-ing or to + verb? Verb patterns
Short answer: When two verbs come together, the first verb decides the form of the second. Enjoy, finish, keep and mind take -ing: I enjoy reading. Want, decide, hope, need, learn and plan take to + verb: I want to play. Some verbs, such as like, love and start, take both. Stop is special: stop doing means finish; stop to do means stop in order to do it.
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At a glance
| First verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| enjoy, finish, keep, mind, avoid | + -ing | I enjoy reading. |
| want, decide, hope, need, learn, plan | + to + verb | I decided to go. |
| like, love, hate, start, begin | -ing or to + verb | I like swimming. I like to swim. |
| stop | stop + -ing / stop + to + verb | He stopped smoking. He stopped to rest. |
In short
- enjoy, finish, keep, mind + -ing.
- want, decide, hope, need, learn, plan + to + verb.
- stop + -ing = finish it. stop to + verb = in order to.
What is the rule for “Verb + -ing or to + verb”?
The rule
enjoy, finish, keep, mind + -ing. want, decide, hope, need, learn, plan + to + verb.
How it looks
enjoy reading · finish doing · keep singing · want to play · decide to go · hope to see
What it means
The first verb decides the form of the second one.
When to use it
Check the first verb when you join two verbs.
How it works
- Look at the first verb. Learn it with its pattern.
- Use -ing after enjoy, finish, keep, mind and avoid.
- Use to + verb after want, decide, hope, need, learn and plan.
- Check stop and remember: they change the meaning.
Examples of “Verb + -ing or to + verb”
- He keeps singing the same song.
keep + -ing. - Would you mind opening the window?
mind + -ing. - I need to buy some milk.
need + to + verb. - I am learning to ride a bike.
learn + to + verb. - She avoids eating sweets.
avoid + -ing. - We hope to see you soon.
hope + to + verb. - They plan to travel in June.
plan + to + verb. - I stopped to buy some water.
I paused in order to buy water.
Common mistakes with “Verb + -ing or to + verb”
I enjoy to read.→ I enjoy reading.
After enjoy use -ing.We decided having a picnic.→ We decided to have a picnic.
After decide use to + verb.He wants playing football.→ He wants to play football.
After want use to + verb.She finished to eat.→ She finished eating.
After finish, use -ing.I hope seeing you soon.→ I hope to see you soon.
After hope, use to + verb.
Exceptions: watch out
- like, love, start
These can take both: I like swimming. I like to swim.
Stop, remember and try
A few verbs change meaning with -ing or to. Check each one.
| Verb | -ing | to + verb |
|---|---|---|
| stop | stop doing (quit) | stop to do (pause in order to do) |
| remember | remember doing (looking back) | remember to do (not forget) |
| try | try doing (experiment) | try to do (make an effort) |
See also: I like swimming. I want to swim.
Check yourself
- Choose: “I enjoy ___.” (read)
Show the answer
reading After enjoy, use -ing.
- Choose: “We decided ___ a picnic.” (have)
Show the answer
to have After decide, use to + verb.
- Fix: “He wants playing football.”
Show the answer
He wants to play football. After want, use to + verb.
How to practice “Verb + -ing or to + verb”
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: Verb + -ing or to + verb
Questions
Is there a rule for which verbs take -ing?
Not a simple rule. Learn the common verbs with their pattern. Keep a list and add a few each week.
Are “I like swimming” and “I like to swim” the same?
Almost. Like to swim is about a choice or habit; like swimming is about enjoying it.
What about “would like”?
Always use to: I would like to swim.
More Texts and Talk rules
- Have you ever …? Experience: have / has + the past form tells about something you did (or never did) in your life, up to now.
- already, yet, just: already, yet and just go with have / has and tell about things that happened a short time ago.
- Present perfect or past simple?: A finished time (yesterday, last week) needs the past simple. Experience up to now needs have + the past form.
- Advice and rules: should, must, have to: should gives advice. must and have to give rules. After them, use the plain action word.
- unless: unless means if not. It says what could stop something.
- as … as, and comparing actions: as … as says two things are the same. not as … as says one is less. For actions use faster or more carefully.
Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G6: Texts and Talk. 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
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