Verb + -ing or Verb + To? The Pattern Wars
Some verbs love -ing, some love to, a few love both — and a few change their meaning depending on which one you pick. The pattern battle, settled.
Verb Patterns
Four teams, one battlefield
After a verb, the next verb has to pick a side: the -ing form or the to-form. Some verbs have a fixed loyalty, some play for both teams, and a few change their meaning with the jersey they wear.
The -ing team
enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggestI enjoy walking
The to team
want, decide, hope, plan, promiseI want to travel
The both team
love, like, hate, start, beginI like playing — I like to play
The meaning-changers
remember, forget, stop, tryI remember locking the door
⚠️ Fixed teams: enjoy + -ing, want + to. Both teams: like, love, hate. Meaning-changers: remember, stop, try.
The Formula
verb + -ing or verb + to — the pattern decides
One verb, two possible next forms. The pattern decides — and when a meaning-changer steps in, the pattern decides the meaning too.
Ienjoy walkingin the park
Iwant to travelnext year
She likes playingtennis — orshe likes to playtennis
I remember lockingthe door
Common Mistakes
Four pattern-war slips
The battle is lost when a fixed-team verb wears the wrong jersey — or when a meaning-changer gets the pattern of the other meaning.
I enjoy to walk in the park.
I enjoy walking in the park.
💡 Enjoy is on the -ing team — fixed loyalty.
I want going home now.
I want to go home now.
💡 Want is on the to team — fixed loyalty.
She suggested to go to the beach.
She suggested going to the beach.
💡 Suggest is on the -ing team.
He promised helping me.
He promised to help me.
💡 Promise is on the to team.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
I enjoy ___ books.
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The Meaning-Changers
Same verb, opposite story
Four verbs change their story with the pattern. The pattern is the switch — and both switches are grammatical.
remember + -ing — memory
the past you recallI remember visiting Paris
remember + to — duty
do not forget the taskRemember to lock the door
stop + -ing — the action ends
it happened, then stoppedHe stopped smoking
stop + to — the pause
stop in order to do somethingWe stopped to rest
⚠️ Remember + -ing = past memory. Remember + to = future duty. Stop + -ing = ending. Stop + to = pausing for a purpose.
The Team Table
Match the verb with its team
The whole battle in one board: fixed teams on two sides, and the both-team in the middle.
⚠️ Fixed, both, or changing — every verb has its pattern. This is the end of the gerund and infinitive war.