Reference Centre
Language, when you need it
Search concise B2 First grammar, vocabulary, functional phrases and exam strategy — without leaving the course to hunt through past lessons.
Practise thisOpen cloze — grammar words under pressureKey word transformations — 10 extra itemsCommon errors — spot and fixExtra Practice
What it is
When one verb follows another, the first verb decides the form of the second: an -ing form, a to-infinitive, or sometimes either with a change of meaning.
Form
| Type | Pattern | Model sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Positive (-ing) | enjoy/avoid/finish/mind/suggest + V-ing | I avoid driving at rush hour. |
| Positive (to-V) | decide/hope/manage/refuse/offer + to + V | She managed to fix it herself. |
| Negative | verb + not + V-ing / not to + V | He suggested not waiting. / She decided not to reply. |
| Question | Do you + verb + V-ing / to + V? | Do you mind waiting? / Do you want to wait? |
| After prepositions | preposition + V-ing | She's good at solving problems. |
Change of meaning: stop / remember / forget / try / regret / go on / mean.
Use it when
- A verb, preposition or phrase such as 'look forward to' requires -ing.
- You express purpose, intention or a future step → to-infinitive.
- You want the precise nuance of remember/forget/stop/try.
Examples
- I stopped checking my email at night.— gave up the habit
- I stopped to check my email.— paused in order to
- Remember to lock up.— an obligation ahead
- I remember locking up.— a memory of doing it
Watch out
I look forward to hear from you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
'to' here is a preposition, so it takes -ing.
She enjoys to cook.
She enjoys cooking.
enjoy always takes -ing.
Remember
After a preposition, always -ing. After a purpose, always to.
Quick check
- 1.We can't afford ___ (buy) a bigger flat.
- 2.Would you mind ___ (open) the window?