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General English · A1

Verbs + to-infinitive and verbs + -ing

Learn which form to use when one verb follows another.

What you will learn

  • Use to + base verb after want, need, hope, plan and learn.
  • Use -ing after enjoy and practise.
  • Recognise both accepted patterns after like, love and hate.

Bir fe’ldan keyin yana fe’l kelsa, ikkinchisining shakli birinchi fe’lga bog‘liq. Want dan keyin to + asosiy fe’l: I want to eat. Enjoy dan keyin -ing: I enjoy cooking.

When two verbs come together, the first often controls the form of the second. Want, need, hope, plan and learn take to + base verb. Enjoy and practise take an -ing form. Like, love and hate can take either -ing or to + base verb in common descriptions of preferences. Learn the pair, not just the meaning of each verb.

Grammar Tables

On small screens, swipe tables sideways.

To + base verb
First verbExampleMeaning
wantI want to rest.istamoq
needWe need to leave.kerak bo‘lmoq
hopeShe hopes to win.umid qilmoq
planThey plan to travel.rejalashtirmoq
learnHe is learning to drive.o‘rganmoq
-ing patterns
First verbPatternExample
enjoyenjoy + -ingWe enjoy reading.
practisepractise + -ingI practise speaking English.
like / love / hate-ing OR to + base verbShe likes swimming. / She likes to swim.
Change the first verb, keep the pattern
StatementNegativeQuestion
He wants to go.He doesn’t want to go.Does he want to go?
She enjoys cooking.She doesn’t enjoy cooking.Does she enjoy cooking?
They planned to stay.They didn’t plan to stay.Did they plan to stay?

Examples

Need + to

I need to charge my phone.

Telefonimni quvvatlashim kerak.

Want + to

My brother wants to learn English.

Akam ingliz tilini o‘rganmoqchi.

Enjoy + -ing

We enjoy walking by the river.

Daryo bo‘yida yurishni yoqtiramiz.

Practise + -ing

She practises writing short messages.

U qisqa xabarlar yozishni mashq qiladi.

Two accepted patterns

I like cooking. I also like to cook for friends.

Ovqat pishirishni yoqtiraman. Do‘stlarim uchun pishirishni ham yoqtiraman.

Question

Did you want to sit outside?

Tashqarida o‘tirishni istaganmidingiz?

Common Mistakes

Avoid: I want go home.

Use: I want to go home.

Want needs to before the next verb.

Avoid: She enjoys to dance.

Use: She enjoys dancing.

Enjoy takes -ing, not a to-infinitive.

Avoid: He needs to buys milk.

Use: He needs to buy milk.

After to, use base buy, even though the subject is he.

Avoid: Do you enjoy swim?

Use: Do you enjoy swimming?

A question does not change the enjoy + -ing pattern.

Practice & Feedback

Practise freely. Scores stay on this page only and reset when you leave or reload. Feedback appears after checking each exercise.

1 · Choose the second verb form

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. I want ___ a new language.
2. She enjoys ___ in the sea.
3. We need ___ some bread.
4. He hopes ___ his cousins soon.
5. They plan ___ early.
6. I practise ___ English every day.
7. My sister is learning ___ a car.
8. He wants to ___ a doctor.
9. We love ___ together. (choose the -ing form / -ing shaklini tanlang)
10. She doesn’t enjoy ___ in queues.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

2 · Complete the pattern

Type only the missing word or words. Read the clue carefully.

1. I want ___ home. (go; include to if needed)
2. He enjoys ___. (cook)
3. We need ___ before six. (arrive; include to)
4. They hope ___ the match. (win; include to)
5. She practises ___ her name. (write)
6. I like ___ in the park. (walk; both common patterns accepted)
7. She loves ___ stories. (read; both common patterns accepted)
8. He is learning ___ bread. (make; include to)
9. We plan ___ our aunt. (visit; include to)
10. Do you enjoy ___? (run)

Answer every question to check this exercise.

3 · Use the whole pattern

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Choose a correct sentence / To‘g‘ri gap.
2. Choose a correct question / To‘g‘ri savol.
3. Choose a correct negative / To‘g‘ri inkor.
4. Choose the requested -ing pattern after hate / Hate dan keyin -ing.
5. Choose a correct sentence / To‘g‘ri gap.
6. Choose a correct sentence / To‘g‘ri gap.
7. Choose a correct question / To‘g‘ri savol.
8. Choose a correct sentence / To‘g‘ri gap.
9. Which sentence describes a preference, not an action happening now? / Yoqtirishni qaysi gap bildiradi?
10. Choose a correct sentence / To‘g‘ri gap.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

Review

  • Want/need/hope/plan/learn + to + base verb.
  • Enjoy/practise + ing. Like/love/hate commonly allow both patterns.
  • Say something you want to do and something you enjoy doing.
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