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Unit 58 · -ing and to …

Verb + -ing or to … 3 (like / would like etc.)

Study

A

When you talk about repeated actions, you can use -ing or to … after these verbs. So you can say:

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Do you like getting up early? or Do you like to get up early?

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Stephanie hates flying. or Stephanie hates to fly.

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I love meeting people. or I love to meet people.

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I don’t like being kept waiting. or … like to be kept waiting.

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I don’t like friends calling me at work. or … friends to call me at work.

but

(1) We use -ing (not to …) when we talk about a situation that already exists (or existed). For example:

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Paul lives in Berlin now. He likes living there. (he lives there now and he likes it)

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Do you like being a student? (you are a student – do you like it?)

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The office I worked in was horrible. I hated working there. (I worked there and I hated it)

(2) There is sometimes a difference between I like to do and I like doing:

I like doing something = I do it and I enjoy it:

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I like cleaning the kitchen. (= I enjoy it.)

I like to do something = I choose to do it (but maybe I don’t enjoy it):

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It’s not my favourite job, but I like to clean the kitchen as often as possible.

Note that we use -ing (not to …) with enjoy and mind:

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I enjoy cleaning the kitchen. (not I enjoy to clean)

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I don’t mind cleaning the kitchen. (not I don’t mind to clean)

B

Would like / would love etc. are usually followed by to … :

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I’d like (= I would like) to go away for a few days.

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What would you like to do this evening?

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I wouldn’t like to go on holiday alone.

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I’d love to meet your family.

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Would you prefer to eat now or later?

Compare I like and I would like (I’d like):

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I like playing tennis. / I like to play tennis. (= I like it in general)

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I’d like to play tennis today. (= I want to play today)

Would mind is followed by -ing:

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Would you mind closing the door, please? (not mind to close)

C

I would like to have done something = I regret now that I didn’t or couldn’t do it:

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It’s a shame we didn’t see Anna. I would like to have seen her again.

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We’d like to have gone away, but we were too busy at home.

We use the same structure after would love / would hate / would prefer:

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Poor David! I would hate to have been in his position.

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I’d love to have gone to the party, but it was impossible.

enjoy/mind ➜ Unit 53 would like ➜ Units 37E, 55A prefer ➜ Unit 59

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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58.1

Write sentences about yourself. Do you like these activities? Choose from these verbs:

  1. 1
    (flying)example
  2. 2
    (playing cards)
  3. 3
    (being alone)
  4. 4
    (going to museums)
  5. 5
    (cooking)
  6. 6
    (getting up early)
58.2

Make sentences using -ing or to … . Sometimes either form is possible.

  1. 1
    Paul lives in Berlin now. It’s nice. He likes it.
    (He / like / live / there) example
  2. 2
    Jane is a biology teacher. She likes her job
    (She / like / teach / biology) She
  3. 3
    Joe always has his camera with him and takes a lot of pictures.
    (He / like / take / pictures)
  4. 4
    I used to work in a supermarket. I didn’t like it much.
    (I / not / like / work / there)
  5. 5
    Rachel is studying medicine. She likes it.
    (She / like / study / medicine)
  6. 6
    Dan is famous, but he doesn’t like it.
    (He / not / like / be / famous)
  7. 7
    Jennifer is a very careful person. She doesn’t take many risks.
    (She / not / like / take / risks)
  8. 8
    I don’t like surprises.
    (I / like / know / things / in advance)
58.3

Complete the sentences with a verb in the correct form, -ing or to … . In two sentences either form is possible.

  1. 1
    It’s fun to go to new places – I enjoy .example
  2. 2
    ‘Would you like down?’ ‘No, thanks. I’ll stand.’
  3. 3
    The music is very loud. Would you mind it down?
  4. 4
    How do you relax? What do you like in your spare time?
  5. 5
    When I have to take a train, I’m always worried that I’ll miss it. So I like to the station in plenty of time.
  6. 6
    I enjoy busy. I don’t like it when there’s nothing to do.
  7. 7
    I would love to your wedding, but I’m afraid I’ll be away.
  8. 8
    I don’t like in this part of town. I want to move somewhere else.
  9. 9
    Do you have a minute? I’d like to you about something.
  10. 10
    If there’s bad news and good news, I like the bad news first.
  11. 11
    Shall we leave now, or would you prefer a little?
  12. 12
    Steve wants to win every time. He hates .
58.4

Write sentences using would … to have (done). Use the verbs in brackets.

  1. 1
    It’s a shame I couldn’t go to the party. (like)
    example
  2. 2
    It’s a shame I didn’t see the programme. (like)
  3. 3
    I’m glad I didn’t lose my watch. (hate)
  4. 4
    It’s too bad I didn’t meet your parents. (love)
  5. 5
    I’m glad I wasn’t alone. (not / like)
  6. 6
    We should have travelled by train. (prefer)