To + Verb or -ing?
After some verbs, the next verb is to + verb (to learn). After others, it is -ing (cooking).
WANT + TOWhat you want to do
I want to learn English.
ENJOY + -INGWhat you like doing
She enjoys cooking.
Want, need and decide: to + verb. Enjoy, finish and mind: -ing.
The -ing here does not mean "now". She enjoys cooking means she likes to cook.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"We hope blank Đà Lạt next summer."
The forms
+ TO VERB
Swant / need / decide…to V
We decided to take a taxi.
Only the first verb shows the past.
+ -ING
Senjoy / finish / mind…V-ing
He finished cleaning the kitchen at ten.
NEGATIVE
Sdon't / didn'twantto V
I didn't want to go out.
POLITE
Swould liketo V
I'd like to try the fish soup.
A softer want.
VERBS + TO
- wantwant to
- needneed to
- decidedecide to
- hopehope to
VERBS + -ING
- enjoyenjoy -ing
- finishfinish -ing
- mindmind -ing
- practisepractise -ing
- stopstop -ing
Careful with stop: stop smoking = you don't smoke any more · stop to buy water = you stop so you can buy water.
Learn want to and enjoy -ing as chunks, each with an example.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Did you finish blank the car?"
When each pattern is used
Stopping or doing again
Please stop talking.
Asking someone to stop.
Common verbs: stop · finish · keep
Like, love, hate
My sister loves singing in the shower.
Loves to sing is correct too.
Common verbs: like · love · hate
To or For?
To say why somebody does something, use to + verb. For goes with a noun.
| TO + VERB | FOR + NOUN | |
|---|---|---|
| market | Mum went to the market to buy some fish. | Mum went to the market for some fish. |
| café | We stopped at a café to have lunch. | We stopped at a café for lunch. |
A short answer to Why…? can be just to + verb: Why are you learning English? To get a better job.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"I'm saving money blank a new laptop."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I want go shopping this weekend.
Correct:I want to go shopping this weekend.
Want needs to before the next verb.
Incorrect:We enjoy to walk on the beach.
Correct:We enjoy walking on the beach.
Enjoy is an -ing verb.
Incorrect:I went to the library for borrow some books.
Correct:I went to the library to borrow some books.
For goes with a noun, not a verb.
Incorrect:She decided to moved to Huế.
Correct:She decided to move to Huế.
Decided is already past. Say to move.
Incorrect:Do you mind to wait a few minutes?
Correct:Do you mind waiting a few minutes?
Mind is an -ing verb.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct form:
Minh practises playing the guitar every evening.
- A. playing — Correct
- B. to play
- C. play
Answer: A. playing
Like enjoy and finish.
Choose the correct form:
Two years ago, Hà learned to ride a motorbike.
- A. to ride — Correct
- B. to rode
- C. riding
Answer: A. to ride
Learned is already past.
At a restaurant:
I'd like to order now, please.
- A. I'd like to — Correct
- B. I like to
- C. I'd like
Answer: A. I'd like to
I like to = in general.
"I hate getting up early." and "I hate to get up early." Which is correct?
Both are correct
- A. Both are correct — Correct
- B. Only the one with getting
- C. Only the one with to get
Answer: A. Both are correct
The meaning hardly changes.
Choose the correct sentence:
Huy turned on his laptop to check his email.
- A. to check — Correct
- B. for check
- C. for to check
Answer: A. to check
For goes with a noun: for lunch.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
