Verb Patterns: Infinitive or -ing
When two verbs meet, the second takes the infinitive (to do) or -ing (doing) — decided by the first verb, with -ing always after prepositions. The first B1 lesson, with 20 questions.
Welcome to Intermediate (B1) grammar! When two verbs come together, the second verb takes a particular form: either the infinitive (to do) or the -ing form (doing). Knowing which to use is a key B1 skill, and it mostly depends on the first verb.
Verbs followed by the infinitive (to + verb)
| Common verbs | Example |
|---|---|
| want, would like, decide, hope, plan, need, promise, learn, agree, offer | Aisha wants to study medicine. |
- Omar decided to take English lessons.
- We hope to travel next year.
- I need to practise more.
Verbs followed by -ing
| Common verbs | Example |
|---|---|
| enjoy, finish, stop, avoid, suggest, mind, keep, practise, miss | Yusuf enjoys playing football. |
- I finished reading the book.
- She avoids speaking in large groups.
- Do you mind waiting a moment?
After like, love, hate, prefer
These usually take -ing, though the infinitive is also possible: “I like cooking” (or “I like to cook”). Both are fine.
Key rule: after a preposition, always -ingWhen a verb follows a preposition (in, on, at, of, about, for…), it always takes the -ing form — never the infinitive. This rule has no exceptions, so it is one of the most reliable patterns at B1.
- She is good at speaking English.
- Thank you for helping me.
- I’m interested in learning Arabic.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersThere is no perfect rule — you learn these by the first verb. But two patterns help a lot: want/need/hope/decide → to + verb, and enjoy/finish/avoid → -ing. And remember: after any preposition, always use -ing (“good at cooking”).
Common mistakes
- I want studying. → I want to study.
- I enjoy to play football. → I enjoy playing football.
- She is good at speak English. → She is good at speaking English.
Practise verb patterns with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."Aisha wants ___ medicine."
want + to + verb.
2."Yusuf enjoys ___ football."
enjoy + -ing.
3."Omar decided ___ English lessons."
decide + to + verb.
4."I finished ___ the book."
finish + -ing.
5."We hope ___ next year."
hope + to + verb.
6."She avoids ___ in large groups."
avoid + -ing.
7."I need ___ more."
need + to + verb.
8."Do you mind ___ a moment?"
mind + -ing.
9."She is good at ___ English."
after preposition "at" → -ing.
10."Thank you for ___ me."
after "for" → -ing.
11."I'm interested in ___ Arabic."
after "in" → -ing.
12.Which is correct?
want + to study.
13.Which is correct?
enjoy + playing.
14.Which is correct?
preposition + -ing.
15."They agreed ___ us."
agree + to + verb.
16."Keep ___ — you're doing well!"
keep + -ing.
17."He promised ___ early."
promise + to + verb.
18."I suggest ___ a tutor."
suggest + -ing.
19."We are thinking about ___ to Egypt."
after "about" → -ing.
20."She learned ___ when she was six."
learn + to + verb.
Want feedback from a real tutor on your reading, writing and speaking?
Book a Free Consultation