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 |
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like
love
prefer
can't stand
start |
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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