English exercises / B1 / Verbs & tensesWhich verbs take -ing, which take to-, and which change meaning.
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Gerund vs infinitive
There is no rule that predicts it: the first verb decides. Enjoy, avoid, finish and suggest take -ing; want, decide, hope and agree take to. A small group takes both with different meanings: stop smoking is quitting, stop to smoke is pausing in order to.
Read the full explanationGerunds vs infinitives: worked examples
Five from the set, with the answer filled in and the rule that decides it.
- 01
My brother really enjoys playing football at the weekend.
'enjoy' is always followed by the -ing form.
- 02
We left at six to avoid driving through the city centre.
- 03
She suggested meeting outside the cinema at eight.
'suggest doing', never 'suggest to do'.
- 04
Would you mind opening the window? It's very warm in here.
- 05
He kept asking the same question until I answered.
'keep doing' = go on doing something again and again.