Learn To V and V-ing – Rules, Common Mistakes, and Exercises

Mastering To V and V-ing is essential for English learners to write and speak accurately. This guide explains grammar rules, highlights key differences, and shows verbs that take both forms. You’ll also find synonyms, alternatives, and exercises to practice effectively.

What Is V-ing (Gerund)?

The gerund is the -ing form of a verb, used as a noun in a sentence. Structure: 

verb + ing (e.g., running, studying, writing)

Common Functions of V-ing:

• As the subject of a sentence
  Example: Swimming is good for your health.
• As the object of certain verbs
  Example: I enjoy reading before bed.
• After prepositions and phrasal verbs
  Example: She is interested in learning new languages.

While both forms are based on verbs, their grammatical roles and sentence positions vary. Understanding these differences will help you avoid common mistakes and express your ideas more precisely.

• To express time relations, explore perfect gerund.

1. Grammar Rules of To V and V-ing

Though both to V (the infinitive form) and V-ing (the gerund form) are derived from verbs, they function differently in sentence structure. This section breaks down the essential grammar rules that govern when to use each form.

General Structure

• To V often behaves like a complement to verbs or adjectives.
• V-ing usually functions as a noun (subject or object), or appears after prepositions.

When to Use To V (Infinitive)

When to Use V-ing (Gerund)

2. Differences Between To V and V-ing

Although to V (infinitive) and V-ing (gerund) both come from verb forms, they differ in usage, meaning, and grammatical function. Both to V and V-ing act like nouns in a sentence and can follow certain verbs. 

• In many cases, both forms are grammatically correct, but they may slightly alter sentence meaning or tone.
• Some verbs can take either form without much change in meaning: begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer (though usage may differ by context or region).

Key Differences

The table below outlines the most notable differences between the two forms:

Common Mistakes

Recognizing patterns is helpful, but there are common pitfalls. Below are some frequently made errors and how to fix them.

II. Verbs that can be used with both To V and Ving

Some English verbs can be followed by either to + verb (infinitive) or verb + ing (gerund). While in many cases the meaning remains the same, in others the choice of form results in a change in meaning. 

Verbs with No Change in Meaning

These verbs can be followed by both forms with little or no change in meaning, especially in casual speech or writing.

Note: With verbs such as like, love, hate, and prefer, both forms are generally acceptable but to V is sometimes considered slightly more formal.

Verbs with a Change in Meaning

For some verbs, switching between to V and V-ing changes the meaning of the sentence. These are especially important to learn for exams and formal writing.

How to Learn These Verbs Effectively

• Group verbs by behavior: same meaning vs. different meaning
• Practice each verb with both forms and create your own examples
• Use sentence transformation activities where you change from one structure to another
• Keep a personal vocabulary log with notes on meaning differences

III. Equivalent Structures to To V and V-ing

In English, both to V (infinitive) and V-ing (gerund) have alternative grammatical structures that can express similar ideas. These alternatives are particularly useful when you want to:

• Add variety to your writing or speech
• Increase the formality in academic or business communication
• Use more precise structures depending on the sentence context

Below are some of the most common equivalent structures for both forms, along with definitions and example sentences.

Equivalent Structures to To V

Equivalent Structures to V-ing

Which Structure Should You Use?

IV. Exercises and Practice with To V and V-ing

To help you review and apply what you’ve learned about to V and V-ing, the following exercises cover grammar recognition, sentence formation, and understanding usage differences. These tasks are practical for both self-study and classroom learning.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct form (to V or V-ing) to complete each sentence.

1. I decided ______ (take) a break from work.
2. She enjoys ______ (read) books in her free time.
3. They promised ______ (help) us with the project.
4. Would you mind ______ (open) the window?
5. He forgot ______ (bring) his notebook.
6. I can’t stop ______ (think) about that movie.
7. They agreed ______ (meet) earlier next time.
8. She gave up ______ (smoke) last year.
9. He managed ______ (fix) the problem.
10. I’m interested in ______ (study) abroad.

Exercise 2: Identify and Correct the Mistake

Each sentence below contains an error in verb form. Identify and correct it.

1. She suggested to try a new method.
2. I look forward to meet you.
3. He decided buying a new car.
4. Avoid to eat too much sugar.
5. I hope seeing you again soon.

Answer

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