Simple explanation
Why do we sometimes use -ing and sometimes use to? When two verbs are connected in English, the second verb does not always have the same form. Its form often depends on the first verb. For example, we say I enjoy reading, but I want to read. There is no single form that works after every verb, so it is useful to learn common verbs together with their patterns. The verb + -ing pattern Some common verbs are followed by a verb ending in -ing. At A2 level, useful examples include enjoy, finish, and keep. We say enjoy reading, finish eating, and keep trying. In these patterns, the -ing form refers to the activity that someone enjoys, finishes, or continues. The verb + to-infinitive pattern Other verbs are commonly followed by to + the base form of a verb. Important A2 examples include want, need, decide, hope, and plan. We say want to travel, need to study, and decide to stay. After to in these patterns, use the base form: to go, not to going or to goes. Negative sentences In simple negative sentences, we normally make the first verb negative with do not or does not. The pattern of the second verb stays the same: I don't enjoy cooking. She doesn't want to leave. Enjoy is still followed by -ing, and want is still followed by the to-infinitive. Questions In the present simple, questions normally begin with do or does: Do you enjoy cooking? Does she want to come? Making a question does not change the pattern after the first verb. Enjoy still takes -ing, while want still takes to + base verb. How should you learn these patterns? Do not learn only the individual verb. Learn a short pattern with it: enjoy doing, finish doing, want to do, need to do, and decide to do. This makes it easier to choose the correct form when you speak or write.
Grammar formula
Verb + -ing
subject + verb + verb-ingI enjoy reading.
Verb + to-infinitive
subject + verb + to + base verbI want to travel.
Negative with -ing
subject + do/does not + verb + verb-ingI don't enjoy cooking.
Negative with to-infinitive
subject + do/does not + verb + to + base verbShe doesn't want to leave.
Question with -ing
Do/Does + subject + verb + verb-ing?Do you enjoy swimming?
Question with to-infinitive
Do/Does + subject + verb + to + base verb?Do you want to come?
Core rules
- 1
Use -ing after enjoy
Use enjoy + verb-ing when talking about an activity that someone likes or gets pleasure from: enjoy reading, enjoy cooking, enjoy swimming.
- 2
Use -ing after finish
When someone completes an activity, use finish + verb-ing: finish eating, finish studying, finish cleaning.
- 3
Use -ing after keep
Use keep + verb-ing when an activity continues: keep working, keep trying, keep talking.
- 4
Use the to-infinitive after want
Use want + to + base verb to express a wish or desire to do something: want to go, want to learn, want to buy.
- 5
Use the to-infinitive after need
Use need + to + base verb when it is necessary for someone to do something: need to study, need to call, need to leave.
- 6
Use the to-infinitive after decide, hope, and plan
For basic A2 patterns, use decide, hope, and plan + to + base verb: decide to stay, hope to see, plan to travel.
- 7
Use the base form after to
In the to-infinitive, the verb after to stays in its base form. Use to go, to study, and to work, not to going, to studied, or to goes.
Useful examples
I enjoy reading before bed.
I like reading before I go to sleep.
Enjoy is followed by the -ing form reading.
She finished cleaning the kitchen.
She completed the job of cleaning the kitchen.
Finish is followed by the -ing form cleaning.
Keep trying. You're doing well.
Continue trying because you are doing a good job.
Keep + -ing expresses continuing an activity.
We enjoy walking in the park on weekends.
We like taking walks in the park at the weekend.
Walking follows enjoy, so the -ing form is required.
I want to learn Spanish next year.
I would like to learn Spanish next year.
Want is followed by to + base verb.
He needs to buy some food after work.
It is necessary for him to buy some food after work.
Need to introduces an action that is necessary.
They decided to stay at home tonight.
They made the decision to remain at home tonight.
Decide is followed by the to-infinitive in this pattern.
I hope to see you again soon.
I hope that I can see you again in the near future.
Hope + to-infinitive is used for a hoped-for action.
We're planning to visit our friends this weekend.
We intend to visit our friends this weekend.
Plan can be followed by the to-infinitive when talking about an intended action.
She doesn't enjoy getting up early.
She does not like getting out of bed early.
Making the sentence negative does not change enjoy + -ing.
Do you want to watch a movie tonight?
Would you like to watch a movie tonight?
The pattern want + to-infinitive stays the same in a question.
Does he enjoy playing football?
Does he like playing football?
Enjoy is still followed by -ing in a question.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I enjoy to read at night. ✅ I enjoy reading at night. Enjoy is normally followed by the -ing form, not the to-infinitive.
- ❌ She wants going home. ✅ She wants to go home. Want is followed by to + the base form of the verb in this pattern.
- ❌ We finished to eat dinner. ✅ We finished eating dinner. Finish is followed by the -ing form when talking about completing an activity.
- ❌ He decided going by bus. ✅ He decided to go by bus. Decide is followed by the to-infinitive when expressing a decision to do something.
- ❌ I need to studying tonight. ✅ I need to study tonight. After to in the to-infinitive, use the base form study, not studying.
- ❌ Does she enjoy to cook? ✅ Does she enjoy cooking? Making the sentence a question does not change the pattern. Enjoy is still followed by -ing.
- ❌ He doesn't want to goes out. ✅ He doesn't want to go out. The verb after to must be in the base form, so go is correct, not goes.
Learning tips
- Learn each verb together with its pattern: learn enjoy doing rather than only enjoy.
- Start with two small groups: enjoy, finish, keep + -ing and want, need, decide, hope, plan + to-infinitive.
- Remember that the verb after to in these infinitive patterns is in the base form: to go, to study, to work.
- Negative and question forms normally do not change the -ing or to-infinitive pattern.
- When you learn a new verb, check which form normally follows it instead of guessing.
- At A2 level, focus on frequent patterns first. More advanced cases where a verb can take both forms can be learned later.
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether to use -ing or to after a verb?
It often depends on the first verb. The most practical approach is to learn the verb together with its pattern, such as enjoy doing and want to do.
Can I use an -ing form after every English verb?
No. Some verbs are followed by -ing, some by the to-infinitive, and others can use different structures. At A2 level, focus first on the most common patterns.
Why do we say enjoy reading but want to read?
Enjoy normally requires the -ing form, while want is followed by the to-infinitive. They belong to different verb patterns, so the form of the second verb changes.
Can I use an -ing form after to?
Not in the to-infinitive patterns taught in this lesson. Use the base form after to: want to go and need to study, not want to going or need to studying.
Does the verb pattern change in questions or negative sentences?
Normally, no. We say Do you enjoy swimming? and I don't enjoy swimming. Similarly, Does she want to come? keeps the pattern want + to-infinitive.
Does this lesson cover every rule about gerunds and infinitives?
No. This lesson focuses on frequent basic patterns suitable for A2 learners. Verbs that allow both forms and cases where -ing and the to-infinitive create different meanings are better studied at a later stage.