Gerunds and infinitives

-ing or to …?

• After some verbs, use the -ing form (gerund).
• After others, use to + base verb (infinitive).
• Learn a verb together with its pattern and meaning. The same verb may allow another pattern with a different meaning.

I enjoy reading, but I keep forgetting to return the books.

verb + -ing

• enjoy, finish, stop, mind, suggest, avoid + -ing.
• I enjoy reading. She finished doing her homework.
• In I enjoy reading, the -ing clause names the activity enjoyed. Enjoy can also take a noun phrase: I enjoyed the concert.

verb + to-infinitive

• want, need, decide, hope, promise, learn, would like + to + base verb.
• I want to learn English. They decided to stay.
• Some verbs allow both forms, with differences depending on meaning and context: I like reading / I like to read before bed. Compare I stopped talking (I ended the talking) with I stopped to talk (I paused another activity in order to talk).

After a preposition: noun, pronoun or action

• A preposition can have a noun or pronoun after it: about the plan, for her. When an action directly follows the ordinary prepositions in the patterns here, use -ing: good at drawing, thank you for helping.
• She's good at drawing. Thank you for helping.
• Distinguish the to in look forward to seeing you from infinitive to in hope to see you. Before I leave is a full clause; it does not need changing to before I leaving.

Common mistakes

• ❌ I enjoy to read. → ✓ I enjoy reading. — in this direct action pattern, enjoy takes reading; it can also take a noun, such as the book.
• ❌ I want reading. → ✓ I want to read. — to express this wish with a following action, use want to read. Want can also take a noun or another person: I want a book. I want you to read it.
• ❌ I look forward to see you. → ✓ …look forward to seeing you. — this to is a preposition.