Grammar » A1 Grammar lessons and exercises » Verbs + to + infinitive and verbs + -ing » Page 3
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  • Verbs + to + infinitive and verbs + -ing

    Exercise 3

    Complete the sentences using the to + infinitive or the -ing forms of the verbs in the list.

    close      cook      do      get up      play(x2)      see      travel      watch      water      work

    EXAMPLE: I’m planning ⇒ to travel to Egypt next year.

    1 Please, turn on the TV. I want the football match.

    2 I don't mind my English homework.

    3 Did you remember the plants?

    4 I don't like in an office.

    5 I hope you soon.

    6 The food is delicious. Where did you learn this dish?

    7 I need very early tomorrow morning. I start work at 7 a.m.

    8 I think I forgot the windows.

    9 Do you like football?

    10 We'd like football this afternoon.


     

  • Verbs + -ing

    Some verbs in English are followed by another verb in the -ing form. The most common of these verbs are verbs of liking and disliking: love, like, enjoy, don’t mind, don’t like, hate. If we use another verb after these verbs, it often takes the -ing form.

    • I love going to the gym. 
    • I like reading
    • I enjoy travelling
    • I don’t mind cooking
    • I don’t like doing homework. 
    • I hate getting up early. 

    The second verb is in the -ing form in the past, too.

    • When I was a child, I hated going to school. blank
    • When I was a child, I hated went to school. blank

    -ing spelling

    You can check the spelling of the -ing form of the verbs in the table below.

    Educational chart displaying spelling rules for adding '-ing' to verbs, with examples for each rule.

    Download full-size image from Pinterest

    Verbs + to-infinitive

    Many verbs in English are followed by to-infinitive. Some of these verbs are forget, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, remember, start, want and would like.

    • I forgot to turn off the light. 
    • I hope to see you soon. 
    • I‘m learning to drive
    • We need to arrive early. 
    • She offered to help us. 
    • We are planning to go to France. 
    • Remember to lock the door. 
    • I want to go home. 
    • I would like to buy a new computer. 

    The second verb takes the to-infinitive form in the past too.

    • I wanted to go home. blank
    • I wanted to went home. blank

    Would like

    The verb would like (or ‘d like) is different from like. We use would like + to + infinitive, and we normally use like + -ing verb to talk about general preference. You can learn more about this topic here.

    • I‘d like to study English. 
    • I like studying English. 

    The meaning is also different.

    • I‘d like to study English. (=I want to do it.)
    • I like studying English. (=I enjoy it.)

    We use the question would you like… when we offer or suggest something.

    • Would you like a cup of coffee?
    • Would you like to dance with me?
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