Like swimming or want to swim? Verb patterns

Short answer: After like, love and hate, use the -ing form: I like swimming. After want, use to and the plain verb: I want to swim. Do not use want with -ing, and do not use like with the plain verb. For like, love and hate, to + verb is also correct: I like to swim.

▶ Open the rule card · ✏️ Practice this rule

At a glance

In short

• like, love, hate + -ing: I like swimming.
• want + to + plain action word: I want to swim.
• Do not use want + -ing.

What is the rule for “I like swimming. I want to swim.”?

The rule

After like, love and hate use -ing (or to + action word). After want use to + the plain action word.

How it looks

like / love / hate + -ing · want + to + plain action word

What it means

like tells what we enjoy. want tells what we wish to do.

When to use it

Say what you like and what you want to do.

How it works

• Look at the first verb: like, love, hate or want?
• Like, love, hate and enjoy are followed by -ing: I enjoy dancing.
• Want is followed by to and the plain verb: She wants to dance.
• After would like, also use to: I would like to dance.

Examples of “I like swimming. I want to swim.”

• I like reading comics.
  like + -ing.
• She loves dancing.
  love + -ing.
• We want to go home.
  want + to + plain action word.
• Do you like swimming?
  Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
• He hates waiting.
  hate + -ing.
• I enjoy cooking.
  enjoy + -ing.
• They want to play outside.
  want + to + plain verb.
• She would like to join us.
  would like + to + plain verb.

Common mistakes with “I like swimming. I want to swim.”

• I like swim. → I like swimming.
  After like use -ing.
• I want swim. → I want to swim.
  After want use to.
• I want swimming. → I want to swim.
  After want use to and the plain action word.
• I enjoy to read. → I enjoy reading.
  After enjoy, use -ing.
• She wants go home. → She wants to go home.
  After want, use to and the plain verb.

Exceptions: watch out

• like + to
  I like swimming and I like to swim are both right.

-ing or to + verb?

Different verbs take different patterns. Learn them with the verb.

See also: Verb + -ing or to + verb

Check yourself

1. Choose: “I like ___.” (swim)
   Show the answer

   swimming After like, use -ing.

2. Choose: “I want ___ home.” (go)
   Show the answer

   to go After want, use to + plain verb.

3. Fix: “She wants swimming.”
   Show the answer

   She wants to swim. After want, use to.

How to practice “I like swimming. I want to swim.”

The interactive version adds step-by-step help, spoken instructions and a quick check. One rule card, one sound lesson and the first lesson of every stone are free to try; the rest is part of Full Access. See Full Access.

• Practice lesson: I like swimming. I want to swim.

Questions

Is “I like to swim” wrong?

No. It is correct. I like swimming and I like to swim are both right. They are almost the same.

Why not “I want swimming”?

Want always needs to + verb when it is followed by another verb: I want to swim.

Which pattern is for a plan?

Want to and would like to: I want to visit Hue. I would like to learn English.

More Connecting Ideas rules

• Joining words: and, but, or, so: and, but, or and so join two ideas of the same kind.
• because: giving reasons: because gives the reason. It answers the question Why?
• there is / there are: there is tells that one thing is in a place. there are tells that many things are in a place.
• Past: was and were: was and were tell about the past. Use was with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we and they.
• Past simple: regular -ed: To talk about the past, most action words add -ed. It is the same for every person.
• Past simple: irregular verbs and did: Some action words have a special past form. After did or didn't, use the plain action word.

Used in these writing topics

• Opinion paragraphs
• Opinion essays

Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G3: Connecting Ideas. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.

Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.

Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30

← Comparing two things: -er and more … than Every day or right now? →