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Some verbs can be followed
by either a gerund (-ing verb)
or an
infinitive (to + verb) with no difference in
meaning or
usage. Here are the most common ones:
attempt
begin
can't bear
continue
cease
hate |
|
like
love
prefer
can't stand
start
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Examples:
He attempted to solve / solving
the problem.
When will they begin to do
/ doing the work?
I can't bear to leave / leaving!
When did the soldiers cease
to fight / fighting?
She hates to get / getting
up in the morning.
He doesn't like to play /
playing basketball.
She's loved to cook / cooking
since she was a child.
I prefer to be / being alone.
Some people can't stand to
be / being inactive.
I don't know why the baby
has started to cry / crying.
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Special
Notes:
| 1. |
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If one of the verbs listed
above is used in
a progressive tense, the infinitive
(to + verb)
form is used, not the gerund (-ing
form):
I'm attempting to solve this
problem
(not *I'm attempting solving
this problem.)
The baby is beginning to walk
(not *The baby
is beginning walking).
The soldiers were ceasing
to fight (not *The soldiers
were ceasing
fighting).
The baby was continuing to
cry (not *The baby
was continuing crying).
It's starting to rain (not
*It's starting raining).
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| 2. |
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The verbs can't
bear, cease, hate, like,
love,
prefer, and can't stand are not normally used in
progressive
tenses. |
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