Verb + to + Verb / Verb + -ing
Grammar Explanation
Some verbs are followed by to + verb.
For example: decide to visit, plan to stay, hope to have.
Some verbs are followed by verb + -ing.
For example: enjoy travelling, avoid working, finish taking.
Some verbs can take both forms smoothly without changing the underlying meaning.
For example: like spending / like to spend, prefer eating / prefer to eat, like walking / like to walk.
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| Verb + to + Verb | decide to visit, plan to stay, hope to have, manage to explore, choose to book |
| Verb + -ing | enjoy travelling, avoid working, finish taking, consider visiting, recommend trying |
| Both Forms | like spending / like to spend, prefer eating / prefer to eat, like walking / like to walk |
❌ The CEO decided visiting Mallorca.
✅ The CEO decided to visit Mallorca.
❌ The engineer enjoyed to travel on the ship.
✅ The engineer enjoyed travelling on the ship.
✅ The passengers liked spending time on deck.
✅ The passengers liked to spend time on deck.
1. The CEO decided ______ Mallorca with his bowling club.
to visit
a) to visit
b) visiting
[Der Geschäftsführer entschied sich, Mallorca mit seinem Bowlingclub zu besuchen.]
2. The engineer enjoyed ______ on the AIDA cruise.
travelling
a) to travel
b) travelling
[Der Ingenieur genoss es, auf der AIDA-Kreuzfahrt zu reisen.]
3. The group planned ______ near the beach.
to stay
a) staying
b) to stay
[Die Gruppe plante, in Strandnähe zu wohnen.]
4. The passengers liked ______ time on deck.
spending / to spend
a) spending
b) to spend
[Die Passagiere verbrachten gerne Zeit an Deck.]
5. The CEO hoped ______ good weather during the weekend.
to have
a) having
b) to have
[Der Geschäftsführer hoffte auf gutes Wetter während des Wochenendes.]
6. The group enjoyed ______ by the sea.
relaxing
a) relaxing
b) to relax
[Die Gruppe genoss das Entspannen am Meer.]
7. The engineer chose ______ a cabin with a sea view.
to book
a) booking
b) to book
[Der Ingenieur entschied sich, eine Kabine mit Meerblick zu buchen.]
8. The CEO avoided ______ during the trip.
working
a) to work
b) working
[Der Geschäftsführer vermied es, während der Reise zu arbeiten.]
9. The visitors managed ______ Copenhagen in one day.
to explore
a) to explore
b) exploring
[Die Besucher schafften es, Kopenhagen an einem Tag zu erkunden.]
10. The CEO enjoyed ______ fresh seafood in Mallorca.
trying
a) trying
b) to try
[Der Geschäftsführer genoss es, frische Meeresfrüchte auf Mallorca zu probieren.]
11. The group agreed ______ the bowling competition.
to join
a) joining
b) to join
[Die Gruppe stimmte zu, am Bowlingturnier teilzunehmen.]
12. The passengers finished ______ photographs of the harbour.
taking
a) taking
b) to take
[Die Passagiere beendeten das Fotografieren des Hafens.]
13. The engineer wanted ______ the Little Mermaid.
to visit
a) visiting
b) to visit
[Der Ingenieur wollte die Kleine Meerjungfrau besuchen.]
14. The CEO preferred ______ local food instead of international dishes.
eating / to eat
a) eating
b) to eat
[Der Geschäftsführer bevorzugte es, lokale Speisen statt internationaler Gerichte zu essen.]
15. The group expected ______ new people during the cruise.
to meet
a) to meet
b) meeting
[Die Gruppe erwartete, während der Kreuzfahrt neue Menschen kennenzulernen.]
16. The tourists enjoyed ______ the sunset from the beach.
watching
a) to watch
b) watching
[Die Touristen genossen es, den Sonnenuntergang vom Strand aus zu beobachten.]
17. The engineer decided ______ another cruise next year.
to take
a) taking
b) to take
[Der Ingenieur entschied sich, nächstes Jahr eine weitere Kreuzfahrt zu machen.]
18. The passengers considered ______ another Danish city.
visiting
a) to visit
b) visiting
[Die Passagiere überlegten, eine weitere dänische Stadt zu besuchen.]
19. The CEO learned ______ Mallorca more after the trip.
to appreciate
a) appreciating
b) to appreciate
[Der Geschäftsführer lernte, Mallorca mehr zu schätzen.]
20. The group enjoyed ______ dinner together every evening.
having
a) having
b) to have
[Die Gruppe genoss es, jeden Abend gemeinsam zu Abend zu essen.]
21. The engineer remembered ______ his camera.
to bring
a) to bring
b) bringing
[Der Ingenieur dachte daran, seine Kamera mitzubringen.]
22. The passengers recommended ______ an AIDA cruise.
trying
a) to try
b) trying
[Die Passagiere empfahlen, eine AIDA-Kreuzfahrt auszuprobieren.]
23. The CEO chose ______ the afternoon at the beach.
to spend
a) to spend
b) spending
[Der Geschäftsführer entschied sich, den Nachmittag am Strand zu verbringen.]
24. The tourists liked ______ through Palma's old town.
walking / to walk
a) to walk
b) walking
[Den Touristen gefiel es, durch Palmas Altstadt zu gehen.]
25. The group hoped ______ more of the island.
to see
a) to see
b) seeing
[Die Gruppe hoffte, mehr von der Insel zu sehen.]