Gerunds and infinitives

“I enjoy reading” and “I want to read” are both natural. The first verb tells you which form follows it.

Two forms after a verb

A gerund is a verb in -ing form used like a noun: reading, swimming, learning. An infinitive here is to + base verb: to read, to swim, to learn.

Learn common verb patterns as pairs:

Examples: She enjoys cooking. They decided to cook at home.

Keep the first verb's pattern when its tense changes

Enjoy takes -ing whether the enjoyment is present or past:

I enjoy cooking.
I enjoyed cooking when I lived with my sister.
I've always enjoyed cooking.

Decide takes to + base verb: I decided to cook, She has decided to cook. Changing the tense of the first verb does not change the pattern it requires after it.

There is no rule that all verbs about similar ideas use the same pattern. Want to learn and enjoy learning are both about learning, but the first verbs select different forms.

Negative forms have two possible places

I don't want to leave makes the wish negative. I want not to make mistakes is possible but often less natural than I don't want to make mistakes.

With a clear negative intention, I decided not to go is useful: put not before to. After a gerund-taking verb, I enjoy not having to rush uses not + -ing to name the situation enjoyed.

Build the meaning

The first verb carries the attitude or decision; the second names the activity. I hope to study abroad expresses a hope. I avoid studying late describes something I try not to do.

After a preposition, use -ing: I’m interested in learning Spanish. The word to can sometimes be a preposition, as in look forward to meeting you; it does not always introduce an infinitive.

Some verbs allow both patterns. I like reading and I like to read can both be natural. Other verbs change meaning with the pattern; you will explore those at B2.

The second verb can explain a purpose

I went to the library to study uses an infinitive to explain why I went. This is different from a fixed pattern such as want to study. You can paraphrase the purpose as in order to study.

Compare I went to the library for a book. For introduces a noun. To explain the purpose as an action, use to borrow a book, rather than for borrow a book.

An -ing activity can also be a subject: Swimming helps me relax. In I enjoy swimming, it is what I enjoy. Neither sentence needs am/is/are before swimming.

Modals take a base verb without to

I can swim, You should rest and We must leave use a base verb after the modal. They are not to-infinitive patterns: can to swim is incorrect.

After a preposition, use -ing: before leaving, without asking, good at explaining. In look forward to meeting, to is also a preposition. You can see this by substituting a noun: look forward to the weekend.

Imagine making a weekend plan:

I want to visit the coast. I enjoy taking photos, so I plan to bring my camera. I'm looking forward to walking along the beach.

Want and plan select infinitives. Enjoy selects -ing. Look forward to requires an -ing activity after the preposition.

For learning, record a short phrase rather than a bare verb: avoid driving at night, hope to find a job, finish writing an email. When you meet a new verb, a dictionary example can show the form that follows it. This is more dependable than translating and guessing.

Sources and further reading

• British Council LearnEnglish: Verbs followed by -ing or infinitive
• Cambridge Dictionary: Verb patterns