B1 · Intermedio Capítulo 5

¡Haz que tu inglés fluya! Domina el uso de -ing y To

5 Reglas totales
60 ejemplos
5 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of connecting your thoughts smoothly using gerunds and infinitives in everyday conversation.

  • Describe feelings and experiences using adjectives and infinitives.
  • Connect actions after prepositions using gerunds.
  • Express plans and causal relationships with confidence.
Connect your world with confidence and flow.

Lo que aprenderás

¡Es hora de que tu inglés deje de sonar como una lista de palabras sueltas y empiece a fluir de verdad! En este capítulo, vamos a desbloquear el secreto para conectar tus ideas de forma natural, algo fundamental para sonar más profesional y auténtico en este nivel intermedio. Primero, aprenderás a expresar opiniones sobre acciones usando estructuras como adjective + to-infinitive (por ejemplo, 'It’s easy to learn'). Pero el inglés tiene sus trucos: descubrirás por qué después de una preposición como 'for', 'in' o 'about' siempre debemos usar el gerundio (-ing), corrigiendo ese error tan común de traducir directamente del español. También dominaremos cómo hablar de tus pasatiempos usando 'go' (como 'go shopping') y cómo expresar entusiasmo por el futuro con la frase clave 'look forward to'. Finalmente, aprenderás a diferenciar entre obligar (make) y permitir (let) sin perder la estructura correcta. ¿Te imaginas enviando un correo de negocios diciendo 'I look forward to meeting you' con total seguridad? O quizás contándole a un amigo que 'it's hard to choose' qué restaurante visitar. Al terminar este capítulo, habrás transformado oraciones simples en pensamientos complejos y naturales. ¡Prepárate para llevar tu fluidez al siguiente nivel!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe your daily routine and future plans using varied verb patterns.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Mastering how to connect your thoughts smoothly is a huge step in sounding more natural and confident in English. At the B1 level, you're moving beyond basic sentences and really starting to express more complex ideas, feelings, and plans. This guide will show you how to effortlessly link verbs, adjectives, and prepositions using -ing forms (gerunds) and to-infinitives.
This isn't just about passing a grammar test; it's about making your everyday conversations richer and more authentic, whether you're describing how easy it is to learn something new or sharing what you're excited about doing.
Many B1 English grammar learners find that using gerunds and infinitives can feel a bit tricky at first, especially knowing when to use -ing and when to use to. That's why we're breaking down key patterns like Adjective + To-Infinitive, understanding Gerunds After Prepositions, and correctly using phrases like look forward to or verbs like make and let. By the end of this chapter, you'll have a clear understanding of these essential structures, enhancing your ability to connect ideas with -ing and to more effectively and improving your overall fluency.
Get ready to elevate your English communication!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into how these structures help you link your ideas seamlessly. First, we often use an Adjective + To-Infinitive to express opinions, feelings, or qualities about an action. For example, "It's easy to learn English or I'm happy to help you." The adjective (easy, happy) describes the *quality* or *feeling* connected to the action (to learn, to help).
This pattern allows you to clearly state how something is perceived.
Next, prepositions are little words that pack a big punch. When a verb follows a preposition, that verb must always take its -ing form, known as a gerund. This is because the gerund acts like a noun.
Think of "I'm good at speaking English or Thanks for coming." Here, 'at' and 'for' are prepositions, so 'speak' becomes speaking and 'come' becomes coming. This rule is crucial for correct sentence structure after words like for, in, about, of, and with.
Building on the gerund, certain common phrases involve go + gerund for leisure activities. If you like sports or hobbies, you often
go swimming,
go shopping,
or
go fishing.
It's a natural way to talk about activities that involve movement and are done for enjoyment. Then there's the special case of look forward to.
Many learners mistakenly use an infinitive here, but the 'to' in 'look forward to' is actually a preposition. Therefore, it must be followed by a gerund: "I'm really looking forward to seeing you or She's looking forward to starting her new job." The 'to' here is part of a fixed expression, not an infinitive marker.
Finally, we have make and let, two powerful verbs that describe influencing others. When you use make (meaning to force or cause) or let (meaning to allow), the verb that follows them is always the base form (without to). For instance,
My boss made me work overtime
(forced me) or
My parents let me go to the party
(allowed me).
Understanding these patterns will significantly improve your accuracy in connecting actions and intentions.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ It's difficult for understand this.
✓ It's difficult to understand this.
*Explanation: After an adjective expressing difficulty, we use the to-infinitive.*
  1. 1✗ I'm interested in to learn new languages.
✓ I'm interested in learning new languages.
*Explanation: A verb following a preposition (like 'in') must always be in the -ing form (gerund).*
  1. 1✗ We are looking forward to meet you.
✓ We are looking forward to meeting you.
*Explanation: The 'to' in 'look forward to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a gerund.*

Real Conversations

A

A

"I'm so happy to be here in London!"
B

B

"Me too! It's an exciting city to explore. Are you looking forward to visiting the museums tomorrow?"
A

A

"Absolutely! I'm really good at finding the best exhibits."
A

A

My sister made me clean her room today.
B

B

"Oh, that's rough! My parents usually let me choose my own chores. Are you still planning on going shopping later?"
A

A

"Yes, I need some new shoes. I'm thinking about going to Oxford Street."

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use -ing after 'to'?

You use -ing after 'to' when 'to' is part of a phrasal verb or a fixed expression where 'to' acts as a preposition, such as 'look forward to', 'be used to', or 'object to'. Otherwise, 'to' is usually followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive).

Q

Can I say go to swim instead of go swimming?

While go to swim isn't grammatically incorrect, it sounds less natural for a leisure activity.

Go swimming
is the standard and much more common way to talk about the activity. Go to swim might imply going *to a place* for the purpose of swimming, rather than the activity itself.

Q

What's the difference between make and let in terms of grammar?

Both make and let are followed by the base form of the verb (without 'to'). The difference is in meaning: make means to force or cause someone to do something (e.g.,

She made me laugh
), while let means to permit or allow someone to do something (e.g.,
He let me borrow his car
).

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these patterns constantly in everyday conversation. The choice between -ing and to-infinitive often comes down to ingrained habits rather than conscious rule application. For instance, looking forward to is extremely common when discussing future plans, conveying enthusiasm.
While formal writing adheres strictly to these rules, casual speech might occasionally have slight deviations, but understanding the standard forms will always make you sound more natural and avoid miscommunication.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

It's `easy to make` friends in this city.

Es fácil hacer amigos en esta ciudad.

Adjetivo + Infinitivo (Es fácil aprender)
2

The new app was `simple to use` even for beginners.

La nueva aplicación fue sencilla de usar incluso para principiantes.

Adjetivo + Infinitivo (Es fácil aprender)
3

Thank you `for helping` me with my homework.

Gracias por ayudarme con mi tarea.

Gerundios después de preposiciones (Por qué usamos -ing después de 'For', 'In', 'About')
4

She is really good `at solving` puzzles.

Ella es muy buena resolviendo rompecabezas.

Gerundios después de preposiciones (Por qué usamos -ing después de 'For', 'In', 'About')
5

My friends and I `go camping` every summer.

Mis amigos y yo vamos de campamento cada verano.

Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)
6

She `is going shopping` for a new dress this afternoon.

Ella va de compras por un vestido nuevo esta tarde.

Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)
7

I'm really `looking forward to starting` my new course next week.

Estoy deseando empezar mi nuevo curso la semana que viene.

Tener ganas de + Gerundio (Emocionado por el futuro)
8

Are you `looking forward to visiting` your grandparents this summer?

¿Estás deseando visitar a tus abuelos este verano?

Tener ganas de + Gerundio (Emocionado por el futuro)

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

Tipos de adjetivos para esto

Concéntrate en adjetivos que expresen opinión, emoción o características (como good, bad, easy, hard, happy, sad, important, possible). Son tus aliados para esta estructura. "It's good to try new things."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjetivo + Infinitivo (Es fácil aprender)
💡

¡Las preposiciones son exigentes!

Imagina que las preposiciones son como los guardias de seguridad en una discoteca; solo dejan pasar ciertas formas. Para los verbos, siempre es la forma '-ing' (el gerundio). Ten esta regla en mente y evitarás muchos errores comunes. "Keep this rule in mind, and you'll avoid many common errors!"
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Gerundios después de preposiciones (Por qué usamos -ing después de 'For', 'In', 'About')
💡

Piensa: 'Primero la Actividad'

Cuando dudes si usar 'go + verb-ing', pregúntate si la palabra en -ing describe la *actividad principal* a la que te diriges. Si es un deporte, un pasatiempo o un tipo específico de compras, ¡vas por buen camino! "When I'm bored, I often go browsing at the mall."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)
💡

Piensa en 'Preposición + Sustantivo'

Recuerda que el to en look forward to funciona como una preposición. Igual que dices to the store (un sustantivo), dices to working (un gerundio que actúa como sustantivo). Este truco mental te ayudará a fijar la regla.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tener ganas de + Gerundio (Emocionado por el futuro)

Vocabulario clave (5)

Excited very happy/enthusiastic Permission allowing someone to do something Recreational related to hobbies/fun Fluent speaking easily Interested in wanting to learn more

Real-World Preview

coffee

Planning the Weekend

Review Summary

  • It + be + Adj + to + verb
  • Prep + verb-ing
  • Go + verb-ing
  • Look forward to + verb-ing
  • Make/Let + object + base verb

Errores comunes

'Look forward to' uses 'to' as a preposition, so you must follow it with a gerund.

Wrong: I look forward to see you.
Correcto: I look forward to seeing you.

Adjectives need the 'to' particle to connect to the infinitive verb.

Wrong: It is easy learn English.
Correcto: It is easy to learn English.

After 'make' or 'let', we use the base form of the verb without 'to'.

Wrong: She made me to go.
Correcto: She made me go.

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job today. Keep practicing, and you'll be speaking like a native in no time!

Write a diary entry for tomorrow using all 5 rules.

Continue to: Domina los matices: Cómo cambiar el sentido de tus verbos

Práctica rápida (10)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

The book was difficult understanding.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The book was difficult to understand.
El adjetivo 'difficult' requiere un 'to-infinitive' ('to understand') después, no un gerundio ('understanding').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjetivo + Infinitivo (Es fácil aprender)

Qué oración usa correctamente un gerundio después de una preposición?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'm thinking about buying a new car.
La preposición 'about' requiere que la siga un gerundio (forma '-ing').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Gerundios después de preposiciones (Por qué usamos -ing después de 'For', 'In', 'About')

¿Qué oración usa correctamente 'make' o 'let'?

Elige la oración correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My friend let me borrow his book.
La estructura correcta es 'let + objeto + verbo base'. 'To' no debe usarse.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Make vs Let: Forzar vs Permitir (Verbo Base)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

The unexpected news made her to feel very excited.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The unexpected news made her feel very excited.
Con 'make + objeto', el verbo subsiguiente debe estar en su forma base sin 'to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Make vs Let: Forzar vs Permitir (Verbo Base)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

He is very good at to cook Italian food.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is very good at cooking Italian food.
Después de la preposición 'at', debemos usar la forma de gerundio del verbo. 'Cooking' es el gerundio correcto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Gerundios después de preposiciones (Por qué usamos -ing después de 'For', 'In', 'About')

Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

They went to shopping at the new mall yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They went shopping at the new mall yesterday.
No usamos 'to' entre 'go' (o 'went') y la forma -ing de la actividad. Debe ser 'went shopping'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)

Elige la forma correcta para completar la frase.

It's so important ___ your friends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to support
Después de 'important' (adjetivo), usamos el 'to-infinitive' para describir la acción. 'To support' es la forma correcta.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjetivo + Infinitivo (Es fácil aprender)

Elige la forma correcta para completar la oración.

My parents always let me ___ my own decisions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: make
Después de 'let + objeto', el verbo debe estar en su forma base sin 'to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Make vs Let: Forzar vs Permitir (Verbo Base)

¿Qué frase usa correctamente la estructura 'go + gerundio'?

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I like to go swimming in the lake.
El patrón correcto es 'go' seguido directamente de la forma -ing de la actividad, 'swimming'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)

Elige la forma correcta para completar la frase.

My family often _____ fishing on weekends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: goes
Como 'My family' es singular, usamos la forma de tercera persona del singular 'goes'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Es una forma de conectar un adjetivo que describe una cualidad o sentimiento directamente a una acción, contándonos cómo se percibe esa acción. Piensa en "It's easy to learn o It's important to study".
¡Absolutamente! Frases como "It's hard to understand y It's good to see you" son súper comunes y suenan muy naturales en las conversaciones en inglés.
Un gerundio es la forma '-ing' de un verbo que funciona como sustantivo. Por ejemplo, en 'Swimming is fun', 'swimming' es un gerundio que actúa como el sujeto de la oración.
Las preposiciones siempre van seguidas de sustantivos o pronombres. Como un gerundio es un verbo que actúa como sustantivo, cumple con este requisito gramatical cuando quieres usar una acción después de una preposición.
La regla básica es usar 'go' (en cualquier tiempo verbal) seguido inmediatamente de la forma -ing de un verbo para describir la participación en una actividad, especialmente las recreativas. Por ejemplo,
I go swimming
(voy a nadar) o
They went shopping
(fueron de compras).
La forma -ing actúa como un gerundio, funcionando como un sustantivo. Así que, cuando dices
go fishing
(ir de pesca), básicamente estás diciendo 'ir a la actividad de pescar', haciendo de la actividad el objeto directo de tu movimiento.
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