V + ing/ V + TO / V + to + ing

 

T LLCE/ Language

V-ing /  To + V  / To + V-ing

• He  asks June to come . Does he enjoy playing with her?   

 

-        Some  verbs go with only  TO + V  or only V+ -ing, and others can go with either one.

• I enjoy reading. (enjoy + -ing form only)
• She wants to smoke. (want + infinitive form only)
• They like eating oranges. They like to eat oranges. (like + either -ing or infinitive form)

-        Sometimes choosing to + V  or V-ing can change the meaning of the sentence.

 

Here are some of the most common verbs:

Followed by -ing

consider, discuss, dislike, dread, enjoy, finish, mind, practise, recommend, suggest…

Followed by To + V

agree, appear, choose, decide, expect, fail, hope, learn, need, refuse, seem, wait, want…

Followed by either, usually with no change in meaning

begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, start

Followed by either, with a change in meaning

stop, regret, remember, forget, go on, try

-        Some verbs are followed by TO + V-ing

 

a)      A phrasal verb or verb + preposition

 

take to , feel up to  + V-ing

 

amount to, look forward to , admit to, confess to, object to … + V-ing

 

b)      Be + adj. + to

be used to, be accustomed to, be addicted to, be opposed to,

be dedicated to, be devoted to, be committed to … + V-ing

 

ON YOUR OWN

A)   Explain the differences

 

a)    REGRET

·        She regrets telling Luke stupid things.

·        I regret to tell you that your maid is not pregnant.

 

b)     REMEMBER/ FORGET

·        She still remembers being nervous when she met Serena.

·  Remember to read  your book!