Infinitive or -ing - Sort the Verbs

Put the verbs in the right folder

Some verbs are followed by the infinitive, some by the -ing form, and after a few of them the verb loses "to". Drag each verb into its folder.

to + infinitive

-ing form

be busy

offer

mind

promise

should

it's worth

must

would rather

can't help

expect

hate

decide

would

hope

would like

imagine

want

fail

seem

risk

involve

refuse

will

spend

confess

it's no use

miss

agree

had better

choose

avoid

can

enjoy

manage

suggest

deny

could

love

can't stand

admit

may

would love

look forward to

let

make

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bare infinitive

Rule: Infinitive or -ing ShowHide

to + infinitive

after agree, choose, decide, expect, fail, hope, manage, offer, promise, refuse, seem, want, would like, would love

He managed to open the door.
I'd love to visit India one day.

Also to say why: She visits farms to take care of the animals.

-ing form

after admit, avoid, confess, deny, enjoy, imagine, involve, mind, miss, risk, suggest, love, hate, can't stand, can't help, look forward to, spend (time), be busy, it's worth, it's no use

She doesn't mind getting up early.
There's no use asking me about it.

Also after prepositions and as the subject: Swimming keeps you fit.

Infinitive without to

after modal verbs (can, could, must, should, may, will, would), make, let, had better, would rather

Her stepmother made her do the housework.
You'd better go now.

Look at the whole phrase: love + -ing (I love swimming), but would love + to (I'd love to swim). look forward to ends with a preposition, so -ing follows: I look forward to seeing you.

Forty-five verbs on one page. A card refuses the folder it does not belong to, so the task can be finished by trial as well as by memory.