Verb + -ing & Verb + to: Basics

A2 Grammar

1. Simple explanation

When a sentence has two verbs, the second verb changes form: it becomes to + verb (the infinitive — 'to' plus the plain verb, like 'to go') or verb + -ing (the -ing form, like 'going'). The first verb decides the form: want, need, hope, plan, and decide take to ('I want to go'); enjoy, finish, and stop take -ing ('I enjoy going'); like, love, and hate take both. The -ing form can also be the subject of a sentence: 'Swimming is fun.'

2. Detailed explanation

Start from zero. A verb is an action word (swim, read, travel). Sometimes one sentence has two actions: 'I want to swim.' The second verb changes form — English gives it one of two 'costumes.' Costume one is to + verb — 'to swim' — called the infinitive ('to' plus the plain verb). Costume two is verb + -ing — 'swimming' — called the -ing form. Which costume does the second verb wear? The FIRST verb decides — every main verb has its own team, and you learn the teams.

Team TO: want, need, hope, plan, and decide are followed by to + verb — 'I want to travel,' 'She needs to rest,' 'We decided to stay.' The polite form would like also takes to: 'I'd like to order.' Team ING: enjoy, finish, and stop are followed by the -ing form — 'I enjoy traveling,' 'He finished cleaning,' 'They stopped talking.' Like, love, and hate can play for both teams: 'I like swimming' and 'I like to swim' are both correct (difference below). Never mix the teams: ✗ 'I enjoy to swim' and ✗ 'I want swimming' are both wrong — enjoy demands -ing, want demands to.

Let's take three sentences apart, word by word. 'I enjoy swimming': I (me) + enjoy (I feel pleasure when I do it — enjoy always takes -ing) + swimming (the action swim, in -ing form, treated like a thing). 'She wants to travel': She (a woman) + wants (she wishes — want always takes to) + to travel (the infinitive: to + the plain verb travel). 'Swimming is fun': Swimming (the action itself, as the subject) + is + fun (enjoyable). So the -ing form can stand at the front of a sentence as its subject: 'Reading helps you learn.'

Two useful details. First, like: 'I like swimming' = enjoyment — swimming is fun for me. 'I like to swim early in the morning' talks about a habit I choose — a routine I think is good. At this level, either form after like/love/hate is safe. Second, stop is a trap: 'He stopped smoking' = he quit forever. 'He stopped to smoke' means he paused his walk in order to smoke. Stop + -ing ends an action; stop + to starts a new one on purpose. Finally, -ing spelling: most verbs just add -ing (play → playing). Silent-e verbs drop the e (make → making). Short verbs ending in one vowel + one consonant double the last letter (run → running). Verbs in -ie change ie to y (lie → lying).

3. Formula / structure

-ing after a verb:

-ing as subject:

Step by step — how to build a sentence:

spelling of -ing:

to after a verb:

4. When to use it

• Talking about wishes and plans (verb + to): 'I hope to travel next year.'
• Talking about likes and dislikes (verb + -ing): 'She enjoys painting.'
• Saying an action is finished (finish + -ing): 'We finished eating.'
• Polite requests and orders (would like + to): 'I'd like to pay by card.'
• Actions as subjects (-ing first): 'Learning English takes time.'
• Habits you choose (like to do): 'I like to read the news with breakfast.'
• Quitting a habit (stop + -ing): 'He stopped biting his nails.'

5. When NOT to use it

• Don't use to + verb after enjoy, finish, or stop: ✗ 'enjoy to read' → ✓ 'enjoy reading.'
• Don't drop 'to' after want, need, hope, plan, decide: ✗ 'I want go' → ✓ 'I want to go.'
• Don't use the -ing form after would like: ✗ 'I'd like visiting' → ✓ 'I'd like to visit.'
• Don't use a plain verb as a sentence subject: ✗ 'Swim is fun' → ✓ 'Swimming is fun.'
• Don't confuse stop: stop + -ing = quit an activity; stop + to = pause for a purpose. The forms are not interchangeable.

6. Positive examples

• I enjoy reading in bed.
• She wants to become a doctor.
• We finished cleaning the kitchen.
• He needs to sleep more.
• They love playing soccer.
• I'd like to order a coffee, please.
• Swimming is great exercise.
• He decided to study medicine.
• She hopes to visit Japan one day.
• We plan to move next year.
• I like cooking for my friends.
• Reading before bed helps me relax.

7. Negative examples

• I don't enjoy waiting in long lines.
• She doesn't want to leave yet.
• We don't like getting up early.
• He didn't finish reading the book.
• They don't plan to move this year.
• I wouldn't like to work outside in winter.

8. Questions

• What do you enjoy doing?
• Do you want to come with us?
• Would you like to sit down?
• What does she plan to do this summer?
• Do you like swimming?
• When did he finish working?

9. Short answers

• Yes, I do. / No, I don't. (Do you enjoy cooking?)
• Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't. (Does she want to come?)
• Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't. (Would you like to sit here?)
• Yes, we do. / No, we don't. (Do you plan to stay?)
• Yes, he did. / No, he didn't. (Did he finish cleaning?)

10. Common mistakes

11. American English notes

12. Similar grammar — comparison

13. Natural spoken English

• 'I wanna go home.' (= I want to go — fast speech)
• 'What do you enjoy doing?' — 'I love dancing!'
• 'I'd like to order, please.'
• 'Let's go swimming this weekend!'
• 'I need to finish writing this email.'
• 'Reading is my favorite thing to do.'

14. Real-life examples

• Ordering food: 'I'd like to have the chicken sandwich, please.'
• At the gym: 'I enjoy running, but I hate lifting weights.'
• Making plans: 'We hope to arrive by noon.' / 'They decided to take the train.'
• Job talk: 'She wants to work in a hospital.' / 'He needs to finish the course first.'
• Signs and apps: 'Tap to continue.' / 'Click here to download.' (to + verb for instructions)
• Excuses: 'Sorry — I stopped to buy coffee on the way.'

15. Mini dialogue

16. Summary

17. Practice exercises

Warm up with the first questions, then take the full quiz — every answer has a detailed explanation (parts 19–20 of this lesson: answer key + explanations live inside the quiz feedback).

18. The full quiz

50 questions, mixed formats, in difficulty order: easy → medium → intermediate → challenging → advanced.

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