Reference · module 24
-ing or to
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Verbs that take -ing
Use the verbs that demand an -ing after them.
- Some verbs always take -ing: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, keep. I enjoy reading, never I enjoy to read.
- Every preposition takes -ing too: good at cooking, interested in learning, instead of waiting. A preposition is never followed by to plus a verb.
- And the -ing form works as a noun: Swimming is good for you. Smoking is bad. It is the subject of the sentence, with no article.
The mistake you are about to make
I enjoy to read.
I enjoy reading.
An infinitive follows the verb in most languages, so to comes along. Enjoy, finish, avoid, mind and suggest take only the -ing form.
Verbs that take to
Use the verbs that demand to plus a verb.
- Another group takes to: want, decide, hope, need, promise, learn, offer. I want to go, I decided to stay, I hope to see you.
- to also gives a purpose: I came here to study. It answers why, and in that use it never becomes for studying.
- And after an adjective: happy to help, easy to understand, difficult to explain. The adjective decides, and it always takes to.
The mistake you are about to make
I came here for study.
I came here to study.
For looks like the word for purpose, and in front of a noun it is. In front of a verb the purpose marker is to: I came here to study.
When both are possible
Notice the verbs where the choice changes the meaning.
- remember to lock the door is a task ahead of you. remember locking the door is a memory behind you. One word, two directions in time.
- stop smoking means you gave it up. stop to smoke means you paused in order to smoke. The second is why the pair matters.
- With like, love and hate both are fine and mean almost the same. I like swimming and I like to swim differ only in shade.
The mistake you are about to make
I stopped to smoke. (meaning: quit)
I stopped smoking.
Stop smoking is quitting. Stop to smoke is pausing in order to have one. The two forms give opposite meanings of the same verb.
used to
Talk about habits that are over.
- I used to smoke means I smoked regularly and I do not now. The form only exists in the past — there is no I use to.
- The question and negative drop the d: Did you use to smoke? I didn't use to like it. The did already carries the past.
- be used to is a completely different thing: I'm used to the noise means it no longer bothers me. And it takes a noun or -ing, never a plain verb.
The mistake you are about to make
I'm used to smoke.
I used to smoke.
Used to and be used to look nearly identical and mean different things. One is a past habit, the other is being accustomed — and it takes -ing.