Verb patterns worksheets: -ing or to-infinitive
66 worksheets · Modals & verb patterns
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Verb patterns (-ing / to) worksheets
66 printable worksheets with answer keys; the 24 most used, easiest level first.
About Verb patterns (-ing / to)
When one verb follows another, the second takes a form that depends on the first. Some verbs take the -ing form (enjoy, finish, avoid, mind: I enjoy swimming), others take to + infinitive (want, decide, hope, promise: She decided to leave), and some take either. With like, love and start the difference is small, but with stop, remember, forget and try the meaning changes: I stopped smoking vs I stopped to smoke.
Learners meet like + -ing and want to at A1, extend the lists at A2–B1, and study changes in meaning at B2. Because the patterns are largely lexical, errors are frequent: *I want going, *I enjoy to read, *She suggested to go, and the base form after prepositions (*interested in learn).
Here you'll find printable verb patterns worksheets with answer keys, which can be printed as PDFs or solved online through a class link.
Teaching tips: Verb patterns (-ing / to)
- Teach verbs in chunks with their pattern (enjoy doing, decide to do) and have learners record them in two columns.
- Show that after a preposition we always use -ing: good at drawing, thinking about moving.
- Use a personalized find-someone-who with prompts such as enjoys cooking or wants to live abroad.
- Contrast remember to do (then do it) with remember doing (a memory of the past) on a timeline.
- Watch for *I want that you come: want takes object + to-infinitive, so I want you to come.
Questions teachers ask
Is there a rule for choosing -ing or to-infinitive?
Not a complete one. As a tendency, the to-infinitive often looks forward (want, plan, hope), while -ing often refers to something ongoing or already experienced (enjoy, miss, admit), but each verb's pattern still has to be learned.
Which verbs change meaning with -ing and to?
The most common are stop, remember, forget, try, regret and go on. For example, I tried opening the window (as an experiment to solve a problem) vs I tried to open the window (but couldn't).
When should beginners meet verb patterns?
From A1, as fixed phrases such as I like playing and I want to go. Explicit rules and longer lists work better from A2–B1.