Module 4 · Gerunds & Infinitives

Verbs That Take Both — Same Meaning

Intermediate40 min25 questions7 sections

Step 1

Quick Look

Good news chapter. A small club of verbs — BEGIN, START, CONTINUE, LIKE, LOVE, HATE, PREFER, CAN’T BEAR — accepts both the gerund and the infinitive with no real change in meaning. ‘It started raining’ = ‘It started to rain.’ This chapter teaches the club, plus the three style rules that decide which form sounds better where.

Sentence TypeStructure + Example

The club

begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer, can’t bear, propose, bother

Both correct

She loves showing flats. = She loves to show flats. / It began raining. = It began to rain.

But watch

WOULD like/love/prefer/hate

infinitive ONLY: I would like to see it. (never ‘would like seeing’)

The golden rule: the moment WOULD joins the feeling verbs, the choice disappears — would like, would love, would prefer, would hate take the infinitive only. ‘I like swimming’ and ‘I like to swim’ are both fine; ‘I would like swimming’ is not English.

The peace zone: both forms, same meaning

Ten verbs sit in the overlap — but WOULD pushes like / love / prefer / hate out of it, into the to + V1 side.

Step 2

When to Use It

Use 1

The both-camp in action

Pick either form — meaning survives intact.

He started investing in plots in 2012. = He started to invest in plots in 2012.
She continued working after the wedding. = She continued to work after the wedding.
I hate haggling over small amounts. = I hate to haggle over small amounts.

Use 2

Style rule 1 — avoid the -ing pile-up

If the main verb is already continuous, choose the infinitive to dodge the double -ing.

It was starting to rain when we reached the site. (better than ‘was starting raining’)
Prices are beginning to stabilise in that sector.
He’s continuing to manage both offices for now.

Use 3

Style rule 2 — WOULD locks the infinitive

The politeness forms from Module 3 reject gerunds completely.

I would love to see the rooftop plan.
We would prefer to route the payment through RTGS.
She would hate to lose this location.

Use 4

Style rule 3 — general taste vs. specific occasion (a light shade)

A gentle tendency, not a law: gerund leans towards the activity in general; infinitive towards habit- as-choice.

I like walking. (the activity itself pleases me)
I like to walk after dinner — it keeps the sugar in check. (my chosen routine)
Both are correct; native ears just hear this faint shade.

Step 3

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए

इस club के verbs दोनों form लेते हैं, मतलब वही रहता है:

बारिश शुरू हो गई। It started raining. = It started to rain. दोनों 100% सही।

मुझे पढ़ना पसंद है।

I like reading. = I like to read.

पर एक ताला याद रखो: WOULD लगते ही सिर्फ़ infinitive — मैं देखना चाहूँगा I would like TO SEE it (‘would like seeing’ नहीं)।

और style का एक नियम: अगर वाक्य पहले से -ing में है (was starting...), तो दूसरा verb to-form में रखो — ‘was starting raining’ कानों को बुरा लगता है, ‘was starting to rain’ सही बहता है।

Step 4

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong

Right

Why

I would like seeing the sample flat today.

I would like to see the sample flat today.

Would like infinitive only. The single biggest error with this club.

We would prefer meeting on Sunday.

We would prefer to meet on Sunday.

Would prefer infinitive only, same lock.

It was beginning raining heavily.

It was beginning to rain heavily.

Continuous main verb choose the infinitive; avoid the -ing pile- up.

She likes to swimming in the morning.

She likes swimming / likes to swim in the morning.

Pick one form cleanly — ‘to’ + ‘-ing’ together is never English.

He continued to worked after retirement age.

He continued to work / continued working after retirement age.

After ‘to’, the verb is base form — never past.

I hate to waiting in government offices.

I hate waiting / hate to wait in government offices.

Same mixing error — commit to one form.

Step 5

Signal Words

Quick decision guide:

Club members: begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer, can’t bear either form

WOULD + like/love/prefer/hate infinitive, no choice

Main verb already in -ing pick the infinitive for flow

In doubt? The infinitive is never wrong with this club.

Which form sounds better? Two quick checks

The three style rules as a route: WOULD first, then a continuous main verb, then free choice.

Step 6

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10

1
It suddenly began (rain) during the bhoomi pujan. (either form)
2
I would love (visit) your Shukratal farmhouse someday.
3
She was starting (lose) patience with the contractor. (choose the smoother form)
4
He continues (advise) us even after retirement. (either form)
5
We would prefer (finalise) everything before Navratri.
6
The kids love (play) in the society park. (either form)
7
I can’t bear (see) good inventory sit unsold. (either form)
8
Would you like (add) your wife as co-owner?
9
Prices are beginning (move) in Sector 10. (choose the smoother form)
10
I hate (say) this, but the quote is too high. (fixed opener — infinitive)

Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8

11
I would like meeting your architect.
12
She would prefer taking the corner unit.
13
It was starting raining, so we moved the machines inside.
14
He likes to reading the newspaper on the terrace.
15
They would hate losing this client.
16
We started to renovated the lobby last week.
17
I love to swimming in the club pool.
18
Would you love come with us to the expo? (fix fully)

Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7

19
बारिश शुरू हो गई। (दोनों तरीक़ों से लिखो)
20
मैं आपका project देखना चाहूँगा।
21
वह शादी के बाद भी काम करती रही।
22
मुझे सुबह की चाय के साथ अख़बार पढ़ना पसंद है।
23
हम रविवार को मिलना पसंद करेंगे... मतलब, हमें रविवार ज़्यादा ठीक रहेगा।
24
मुझे यह कहना अच्छा नहीं लग रहा, पर rate बहुत ज़्यादा है।
25
बच्चे बारिश में खेलना पसंद करते हैं।

Step 7

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers

Answers · Set A

raining / to rain

to visit

to lose

advising / to advise

to finalise

playing / to play

seeing / to see

to add

to move

to say

Answers · Set B

I would like to meet your architect. (Would like infinitive.)

She would prefer to take the corner unit. (Would prefer infinitive.)

It was starting to rain, so we moved the machines inside. (Dodge the double -ing.)

He likes reading / likes to read the newspaper on the terrace. (One clean form.)

They would hate to lose this client. (Would hate infinitive.)

We started to renovate / started renovating the lobby last week. (Base form after to.)

I love swimming / love to swim in the club pool. (One clean form.)

Would you like to come with us to the expo? (Would like + to + V1.)

Answers · Set C

It started raining. / It started to rain.

I would like to see your project.

She continued working / continued to work even after her wedding.

I like reading the newspaper with my morning tea. / I love to read the paper over morning chai.

We would prefer to meet on Sunday.

I hate to say this, but the rate is too high.

Children love playing / love to play in the rain.

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Next up · Chapter 5Verbs That Take Both — Different Meanings

Verbs that take both forms with DIFFERENT meanings: stop smoking vs. stop to smoke, remember locking vs. remember to lock.