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GrammarHub
Some common verbs are followed by to + base verb, while others are followed by the -ing form. At A1, learning the verb together with its pattern is the safest approach.
Overview
Some common verbs are followed by to + base verb, while others are followed by the -ing form. At A1, learning the verb together with its pattern is the safest approach.
Form and rules
Common verbs followed by to + base verb include want, need, hope, decide, and would like.
Enjoy is followed by verb-ing: enjoy reading, enjoy cooking.
Like, love, and hate can be followed by verb-ing for general likes and dislikes: I like swimming.
After a preposition, use the -ing form when a verb follows: good at cooking.
Learn useful chunks rather than trying to guess every pattern: want to go, enjoy doing, like reading.
A closer look
Some verbs are followed by to + infinitive, while others are followed by an -ing form. The pattern belongs to the first verb and must be learned with it.
At A1, common to-infinitive verbs include want, need, hope, and decide. Common -ing patterns include enjoy, like, love, and hate.
Examples
I want to learn English.
We need to leave now.
She hopes to travel next year.
They enjoy cooking together.
I love listening to music.
Common mistakes
Want is normally followed by to + infinitive.
Enjoy is followed by an -ing form.
Ready to practise?
The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.