Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Some English verbs like 'start', 'love', and 'continue' can be followed by either an -ing form or a 'to' form without changing meaning.
- Use either form with 'start' or 'begin': 'It started raining' or 'It started to rain'.
- Use either form with 'love', 'like', 'hate', 'prefer': 'I love swimming' or 'I love to swim'.
- Avoid 'double -ing': If the main verb is in -ing form, use the infinitive next.
Overview
ing形式，用作名词）还是不定式（infinitive，to + 动词原形）常常让人犹豫不决。但是，有一类非常实用且常用的动词，它们后面接动名词或不定式，意思完全一样。这对于B1水平的学习者来说，极大地简化了沟通，让你在表达喜好、开始或继续做某事时，不必担心意思会发生细微变化。掌握这一点，能让你在选择动词时更加自信流畅，不必过度思考。stop这样的动词（stop playing的意思是停止玩耍，而stop to play的意思是停下来为了玩耍），我们这里讨论的动词在后面接这两种形式时，核心意思不会改变。它们就像语言中的“万金油”，可以灵活运用这两种结构，而不会引起歧义。这在口语和书面语中都是一个很大的优势。like为例。当你 D说 I like swimming 时，你表达的是对游泳这项活动的普遍喜爱。如果你说 I like to swim，你传达的也是完全相同的普遍喜爱。选择swimming还是to swim，并没有引入新的意思，也没有暗示你喜好的不同方面。这里涉及的语言学原理是一种“意义融合”：这些特定动词的固定用法压倒了动名词和不定式通常所暗示的意义。begin和start都表示动作的开始。说 The rain began falling 或 The rain began to fall，唤起的是完全相同的画面和事件，这证明了它们之间完全可以互换。[主要动词] + [第二个动词的-ing形式]- 例如：
She loves reading novels.(这里的reading是动名词，作loves的直接宾语。) - 例如：
They started preparing dinner.(这里的preparing是动名词，跟在started后面。) - 例如：
I prefer studying in the library.(这里的studying是动名词，跟在prefer后面。)
[主要动词] + [to + 第二个动词原形]- 例如：
She loves to read novels.(这里的to read是不定式，补充说明loves。) - 例如：
They started to prepare dinner.(这里的to prepare是不定式，跟在started后面。)
- 例如：
I prefer to study in the library.(这里的to study是不定式，跟在prefer后面。)
I hate waiting 和 I hate to wait 这两句在语法上都是正确的，并且表达了对“等待”这件事的强烈厌恶。love的例子 | 接begin的例子 |主要动词 + 动词-ing | She loves singing. | The baby began crying. |主要动词 + to + 动词原形 | She loves to sing. | The baby began to cry. |like:I like watching old movies./I like to watch old movies.(我喜欢看老电影。)love:My brother loves playing video games./My brother loves to play video games.(我哥哥喜欢玩电子游戏。)hate:Many people hate doing chores./Many people hate to do chores.(很多人讨厌做家务。)prefer:Do you prefer cooking at home or eating out?/Do you prefer to cook at home or to eat out?(你更喜欢在家做饭还是出去吃？)dislike:He dislikes arguing with his friends./He dislikes to argue with his friends.(他不喜欢和朋友争吵。)can't stand: (表达强烈的厌恶)She can't stand listening to loud music./She can't stand to listen to loud music.(她受不了听吵闹的音乐。)can't bear: (与can't stand类似，常表示难以忍受某事)I can't bear seeing animals suffer./I can't bear to see animals suffer.(我不忍心看到动物受苦。)
begin:The lecturer began speaking about climate change./The lecturer began to speak about climate change.(讲师开始谈论气候变化。)start:He started working on the project last week./He started to work on the project last week.(他上周开始做这个项目。)continue:Despite the interruptions, she continued writing her essay./Despite the interruptions, she continued to write her essay.(尽管被打断了，她还是继续写她的论文。)cease: (比stop更正式)The company ceased operating in that region./The company ceased to operate in that region.(该公司停止在该地区运营。)
stop也可以是表示停止的动词，但它是一个关键的例子，说明选择动名词或不定式会改变意思。因此，stop被明确地排除在此列表之外。对于上面列出的动词，你通常可以在正式和非正式场合使用这两种形式，无论是写学术论文还是进行日常对话。这些动词提供的灵活性意味着你拥有了一个无需牺牲清晰度就能进行多样化句子构建的宝贵工具。stop:I stopped smoking.(我戒掉了抽烟的习惯。) vs.I stopped to smoke.(我停下正在做的事情，去抽根烟。) 这里，意思截然不同。学习者常常假设这种可互换性适用于所有表示开始/停止的动词，导致沟通错误。try:He tried calling her.(他试着打给她，可能看看是否能打通或她是否会接。这是一种尝试。) vs.He tried to call her.(他努力想打给她，暗示有难度或有特定目标。这是一种尽力而为的尝试。) 同样，这里的细微差别至关重要。remember/forget:I remember seeing him before.(我记得以前见过他——回忆过去的事件。) vs.I remember to see him.(我会记得去见他——一项未来的义务或提醒自己要做的事。) 这里的区别在于过去的回忆与未来的行动/义务。
to + -ing（双重补语错误）：- 错误：
I love to swimming. - 正确：
I love swimming.或I love to swim.
to (to read, to eat) 是不定式形式本身的一部分，它不充当一个可以放在 -ing 形式前面的介词。当你使用动名词时，你只是直接将其附加到主要动词后面（例如，love playing）。这两种结构是互斥的；你不能将它们混合。- 场景： 你花费大量时间在
I like going out和I like to go out之间犹豫不决，担心选择错误会改变意思，尽管你知道它们的意思相同。你可能会因为觉得某个词（比如going）在发音上更“流畅”而选择它，或者因为觉得to go听起来更“正式”而选择它，但这种选择更多是基于个人感觉而非语法规则。
remember:I remember meeting him last year.(我记得去年见过他。——回忆过去)Please remember to meet him tomorrow.(请记得明天去见他。——提醒未来的义务)
forget:I'll never forget visiting Paris.(我永远不会忘记参观巴黎。——回忆过去的经历)Don't forget to lock the door.(别忘了锁门。——提醒未来的义务)
regret:I regret saying that.(我很后悔说了那些话。——对过去行为的懊悔)We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.(我们很遗憾地通知您，您的申请未获成功。——在表达坏消息时的一种正式、客气的说法，与“后悔”不同)
stop:He stopped smoking.(他戒烟了。——停止了吸烟这个动作)He stopped to smoke.(他停下（正在做的事）去抽烟。——为了抽烟而暂停)
quit: (通常只接动名词，表示停止某习惯或工作)She quit her job.(她辞职了。)She quit working.(她停止了工作。)She quit to work.(这句话在语法上不常见，通常表示“她辞职是为了工作”，但quit her job更自然。)
try:Try adding more salt.(试试加点盐。——一种建议或实验)He tried to open the box.(他努力想打开盒子。——尽力而为，但可能没成功)
mean:It means working late every night.(这意味着每晚都要加班。——说明后果或情况)I didn't mean to hurt you.(我不是故意要伤害你。——表示意图)
remember | 回忆过去 | 记得做某事（未来） | 过去 vs. 未来 |forget | 忘记过去 | 忘记做某事（未来） | 过去 vs. 未来 |regret | 后悔（过去） | 遗憾地通知（现在/未来） | 情感 vs. 告知 |stop | 停止某个动作/习惯 | 停下来去做某事 | 停止 vs. 目的 |try | 尝试（实验性） | 努力去做（尽力） | 尝试 vs. 努力 |mean | 意味着（结果） | 意图/打算 | 结果 vs. 意图 |like或begin那样灵活。对于那些选择不同形式会改变意思的动词，你需要特别注意，并记住它们各自的用法。- 1喜好/情感类：
like,love,hate,prefer,dislike,can't stand,can't bear。 - 2开始/继续/停止类：
begin,start,continue,cease。
stop, try, remember, forget, regret等，你需要特别留意它们后面接不同形式时意义的变化。like reading和like to read两种说法？like这类动词，英语在发展过程中，允许它后面接这两种形式，并且碰巧在这两种情况下意思保持了一致。这是一种语言的演变结果，对我们学习者来说，意味着掌握了更多表达方式，但同时也需要学习这些规则。stop时，词典会明确告诉你：stop + gerund（停止某事）和stop + to-infinitive（停下来做某事）。当你查like时，它会告诉你like + gerund或like + to-infinitive，并且通常会注明“意思相同”。like, love, hate后面必须用动名词。现在又说不定式也可以，我有点混乱。like, love, hate, prefer这些表示喜好和情感的动词，现代英语中，它们后面接动名词和不定式都是非常普遍且正确的，并且意思几乎没有差别。你可以认为动名词的用法可能更强调一种习惯或普遍的感受，而不定式可能稍微侧重于某个具体情况或意图，但这种差别非常细微，在大多数情况下可以忽略不计。所以，现在你可以放心地在这些动词后面使用这两种形式，让你的表达更灵活。就像在微信聊天时，你可以用不同的词语来表达高兴，但意思都是一样的。Common Verbs with Gerund/Infinitive Flexibility
| Verb | Gerund Form (-ing) | Infinitive Form (to ...) | Meaning Change? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Start
|
I started running.
|
I started to run.
|
No
|
|
Begin
|
They began singing.
|
They began to sing.
|
No
|
|
Continue
|
She continued working.
|
She continued to work.
|
No
|
|
Like
|
I like cooking.
|
I like to cook.
|
No
|
|
Love
|
We love traveling.
|
We love to travel.
|
No
|
|
Hate
|
He hates waiting.
|
He hates to wait.
|
No
|
|
Prefer
|
I prefer driving.
|
I prefer to drive.
|
No
|
|
Can't stand
|
I can't stand lying.
|
I can't stand to lie.
|
No
|
Contractions with Preference Verbs
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I do not like
|
I don't like
|
I don't like to dance / dancing.
|
|
She does not hate
|
She doesn't hate
|
She doesn't hate to clean / cleaning.
|
|
They did not start
|
They didn't start
|
They didn't start to eat / eating.
|
Meanings
A specific group of English verbs that allow the speaker to choose between a gerund (-ing) and an infinitive (to + verb) as their object, where both structures convey the same fundamental idea.
Aspectual Verbs (Starting/Continuing)
Verbs that describe the beginning or continuation of an action.
“She began to cry.”
“She began crying.”
Verbs of Emotion/Preference
Verbs that express how we feel about an activity.
“I hate to wake up early.”
“I hate waking up early.”
Verbs of Endurance
Verbs like 'can't bear' or 'can't stand' expressing inability to tolerate something.
“I can't bear to see him suffer.”
“I can't bear seeing him suffer.”
Reference Table
| 动词 | 动名词例子 (-ing) | 不定式例子 (to do) | 含义 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
like
|
I like hiking in the mountains.
|
I like to hike in the mountains.
|
喜欢这项活动
|
|
love
|
She loves cooking for her family.
|
She loves to cook for her family.
|
非常热爱这项活动
|
|
hate
|
He hates waiting in long queues.
|
He hates to wait in long queues.
|
讨厌这项活动
|
|
prefer
|
They prefer studying at night.
|
They prefer to study at night.
|
更倾向于做某事
|
|
start
|
The children started playing outside.
|
The children started to play outside.
|
开始一个动作
|
|
begin
|
It began raining heavily.
|
It began to rain heavily.
|
开始一个动作
|
|
continue
|
We continued working on the project.
|
We continued to work on the project.
|
继续做某事
|
正式程度
I prefer to engage in photography during my leisure time. (hobbies)
I like to take photos in my free time. (hobbies)
I love taking photos when I'm free. (hobbies)
I'm totally into snapping pics. (hobbies)
动名词与不定式可互换的动词
偏好与情感
- like I like swimming / I like to swim
- love She loves cooking / She loves to cook
- hate He hates waiting / He hates to wait
- prefer We prefer studying / We prefer to study
- can't stand I can't stand losing / I can't stand to lose
开始与持续
- start It started raining / It started to rain
- begin They began working / They began to work
- continue We continued talking / We continued to talk
- cease The factory ceased operating / The factory ceased to operate
核心要点
- 意思 核心意思无区别
- 灵活性 选择听起来最顺耳的
- 常用度 在日常英语中非常常见
动名词 vs. 不定式：同义动词对照表
选择动名词还是不定式（意思不变时）
主动词是这些吗：`like`, `love`, `hate`, `prefer`, `start`, `begin`, `continue`, `can't stand`, `cease`?
你需要表达一般的偏好、情感，或者一个动作的开始/继续吗？
在句中哪种形式听起来或读起来更顺口？
可互换形式的常见动词
偏好与情感
- • `like`
- • `love`
- • `hate`
- • `prefer`
- • `dislike`
- • `can't stand`
- • `can't bear`
开始与持续
- • `start`
- • `begin`
- • `continue`
- • `cease`
核心要点
- • 意思始终相同
- • 两种形式语法都正确
- • 根据自然语感选择
按水平分级的例句
I like to swim in the sea.
I like to swim in the sea.
I like swimming in the sea.
I like swimming in the sea.
She loves to eat apples.
She loves to eat apples.
She loves eating apples.
She loves eating apples.
It started to snow at noon.
It started to snow at noon.
It started snowing at noon.
It started snowing at noon.
I hate to do homework.
I hate to do homework.
I hate doing homework.
I hate doing homework.
He continued to talk for an hour.
He continued to talk for an hour.
He continued talking for an hour.
He continued talking for an hour.
I can't stand to wait in traffic.
I can't stand to wait in traffic.
I can't stand waiting in traffic.
I can't stand waiting in traffic.
The company will begin to implement the new policy next month.
The company will begin to implement the new policy next month.
The company will begin implementing the new policy next month.
The company will begin implementing the new policy next month.
I prefer to travel alone rather than with a group.
I prefer to travel alone rather than with a group.
I prefer traveling alone rather than with a group.
I prefer traveling alone rather than with a group.
She couldn't bear to think about the consequences.
She couldn't bear to think about the consequences.
She couldn't bear thinking about the consequences.
She couldn't bear thinking about the consequences.
The rain continued to lash against the window all night.
The rain continued to lash against the window all night.
The rain continued lashing against the window all night.
The rain continued lashing against the window all night.
The protagonist begins to realize the futility of his quest.
The protagonist begins to realize the futility of his quest.
The protagonist begins realizing the futility of his quest.
The protagonist begins realizing the futility of his quest.
One might prefer to interpret the data through a different lens.
One might prefer to interpret the data through a different lens.
One might prefer interpreting the data through a different lens.
One might prefer interpreting the data through a different lens.
容易混淆
Learners think all verbs that take both forms have no meaning change.
Learners use the gerund after 'would like' because they can use it after 'like'.
Learners think 'enjoy' is interchangeable like 'like'.
常见错误
I like for to swim.
I like to swim.
I like swim.
I like swimming / I like to swim.
I love to swimming.
I love swimming / I love to swim.
I am like eating.
I like eating.
It is starting raining.
It is starting to rain.
I would like eating.
I would like to eat.
I begin to working.
I begin to work / I begin working.
I prefer to walk than drive.
I prefer walking to driving / I prefer to walk rather than drive.
I can't stand to waiting.
I can't stand to wait / I can't stand waiting.
He continued to having fun.
He continued to have fun / He continued having fun.
I like to having my coffee early.
I like to have my coffee early.
句型
I started ___ (verb-ing) when I was ___ (age).
I can't stand ___ (verb-ing) in the ___ (place).
If it rains, we will continue ___ (to verb).
I prefer ___ (verb-ing) to ___ (verb-ing).
Real World Usage
I'm starting to get hungry!
I love working in team environments.
I prefer to have the dressing on the side.
Continue driving for two miles.
Loves traveling and meeting new people.
When did it start to hurt?
跟着语感走
I love swimming in the lake.
并非所有动词都这么随和！
I stopped smoking.用你的喜好来练习
I prefer drinking tea in the morning.
地区偏好确实存在
It started raining suddenly.
Smart Tips
Stick to one form for consistency. Either use all gerunds or all infinitives.
Instantly delete the -ing option from your mind. Only 'to' works here.
Use the infinitive to avoid the 'ing-ing' sound.
Use 'ing' + 'to' + 'ing' for the smoothest comparison.
发音
The 'to' reduction
In the infinitive form, 'to' is often reduced to /tə/ (schwa sound).
The -ing ending
The 'g' in -ing is often soft or silent in casual speech (nasal /ŋ/).
Emphasis on the verb
I LOVE ↗ swimming.
Conveys strong emotion.
记住它
记忆技巧
S.L.C.H. (Start, Love, Continue, Hate) — either way is Great!
视觉联想
Imagine a fork in the road where both paths lead to the exact same house. One path is labeled '-ing' and the other is 'to'.
Rhyme
Start or begin, to or -ing, it doesn't change a single thing!
Story
A chef started to cook (or started cooking). He loved to eat (or loved eating). He continued to work (or continued working) because he hated to stop (or hated stopping).
Word Web
挑战
Write 5 sentences about your morning routine using a different 'either-or' verb in each, alternating between gerunds and infinitives.
文化笔记
Americans slightly favor the infinitive ('I like to eat') in many daily contexts compared to some British dialects.
British speakers often use the gerund ('I like eating') to describe general enjoyment of an activity.
In formal research, 'begin' and 'continue' followed by an infinitive are very common to describe processes.
The gerund and infinitive have competed as verbal complements in English for centuries.
对话开场白
What is something you started to do recently?
Do you prefer to work in the morning or at night?
Is there a food you can't stand to eat?
What do you love doing on rainy days?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Score: /3
练习题
8 exercisesI love ___ to music while I work.
Find and fix the mistake:
It is starting raining very hard.
I would like ___ a pizza tonight.
She began to cry when she heard the news.
The verbs 'start' and 'begin' have a different meaning when followed by a gerund versus an infinitive.
A: Do you want to go for a run? B: No, I hate ___ in the heat.
Identify the verb that only takes one form.
1. I prefer... 2. I would prefer...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesI `love` ___ new restaurants in the city.
Choose the correct sentence:
They continued to working on the project despite the late hour.
Translate into English: '我讨厌在堵车中等待。'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the verbs with the correct forms:
He `can't stand` ___ in noisy environments.
My dog begins to barking whenever the doorbell rings.
Translate into English: '我更喜欢在早上喝茶。'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /11
常见问题 (8)
For verbs like `start` and `love`, the difference is so small that even native speakers don't notice it. Some say the gerund is more 'general' and the infinitive is more 'specific', but you can safely use them interchangeably.
This is called the 'Double -ing' rule. English avoids having two words ending in -ing right next to each other because it sounds repetitive and is harder to pronounce.
No! `Stop` is a 'meaning-change' verb. 'Stop to smoke' means you paused to have a cigarette. 'Stop smoking' means you quit the habit.
Both are common. In formal writing, `begin` and `continue` followed by an infinitive (`to work`) are very frequent, but the gerund is also perfectly acceptable.
Be careful! If you use the gerund, use 'to': 'I prefer `swimming` to `running`'. If you use the infinitive, use 'rather than': 'I prefer `to swim` rather than `run`'.
Yes, `can't stand` fits this rule. 'I can't stand waiting' and 'I can't stand to wait' are both correct, though the gerund is more common in spoken English.
There is a slight statistical preference for 'like to' in American English and 'like -ing' in British English, but both are used in both dialects.
No. Any preference verb with `would` (would like, would love, would prefer) must be followed by the infinitive.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Infinitivo
Spanish speakers must learn to use the -ing form as an option in English.
Infinitif
French has no equivalent to the English gerund used as a verb object.
zu + Infinitiv / Nominalisierung
German doesn't have the 'either-or' flexibility within the same sentence structure.
Koto / No (Nominalizers)
The choice in Japanese often depends on whether the action is perceptible or abstract.
Masdar / An + Present
The choice is often more grammatically rigid than in English.
Verb as Object
Chinese learners must remember to add 'to' or '-ing' in English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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被动语态动名词和不定式 (being done / to be done)
### Overview 对于母语为中文的英语学习者来说，掌握“被动动名词”(`passive gerunds`)和“被动不定式”(`passive infinitives`)是...
Stop + 动名词 vs 不定式: 停止做某事 vs 停下来做某事
### Overview 在英语的语法世界里，动词的后面可以跟不同的结构，而这些结构的选择往往会带来意思上的细微差别。其中一个非常重...
Infinitives and Gerunds: Verb Patterns (Want to Go / Enjoy Going)
## Infinitives and Gerunds: Verb Patterns ### Verbs + to + infinitive - **want**: I want **to eat**. - **need**: She ne...
英语分词从句：同时做两件事 (V-ing)
### Overview 作为一名 C1 级别的英语学习者，你可能已经掌握了如何用 `and`、`but`、`because` 或 `while` 来连接句子。然而，...
