Start with a real moment.
You want to describe a hobby: “I enjoy cooking.” A future intention sounds different: “I want to learn.” The first verb often determines the form of the next one. Instead of treating -ing and to as interchangeable, learn short combinations that you can reuse in conversation.
See how the sentence works.
Verb + -ing / verb + to-infinitive
Read the sentence as one idea, then notice the job each part does.
Understand the choices.
Enjoy, avoid, finish and mind commonly take an -ing form: “I finished packing.” Want, decide, hope and plan commonly take a to-infinitive: “I decided to leave.” Learn the verb and its complement as a small unit.
After a preposition, a verb normally takes an -ing form: “before leaving,” “good at cooking.” In “look forward to seeing you,” to is a preposition, not an infinitive marker. That is why seeing, not see, follows it.
Some verbs allow both forms with different meanings. “I stopped smoking” means I no longer smoked. “I stopped to smoke” means I paused another activity in order to smoke. A to-infinitive can also express purpose: “I called to confirm the booking.”
Useful sentences, in context.
We hope to see you soon.
Hope is followed by a to-infinitive.
Thank you for helping me.
For is a preposition, so use helping.
I look forward to hearing from you.
To is a preposition in this fixed expression.
A small change makes a difference.
AvoidI enjoy to read.
UseI enjoy reading.
Enjoy normally takes an -ing complement.
A MOMENT TO PRACTISE
Your turn.
Choose an answer, then check the explanation. There is no timer and nothing to sign up for.
TAKE IT INTO YOUR DAY
Make it yours.
Make a personal list: three things you enjoy doing, two things you hope to do and one thing you look forward to doing.
Further reading · British Council LearnEnglish
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