Olly English
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Academic Excellence
Should you say 'I enjoy working' or 'I enjoy to work'? In English, the second verb depends entirely on the first one. Mastering these patterns is a huge step toward professional success! 🎯
| First Verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Enjoy, Finish, Suggest | + Gerund (-ing) | 'I enjoy learning new skills.' |
| Want, Hope, Decide | + Infinitive (to...) | 'I want to find a better job.' |
| Like, Love, Hate | + Both (Usually) | 'I like to work' OR 'I like working.' |
Some verbs change their meaning depending on which form you use!
| Verb | + Gerund (-ing) | + Infinitive (to...) |
|---|---|---|
| Forget / Remember | Memory of the past 🧠 | A duty or task in the future 📅 |
| Stop | Finish an action 🛑 | Stop one thing to do another ⏯️ |
💡 Example: 'I stopped working' (I finished) vs. 'I stopped to work' (I stopped my lunch to start work).
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | Tip 💡 |
|---|---|---|
| I want working harder. | I want to work harder. | 'Want' always takes 'to'. |
| I enjoy to help others. | I enjoy helping others. | 'Enjoy' always takes '-ing'. |
| I avoid to make mistakes. | I avoid making mistakes. | 'Avoid' takes '-ing'. |