Verbs followed by '-ing' or infinitive

Do you know when to use -ing and when to use to + infinitive after a verb? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how the verb forms are used.

I enjoy learning languages.
I want to learn a new language.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive 1: Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

A verb can be followed by another verb. The second one usually needs to change into the -ing form or the to + infinitive form. Which form you need depends on what the first verb is.

Verbs followed by the -ing form

When enjoy, admit and mind are followed by another verb, it must be in the -ing form.

I enjoy travelling.
He admitted stealing the necklace.
I don't mind waiting if you're busy.

Other verbs in this group include avoid, can't help, consider, dislike, feel like, finish, give up, miss, practise and suggest.

Like and love can be followed by the -ing form and the to + infinitive form. They are both correct.

Verbs followed by to + infinitive form

When want, learn and offer are followed by another verb, it must be in the to + infinitive form.

I want to speak to the manager.
She's learning to play the piano.
He offered to help us wash up.

Other verbs in this group include afford, agree, ask, choose, decide, expect, hope, plan, prepare, promise, refuse and would like.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2: Verbs followed by '-ing' or by 'to' + infinitive' 1: Grammar test 2

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Language level

A1 Elementary

A2 Pre-intermediate

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I have a follow up question. Is it grammatically correct and retain the same meaning if I write:
"Everything I did not to hurt you failed"?
Thank you for your patience.

Hello tomeo,

I wouldn't say it's incorrect but certainly the normal word order is 'to not + verb'.

Generally, we use 'not to + verb' when we are going to follow up with the real motivation: I did it not to annoy you but to help you.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you for answering!

this is the best explaination i've ever heard of

I enjoy doing such exercises but I have to watch out because sometimes I confuse the forms.

HellHello, British Council Team,

We all know that "imagine" is always followed by an "-ing" verb or "object + -ing" or "that-clause" or "as".

However, in some dictionaries like the online Oxford dictionary or Macmillan, I see "imagine" can also be used with "object + to be/do".

E.g.: "I had imagined her to be older than that." or "they imagine the company to be bigger than it is."

Could you please explain to me how/when "imagine" is used in this way? Is this use common or considered "standard English"? Should we use "imagine" this way or stick to its normal use?

Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Hieu Nguyen

Hello Hieu Nguyen,

The construction 'imagine SB/STH to verb' is standard English and expresses a belief which is held (present) or was held and is no longer (past):

> Having heard his voice, I imagine him to be a large man in his fifties.

> I imagined him to be a large man in his fifties, so imagine my surprise when I found out he was a schoolboy only 17 years old!

Peter
The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Mr. Peter,

Thank you for your answer!

I'm still a bit confused about the use of "Imagine + (obj) + V-ing" and "Imagine sb/sth to V", as in:

> I couldn't imagine (her) living in that condition, and:

> I imagined to be a large man in his fifties,...

One more thing, is the structure "imagine sb/sth to verb" widely used or do native speakers have a more common way to express the idea (like using the verbs "believe", "think", "in my opinion", etc)?

Hieu Nguyen

Hello again Hieu Nguyen,

Let's look at them in turn,

1) imagine + SB + verbing
"I imagine him working late in the evening."
> This describes the image I have in my head. It's similar to 'I picture him...' or 'I visualise him...'

2) imagine + SB + to verb
"I imagine him to work late in the evening."
> This describes a supposition or a belief. It's similar to 'I think he's the kind of person who...'

As to whether (2) is a common structure, I think it's quite hard to say. Perhaps in everyday speech phrases like 'He's probably the kind of person who...'. 'I bet he usually...', 'I think he probably...' and so on will be more common but it really depends on a lot of variables such as who is speaking, to whom, in what context etc.