Verb + -ing / Infinitive: LIKE

Full infinitive: to + verb

Uses:

1. To express purpose

Example:  I eat to gain weight.

2. After the words: would + love/like/prefer

Example: I would love to go skiing with you.

3. After adjectives (angry, glad, happy, sorry, pleased, annoyed, etc.)

Example: I am pleased to see you.

4. With too or enough

He is too old to drive.

She is too young to stay home alone.

5. Repeated actions (like to +verb)

Example: I like to wash dishes.

Verb-ing

Uses:

1. Noun

Example: Walking is a good exercise.

2. After the verbs ; love, like, hate, enjoy, dislike

Example: I like washing dishes.

3. After the verbs start, begin, finish, stop

Example: You should start saving money for the trip.

4. After the verb “go” for physical activities

Example: Erin goes skiing on Sunday.

5. After certain verbs; admit; deny, mind, prefer, regret, risk, suggest

Example: I admit making a mistake of firing him.

Like to + verb VS like + verb-ing

Both can be used for repeated actions:

I like sewing baby clothes.

I like to sew baby clothes.

I don’t like being kept waiting.

I don’t like to be kept waiting.

Remember:

We use verb-ing when we talk about actions that already exist or existed.

1. I like being a mother. (I am a mother and I like it.)
2. Do you like living in Dusseldorf? (You live in Dusseldorf. Do you like it?)
3. The company I worked for was terrific. I liked working there. ( I worked there and I liked it.)

  There is a difference between like to + verb and like + verb-ing

A: I like doing something. = (I do it and I enjoy it.)

Example: I like training new employees. ( I enjoy it.)

I like giving presentations. (I enjoy giving presentations.)

B: I like to do something. = ( I think it is a good thing to do but I don’t necessarily enjoy it. )

Examples: I like to throw the trash on Fridays. (It is not a task I enjoy but I throw the trash on Fridays.)

I like to send my reports on schedule. (It is not my favorite task but I have to do it.)