Gerund & Infinitive

Some verbs are followed by -ing (enjoy swimming), some by to + verb (want to swim), and some by both (like swimming / like to swim).

Certain verbs are always followed by the gerund (-ing form): enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, practise — I enjoy reading, I avoided answering. Other verbs are followed by the infinitive (to + base verb): want, decide, hope, plan, promise, agree — I want to travel, I decided to study. A third group — like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin — can take either form with little or no change in meaning: I like swimming / I like to swim.

+ verb + -ing / verb + to + V

• I enjoy playing basketball.
• She wants to become a doctor.

− verb + not + -ing / verb + not + to + V

• He avoids eating junk food.
• They decided not to go to the party.

? Do/Does + S + verb + -ing / to + V?

• Do you enjoy reading books?
• Does she want to travel abroad?

• ENI enjoy playing the guitar in my free time.

  KZМен бос уақытымда гитарада ойнағанды ұнатамын.

  RUЯ люблю играть на гитаре в свободное время.

• ENShe finished writing her essay last night.

  KZОл эссесін кеше кешке жазып бітірді.

  RUОна закончила писать эссе вчера вечером.

• ENWe avoid using plastic bags when we shop.

  KZБіз дүкенге барғанда пластик пакеттерді қолданудан аулақ боламыз.

  RUМы стараемся не использовать пластиковые пакеты, когда ходим за покупками.

• ENHe wants to study medicine at university.

  KZОл университетте медицинаны оқығысы келеді.

  RUОн хочет изучать медицину в университете.

• ENThey decided to move to a new city.

  KZОлар жаңа қалаға көшуге шешім қабылдады.

  RUОни решили переехать в новый город.

• ENI hope to pass my exams this year.

  KZМен биыл емтихандарымды тапсыруға үміттенемін.

  RUЯ надеюсь сдать экзамены в этом году.

• ENShe likes reading mystery novels.

  KZОл детектив романдарын оқығанды ұнатады.

  RUЕй нравится читать детективные романы.

• ENHe loves to cook for his family.

  KZОл отбасы үшін тамақ пісіргенді жақсы көреді.

  RUОн любит готовить для своей семьи.

• ENDo you mind opening the window?

  KZТерезені ашуға қарсы емессіз бе?

  RUТы не против открыть окно?

• ENWe suggest booking the tickets early.

  KZБіз билеттерді ерте брондауды ұсынамыз.

  RUМы предлагаем забронировать билеты заранее.

• ✗ I enjoy to swim in the sea.

  ✓ I enjoy swimming in the sea.

  Enjoy is always followed by the gerund (-ing).

• ✗ She wants going to the cinema.

  ✓ She wants to go to the cinema.

  Want is always followed by the infinitive (to + verb).

• ✗ He decided going abroad to study.

  ✓ He decided to go abroad to study.

  Decide takes the infinitive, not the gerund.

• ✗ They finished to do their homework.

  ✓ They finished doing their homework.

  Finish is always followed by the gerund.

Gerund vs Infinitive

Verbs like enjoy, finish and avoid are always followed by -ing. Verbs like want, decide and hope are always followed by to + verb. Verbs like like, love and hate can use either form with almost the same meaning.

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