Asking for native English speaker -
Hello!
There are some verbs which is optional to use the infinitive or the gerund.
Do you usually use the gerund or the infinitive? Did you learn how to use them at school or speaking in daily basis when you were child?
For example:
1 - I like to watch tv show.
2 - I like watching tv show
In Brazil we don't have the number 2 structure in our language and we learn it just in advanced English Books.
begin
can’t bear
can’t stand
continue
hate
like
love
prefer
propose
start
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 2
0
I use both. But usually I use the ~ing ending.
0
No, we are not taught this grammar point. For the most part, it's simply a personal choice. However, the proceeding verb may effect the form of the one that follows. Also, parallelism is the preferred method of sequential verbs. That is to say that if you follow a verb with an infinitive, all of the following verbs should be in their infinitive form as well, same with the gerunds.
I like to swim, (to) ride bikes, and (to) hike.
OR
I like swimming, riding bikes, and hiking.
BUT NOT
I like swimming, to ride bikes, and hiking.
Notice how the third and fourth verbs do not require the preposition "to," but the second verb does.
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