Verb patterns · CEFR B1 · Independent
Gerunds & infinitives — English verb patterns
Some verbs take -ing, some take "to". It is the verb that decides.
The shape
enjoy + -ing · want + to + verb
Know whether to say "to go" or "going".
In Hindi
कुछ क्रियाओं के बाद -ing आता है, कुछ के बाद "to"। यह पहली क्रिया तय करती है।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
I enjoy to read. | I enjoy reading. "Enjoy" always takes -ing. |
Gerunds & infinitives examples
Easiest first. Every sentence is authored, with the Hindi it comes from.
I enjoy swimming.
मुझे तैरना अच्छा लगता है।
also correct: I like swimming.
He stopped working.
उसने काम करना बंद कर दिया।
also correct: She stopped working.
I want to leave early.
मैं जल्दी जाना चाह{ता|ती} हूँ।
also correct: I want to go early.
Reading every day is important.
रोज़ पढ़ना ज़रूरी है।
also correct: It is important to read every day.
It was nice to meet you.
मुझे तुमसे मिलकर अच्छा लगा।
She likes staying up late.
वह देर तक जागना पसंद करती है।
He left without saying anything.
वह बिना कुछ कहे चला गया।
I gave up smoking.
मैंने सिगरेट पीना छोड़ दिया।
also correct: I stopped smoking.
He came here to learn English.
वह अंग्रेज़ी सीखने के लिए यहाँ आया।
He asked me to wait.
उसने मुझे इंतज़ार करने को कहा।
also correct: She asked me to wait.
Easy to confuse with
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
- Verb + to + verbA2Talk about what you want, hope and plan to do
- Verb + -ingA2Talk about what you enjoy, avoid and have finished
- stop doing or stop to do?B2Say exactly what you mean with the trickiest verbs
- Preposition + -ingB1Put a verb after a preposition without breaking it
Questions people ask
- What is the gerunds & infinitives used for?
- Some verbs take -ing, some take "to". It is the verb that decides. In practice: know whether to say "to go" or "going".
- How do you form the gerunds & infinitives?
- enjoy + -ing · want + to + verb.
- What is the most common mistake with the gerunds & infinitives?
- Saying “I enjoy to read.” instead of “I enjoy reading.”. "Enjoy" always takes -ing.
Where gerunds & infinitives fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
Gerunds & infinitives is a CEFR B1 structure — the independent band — and it belongs to verb patterns. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
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