Verbs + to + infinitive and verbs + -ing — Explanation

Learn when to use verbs with ‘to + infinitive’ and verbs with ‘-ing’ in English. Includes clear explanations, examples, and exercises for A1-level learners to master grammar usage.

Verbs + To + Infinitive / Verbs + -ing

Some verbs in English are followed by "to" and the base verb (infinitive), while others are followed by "-ing" (gerund). It's important to know which form to use for good grammar.

Verbs + To + Infinitive

Structure:

• Verb + to + base verb

Common verbs followed by to + infinitive:

• want → I want to eat pizza.
• need → She needs to study for the test.
• plan → We plan to travel next year.
• hope → He hopes to meet his friend.
• decide → They decided to go to the park.

Example sentences:

• I want to learn English.
• She needs to finish her homework.
• We plan to visit our grandparents.

Key point:

• Use to + base verb after certain verbs when you talk about future actions or intentions.

Verbs + -ing (Gerund)

Structure:

• Verb + verb-ing

Common verbs followed by -ing:

• enjoy → I enjoy reading books.
• like → She likes swimming in summer.
• love → We love dancing.
• hate → He hates waiting for the bus.
• finish → They finished cleaning the room.

Example sentences:

• I enjoy listening to music.
• She likes cooking Italian food.
• They finished painting the wall.

Key point:

• Use -ing after certain verbs when talking about activities or things you enjoy, dislike, or complete.

Quick Comparison

Feature	To + Infinitive	-ing (Gerund)
Meaning	Future action / intention	Activity / general action
Common verbs	want, need, plan, hope, decide	like, enjoy, love, hate, finish
Example	I want to travel tomorrow.	I enjoy traveling.

Examples in Context

• I want to watch a movie tonight. → plan/future action
• She likes watching movies on weekends. → activity/enjoyment
• They decided to visit London. → decision/future plan
• We finished cleaning the house. → completed activity