-ing or to + verb

The rule for gerund or infinitive

Some verbs take -ing after them: enjoy swimming, avoid waiting. Others take to + verb: decide to go, hope to win. Learn them with their verb.

Pattern: + -ing: enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest, keep, mind, look forward to. + to: decide, want, hope, plan, refuse, manage, afford, tend.

Used correctly: the correct -ing or "to" + verb form after a verb that needs one (for example "enjoy swimming", "avoid paying", "look forward to meeting", "decide to go").

Use this when a verb is followed by another verb. Some verbs take -ing, some take to + verb, and you have to learn which.

Gerund or infinitive: wrong and right examples

• Wrong She avoided to answer the question.

  Right She avoided answering the question.

• Wrong I am interested in learn Spanish.

  Right I am interested in learning Spanish.

More right sentences

• Many people avoid paying in cash.
• The council decided to close the library.
• I look forward to hearing from you.

Traps to avoid with gerund or infinitive

• After a preposition, always -ing: interested in learning, before leaving.
• In "look forward to" and "be used to", "to" is a preposition, so -ing follows: "used to working late".

Skills that train gerund or infinitive

• Giving your opinion and a reason in English writing B2
• Cause and result in writing: because of, due to B2
• Advantages and disadvantages paragraphs B2
• Hedging in English writing C1

Related mistakes

• If-sentence mistakes: conditional forms
• Passive voice mistakes: is made, was built
• Relative clause mistakes: who, which, that, whose, where