunch. She stopped driving to have lunch.
Practice with me
Want to practice all of this with me? Watch the video lesson!
If you learn these you will NEVER have problems with this grammar point again.
And if you want my Top 10 Small Talk lessons, plus information on my Successful Small Talk course, be sure to join my Speak English Ambassadors Email list. Enter your email address in the form below.
That’s it for today!
Thanks for watching Speak English with Christina, and I’ll see you next time!
All the best,
Christina
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i’ll need to perfom my english from your lessons
Practice is definitely the best way to become fluent! But careful, we don’t say “perform my English”, but “practice my English” 🙂
Thanks Christina,
Quite easy ! Not difficult to remember thanks to your very clear explanations !
Woohoo! Glad that you can easily remember this grammar point!
Thanks Christina, this is the lesson I was looking for 😉
Oh perfect timing then! Enjoy!
Thank you for this training session again!
I have several questions:
– is there any list of common verbs like “Looking forward + verb-ing”?
– is there any list of common verbs like hear, see, notice, look at and watch that can be followed by an infinitive verb without to (ex: I heard you say hello)
– regarding the present subjunctive tense: In English, with the verb “want”, we must say (if I’m right): “I want YOU TO do this”; Is there any other verbs like the verb “want” implying the same sentence structure? So which of the following questions is correct: “I’d like you do that “, or, “I’d like you to do that”?
Many thanks in advance.
Hi Agathe, great questions and I think the best thing is for me to add them to my lesson calendar and make some videos to answer your questions!
But just to give some quick, useful answers:
We often say “I look forward to seeing you” and “I look forward to hearing from you.” Those are probably the most common expressions with “look forward”
I’ll have to look for a list of common verbs… That’s an excellent lesson subject!
You’re right, we say “I want you to do this.” Other verbs that take the same structure: “I’d like you to do this”, “I asked you to do this”, and “I told you to do this.”
Hope that helps, and thanks for the ideas!
How about this Cristina?
It’s to people with bad memory and try to help to remember the rules about “to” or “ing”.
“I recommend practicing speaking English every day, I’ve finished enjoying it”.
It’s a phrase you can remember easily and have the four verbs what need “ing”
You can do the same for the other rules.
Thanks and regards
Jaime
That is so helpful, Jaime! Thank you for that mnemonic device! You just helped a lot of Ambassadors master this tricky aspect of English. High five!
What about :
i was not successful in adding comments under that picture ?
i was not successful to add comments …
Good one, and the correct choice is “I was not successful in adding comments…”. And another way to say it is “I didn’t manage to add comments…” or even more advanced “I couldn’t figure out how to add comments…” 🙂