enjoy doing or want to do?
Verb + -ing or verb + to
Some verbs take -ing (enjoy, mind, keep, suggest, risk); others take to (want, decide, promise, agree, can't afford, can't wait). Learn each verb with its partner.
- I enjoy swimming.
- I want to learn Italian.
- Would you mind waiting?
After a verb, Spanish uses the infinitive (me gusta nadar, decidí ir); English uses to after some verbs (decide to go) and -ing after others (enjoy swimming).
Some verbs take both with little change (like, love, start: I like swimming, I like to swim), and stop, remember and try change their meaning.
Also on this page: Would you mind…? · can't wait to · stop, remember, try
Try 6
Six quick questions, easiest first. At the end you'll see which mistake you make.
- The guide suggested ______ the museum before the crowds arrived.visiting · visit · to visiting · to visit
- Would you mind ______ me some advice about healthy food?to give · give · giving · gave
- Lena can't wait ______ her grandparents again after the holiday.to see · see · seeing · for see
- Would you mind ______ the window? I feel a bit sick.to open · opening · open
- We can't afford ______ in such an expensive hotel.stay · to stay · staying
- I don't want to ______ with my best friend for the part in the play.competing · compete · competed
- We spent the afternoon ______ the caves near the beach.to explore · exploring · explore · explored
- Lena has chosen ______ the scenic route home.to take · taking · take · for take
- They keep ______ about their trip to the mountains.talk · talking · to talk
- The hotel staff happily agreed ______ our luggage until the evening.to look after · look after · looking after · looked after
- We risked ______ our flight because we left the hotel so late.to miss · missing · miss
- We arranged ______ at the cinema at seven.to meet · meet · meeting
Show the answers
- visitingnot visit: the verb with no to and no -ingnot to visit: to after enjoy, mind, keep, suggestnot to visiting: to + an -ing word
- givingnot give: the verb with no to and no -ingnot to give: to after enjoy, mind, keep, suggest
- to seenot see: the verb with no to and no -ingnot seeing: -ing after want, promise, agree, can't afford
- openingnot open: the verb with no to and no -ingnot to open: to after enjoy, mind, keep, suggest
- to staynot stay: the verb with no to and no -ingnot staying: -ing after want, promise, agree, can't afford
- competenot competing: to + an -ing word
- exploringnot explore: the verb with no to and no -ingnot to explore: to after enjoy, mind, keep, suggest
- to takenot take: the verb with no to and no -ingnot taking: -ing after want, promise, agree, can't afford
- talkingnot talk: the verb with no to and no -ingnot to talk: to after enjoy, mind, keep, suggest
- to look afternot look after: the verb with no to and no -ingnot looking after: -ing after want, promise, agree, can't afford
- missingnot miss: the verb with no to and no -ingnot to miss: to after enjoy, mind, keep, suggest
- to meetnot meet: the verb with no to and no -ingnot meeting: -ing after want, promise, agree, can't afford
Common mistakes on this point
Not: I enjoy to swim.
Say: I enjoy swimming.
enjoy, mind, keep, suggest, risk and spend time take -ing: I enjoy swimming.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: We can't afford staying there.
Say: We can't afford to stay there.
want, decide, promise, agree, arrange, choose, can't afford and can't wait take to + the verb.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: She promised send us a postcard.
Say: She promised to send us a postcard.
After promise, the next verb needs to (promised to send); after suggest, use -ing or that (suggested visiting, suggested that we visit), never to.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I don't want to competing.
Say: I don't want to compete.
After want to, need to, decide to, the verb stays plain. (In look forward to, to is different: I look forward to seeing you.)
See this mistake on its own page ›