How do I know if a verb takes to or -ing?

There is no single rule, so you learn common verbs as pairs. Want, need, hope, decide and plan take to + base verb, such as want to go. Enjoy, finish, stop, avoid and practise take verb + -ing, such as enjoy reading.

Does this verb + to or -ing test have answers?

Yes. All 50 questions in the five exercises show the right answer and a short, simple explanation when you check them. Nothing is hidden, the test is completely free, and you do not need to make an account before you start.

Does the second verb change for he, she or it?

No. The second verb always stays the same after to or -ing: she wants to go, not she wants to goes; she enjoys reading, not she enjoys reads. Only the first verb ever changes to match the subject of the sentence.

Which common verbs take to + base verb?

Want, need, hope, decide and plan all take to + base verb, such as want to go, need to leave and hope to win.

Which common verbs take verb + -ing?

Enjoy, finish, stop, avoid and practise all take verb + -ing, such as enjoy reading, finish working and stop worrying.

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Verb + To or -Ing – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers

Exercises:

Choose the correct form of the verb in brackets to complete each sentence.

Example

✅ Correct	❌ Wrong
I want to go home.	I want going home.

Question 1 of 10

I want ___ football tomorrow. (play)

Keep practising

Adjectives: Word Order and Basic Rules

Adverbs of Manner: Quickly, Well, Carefully

Articles: A, An, The or No Article

Conjunctions: And, But, Or and Because

Want the rules first?Read the explanation: Verb + To or -Ing – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers →

▸Answer key

Practice Questions & Answers

All A1 questions for “Verb + To or -Ing – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

To or -Ing? Choosing the Right Verb Form

1. I want ___ football tomorrow. (play)
- A. to play ✓
- B. playing
- C. play
- D. played
Answer: to play
Want takes to + base verb.
2. She enjoys ___ new recipes. (try)
- A. to try
- B. trying ✓
- C. try
- D. tried
Answer: trying
Enjoy takes verb + -ing.
We need ___ home now. (go)

Written by the Olly English team · How we build our tests

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Odd One Out: Verb + To or -Ing Mistakes

1. Which option does not belong?
- A. I need to go home.
- B. I want going home. ✓
- C. I hope to go home.
- D. I plan to go home.
Answer: I want going home.
Want takes to + base verb, not -ing: I want to go home.
2. Which option does not belong?
- A. She enjoys to swim. ✓
- B. She enjoys swimming.
- C. She loves swimming.
- D. She likes swimming.
Answer: She enjoys to swim.
Enjoy takes -ing, not to: she enjoys swimming.
3. Which option does not belong?
- A. He stopped eating slowly.
- B. He avoided eating fast food.
- C. He enjoyed eating breakfast.
- D. He finished to eat. ✓
Answer: He finished to eat.
Finish takes -ing, not to: he finished eating.
4. Which option does not belong?
- A. We planned to go out.
- B. We decided going out. ✓
- C. We hoped to go out.
- D. We wanted to go out.
Answer: We decided going out.
Decide takes to + base verb, not -ing: we decided to go out.
5. Which option does not belong?
- A. They enjoy playing tennis.
- B. They love playing tennis.
- C. They practise to play tennis. ✓
- D. They like playing tennis.
Answer: They practise to play tennis.
Practise takes -ing, not to: they practise playing tennis.
6. Which option does not belong?
- A. I want go home. ✓
- B. I want to go home.
- C. I need to go home.
- D. I hope to go home.
Answer: I want go home.
The word to must not be missed out: I want to go home.
7. Which option does not belong?
- A. She avoided smoking.
- B. She finished smoking.
- C. She stopped smoking last year.
- D. She stopped to smoke. ✓
Answer: She stopped to smoke.
Stop takes -ing, not to: she stopped smoking.
8. Which option does not belong?
- A. We stop travelling in winter.
- B. We avoid to travel in winter. ✓
- C. We finish travelling in winter.
- D. We practise travelling in winter.
Answer: We avoid to travel in winter.
Avoid takes -ing, not to: we avoid travelling in winter.
9. Which option does not belong?
- A. He hopes to study abroad.
- B. He decides to study abroad.
- C. He plans study abroad. ✓
- D. He wants to study abroad.
Answer: He plans study abroad.
The word to must not be missed out: he plans to study abroad.
10. Which option does not belong?
- A. I enjoy doing yoga.
- B. I enjoy do yoga. ✓
- C. I practise doing yoga.
- D. I finish doing yoga.
Answer: I enjoy do yoga.
The -ing ending must not be missed out: I enjoy doing yoga.

Verb + To or -Ing – A1 Grammar Test (with Answers)

Verb + To or -Ing – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers

I want ___ football tomorrow. (play)

Keep practising

Adjectives: Word Order and Basic Rules

Adverbs of Manner: Quickly, Well, Carefully

Articles: A, An, The or No Article

Conjunctions: And, But, Or and Because

Practice Questions & Answers

To or -Ing? Choosing the Right Verb Form

More A1 English Practice

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot (A1 Reading)

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot: A1 Reading Practice

Verb + To or -Ing in a Story: Anna's Weekend Plans

Odd One Out: Verb + To or -Ing Mistakes

Weekend Plans: Verb + To or -Ing

Combining a Verb Pair Correctly

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A Study Timetable (A1 Reading)

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