Levels & career tracks
Curso básico · A1–A2
Nivel A1.1 — IdentidadNivel A1.2 — Rutinas y entornoNivel A2.1 — Contando el mundoNivel A2.2 — Comparando y proyectandoIntermedio · B1–B2
Level B1.1 — Connecting experiences Current levelLevel B1.2 — Narrating and describingLevel B2.1 — ArguingLevel B2.2 — NuanceProfesional / Avanzado · C1–C2
Level C1.1 — PrecisionLevel C1.2 — Register and discourseLevel C2.1 — StyleLevel C2.2 — Native masteryInglés técnico y especialización
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After some verbs in English, an action takes the "-ing" form (a gerund): "I enjoy reading." After others, it takes "to + verb" (an infinitive): "I want to read." There's no single rule that predicts which one — it depends on the main verb, so the fastest way to get this right is to learn the pattern verb by verb.
Why this matters This is one of the most common sources of small but noticeable mistakes for Spanish speakers, because Spanish doesn't make this distinction the same way. Getting it right is what separates "correct but awkward" English from English that sounds natural. A few verbs — like stop, remember, and try — even change meaning depending on which form follows them, so this lesson also covers those directly.
01
The goals of this lesson.
02
You already know how to use verbs like "want" and "like" with another verb after them. This lesson organizes that pattern clearly: some verbs demand the "-ing" form, others demand "to + verb", and a few change meaning depending on which one you choose.
03
Verbs like enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, suggest, mind, quit, and consider are always followed by the "-ing" form — never by "to + verb".
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| verb + -ing | I enjoy reading. |
Examples
04
Verbs like want, need, decide, promise, plan, hope, agree, and refuse are followed by "to + verb".
Examples
05
A few verbs — stop, remember, forget, and try — mean something different depending on whether the gerund or the infinitive follows them.
Examples
06
Read the text and answer the questions. You can try as many times as you want.
Maria decided to change her habits this year. She stopped drinking soda and started going to the gym three times a week. At first, she hated waking up early, but she kept trying, and now she enjoys exercising before work.
Her manager suggested working from home on Fridays, so Maria agreed to try it. She still remembers feeling nervous on her first day, but now she loves having more flexibility. She plans to keep improving her routine, and she hopes to run a marathon next year.
1. What did Maria decide to do this year?
2. What did she stop doing?
3. What did her manager suggest?
4. How does she feel about having more flexibility?
5. What does she hope to do next year?
💪 You can now choose correctly between "-ing" and "to + verb" after dozens of common verbs. Review this lesson, or keep going with B1!
07
The essentials of this lesson, summarized.
08
Key terms to remember.
to keep away from or prevent something
evitarto propose an idea or plan
sugerirto make a choice about something
decidirto say you will not do something
negarse, rehusar09
Tap the words in the correct order to form the sentence. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
10
Tap the correct verb form to complete each sentence. The other options are conjugations or the wrong pattern — on purpose, so you learn to tell them apart.
I enjoy before bed
She needs the report
They suggested to the beach
He promised me back
Please remember your mother
11
Listen to the full dialogue with the speaker buttons first, then fill in the missing words from this lesson's real conversation. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
I finally quit coffee. Now I really my morning tea.
Don't forget your umbrella — it might rain. I promise I won't forget the weather next time.
12
You need at least 80% to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want — your best score is saved.
1. Choose the equivalent of: "I enjoy reading before bed."
2. What does this mean: "She needs to finish the report."?
3. Select the correct match for: "They suggested going to the beach."
4. What does this mean: "He promised to call me back."?
5. "I stopped to buy coffee." — which one is correct?
6. What does this mean: "I stopped drinking coffee."?
7. Select the correct match for: "Please remember to call your mother."
8. What does this mean: "I remember calling her yesterday."?
9. "She avoids eating fast food." — which one is correct?
10. What does this mean: "He refused to answer the question."?
Review — Lesson 35 What matches: "I used to play soccer every weekend."?
Review — Lesson 32 What matches: "She has already finished her homework."?
13
You now choose correctly between gerunds and infinitives after common verbs. Next lesson: the Second Conditional, for hypothetical situations.
00
Practice this lesson's vocabulary with a word search and flashcards. Ungraded — play as many times as you like.
Tap the first and last letter of a hidden word to find it. Los términos de varias palabras van sin espacios en el tablero (ej. "give up" aparece como GIVEUP).
Elige la respuesta correcta. Si aciertas, la tarjeta queda lista por hoy; si fallas, vuelve a aparecer pronto para reforzarla. Tu progreso se guarda en este dispositivo.