QuickenBrain

Gerund or infinitive

VerbsRule 6 of 10

The rule

Some verbs take -ing and some take to + verb. The pair is fixed, so learn them together. Enjoy, finish, suggest, and keep take -ing: "I enjoy cooking." Want, decide, plan, and hope take to: "I want to go." With stop, the form changes the meaning: "stop smoking" means you quit; "stop to smoke" means you pause for a cigarette.

Wrong and right

  1. Wrong I enjoy to cook on weekends.

    Right I enjoy cooking on weekends.

  2. Wrong I want going home early today.

    Right I want to go home early today.

  3. Wrong He stopped to smoke last year and feels much healthier now.

    Right He stopped smoking last year and feels much healthier now.

  4. Wrong I finished to write the report.

    Right I finished writing the report.

  5. Wrong She suggested to leave before traffic.

    Right She suggested leaving before traffic.

  6. Wrong I look forward to see you.

    Right I look forward to seeing you.