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JohnKeats Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Likes and dislikes
I’m going to do a Learning Unit and teach my 12-year-old students how to use verbs and phrases expressing likes and dislikes, for instance “love, like, hate, can’t stand, don’t/doesn’t mind” etc. I’m aware the topic may be pretty difficult because “love, like and hate” can be followed by either the
–ing form or the infinitive. I’d like to make things easier for my kids.
Here are some examples:
(1) I’m not a sporty type. I like lying/to lie in bed and I love reading/to read comics.
(2) In my free time I like meeting/to meet friends, going/go to the cinema or the theatre. And I love dancing/to dance. I’m a very good dancer.
(3) My friend George is a very good student. He doesn’t mind doing homework. I’m quite different. I hate studying/to study.
My question is: are the –ing form and the infinitive virtually interchangeable without affecting the meaning of the sentences? If so, is it just a matter of personal style?
Thank you.
JK
–ing form or the infinitive. I’d like to make things easier for my kids.
Here are some examples:
(1) I’m not a sporty type. I like lying/to lie in bed and I love reading/to read comics.
(2) In my free time I like meeting/to meet friends, going/go to the cinema or the theatre. And I love dancing/to dance. I’m a very good dancer.
(3) My friend George is a very good student. He doesn’t mind doing homework. I’m quite different. I hate studying/to study.
My question is: are the –ing form and the infinitive virtually interchangeable without affecting the meaning of the sentences? If so, is it just a matter of personal style?
Thank you.
JK
Top answer
JohnKeats My question is: are the –ing form and the infinitive virtually interchangeable without affecting the meaning of the sentences? If so, is it just a matter of personal style? Sometimes, and sometimes not.
- JohnKeats My question is: are the –ing form and the infinitive virtually interchangeable without affecting the meaning of the sentences?
- If so, is it just a matter of personal style?
- Sometimes, and sometimes not.
- It all depends on the main verb.
- Consider these: I forgot locking the door.
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4 Answers
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JohnKeatsMy question is: are the –ing form and the infinitive virtually interchangeable without affecting the meaning of the sentences? If so, is it just a matter of personal style?Sometimes, and sometimes not. It all depends on the main verb.
Consider these:
I forgot locking the door.
I forgot to lock the door.
They do not have
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Hi, Alphecca Stars.
Your examples with "forget" are very clear to me. The same is true of "remember" and "stop".
What about the examples I posted? I'm interested in verbs which express likes and dislikes.
Thank you very much.
JK
Your examples with "forget" are very clear to me. The same is true of "remember" and "stop".
What about the examples I posted? I'm interested in verbs which express likes and dislikes.
Thank you very much.
JK
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I think the only ones that might get you into trouble are those where the -ing form is also a noun or very noun-like.
In those cases there could be some chance for confusion.
I love dancing.
I love singing.
In these cases the speaker may like to see other people dance or sing. For example, I love singing can mean I like to hear
In those cases there could be some chance for confusion.
I love dancing.
I love singing.
In these cases the speaker may like to see other people dance or sing. For example, I love singing can mean I like to hear
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