Ving or to V

Verb + verbING OR verb+to+verb?
Sometimes a verb is followed by a gerund (another verb ending in –ING)
I enjoy swimming in the ocean.
Sometimes a verb is followed by an infinitive (to + verb)
I promise to study more English.
Sometimes a verb can be followed by both forms and the meaning is the same
I like walking on the beach.
I like to walk on the beach.
Sometimes a verb can be followed by both forms but the meaning is different
I stop buying French fries.
I stop to buy French fries.
The first verb is important – it tells you what form the second verb will take.
The second verb never changes – in past, present or future – we always see
verb+verbING (gerund) or verb+to+verb(infinitive) or both forms.


Verb + verbING only (verb+to+verb NOT possible)
consider
finish
imagine
miss
mind
spend (time)
enjoy

Examples:
We consider going to the party.
I finish reading the book.
Sara imagines working in Italy.
I miss living with my family.
My parents spend time watching a movie.
The boys enjoy running on the beach.



Verb + particle / preposition + verbING (verb+to+verb NOT possible)
end up
keep on
think about
plan on
give up
put off

Examples:
I end up living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
They keep on studying English.
My parents think about buying a new car.
My brother and sister plan on working in Canada.
I give up eating junk food.
My aunt puts off visiting the dentist.



Verb + to + verb (verb+verbING NOT possible)
agree
decide
happen
offer
seem
intend
expect
promise
refuse
Examples:
I agree to rent the apartment.
The girls decide to play volleyball.
The movie happens to be very good.
The salesman offers to give the tourist a discount.
The students seem to understand the class.
We intend to pass the exam.
They expect to get a good grade.
The boy refuses to clean his bedroom.

Verb + verbING & verb + to + verb
(both forms have THE SAME meaning)
love
hate
like
start
continue
bother
begin
Examples:
I love eating chocolate. I love to eat chocolate.
Ann hates cleaning the bathroom. Ann hates to clean the bathroom.
My friends like dancing in the disco. My friends like to dance in the disco.
The girl starts working in the restaurant. The girl starts to work in the restaurant.
We continue studying math. We continue to study math.
They don’t bother answering the emails. They don’t bother to answer the emails.
We begin reading the book. We begin to read the book.

Verb + verbing & verb + to + verb
(Both forms are possible but have DIFFERENT meaning)
stop
remember
forget
try

Examples:
I stop buying pizza because my Doctor says it is bad for my health.
(Stop+verbING = not to do an activity again)
After class the students drive home. Before they get home they stop to buy pizza at The Pizza Place.
(Stop+to+verb= stop an activity and begin another)

We don’t need any more milk. I remember buying milk in the store yesterday.
(Remember+verbING= think of something that happened before now)
While Jane is in the internet café she remembers to check her emails.
(Remember+to+verb=not forget to perform an action)

He forgets giving the DVD to his friend but he remembers when his friend tells him how good the movie is.
(Forget+ verbING = forget doing something before now, in the past)

She forgets to call her mom on her birthday. She feels terrible when she remembers.
(Forget+infinitive = forget to perform an action)

Note: don’t forget = remember, don’t remember = forget

The girl tries eating Korean food. She has never eaten it before.
I try texting my mom because she’s not answering her cell phone
(Try+verbing= experiment with an action that could have a good result or to do something for the first time)

They try to eat the soup with chopsticks
The doctor tries to save the life of the patient
(Try+to+verb=make an attempt at something – possibly something difficult or impossible)

With “try” there is only a small difference between both forms and using