Wählen Sie aus verschiedenen Englisch Lehrkräften für ...
Jutta
to infinitive or -ing In English a verb is often followed by another. The first verb decides the form of the second verb. I'm wondering if mixing these forms up is a big mistake. I suggest talking to her. (not: I suggest to talk to her.) I don't like wasting my evenings. (not: I don't like to waste my evenings.

Antworten · 3

0
Thank you both for your answers.
0
N. You cannot mix these form up. You have to learn them. There are, however, a few verbs that can take either form. "Like" is one of them. I like doing. I like to do. I saw him drive. I saw him driving. There aren't a lot of these verbs, so the first rule generally applies.
0
In the first case, using the infinitive would be a big mistake.. this sentence rather calls for the subjunctive, "I suggest that you talk to her," because it implies a command. In the second case, either form works: "I don't like to waste my evenings" is as correct as "I don't like wasting my evenings." . As far as I know, this is the case for the verb "to like" (or to dislike, to hate, etc.), i.e. "I don't like to work at night," or "I don't like working at night." Though I reckon that the "-ing" form is used more often in the U.S. on the whole, both are correct. If you make a mistake in the first case, you might get some blank stares... If you use the infinitive in the second instance, nobody is likely to notice anything wrong.

Haben Sie noch keine Antworten gefunden?

Geben Sie Ihre Fragen ein und lassen Sie sich von Muttersprachlern helfen!

Verpassen Sie nicht die Gelegenheit, bequem von zu Hause aus eine Sprache zu lernen. Stöbern Sie in unserer Auswahl an erfahrenen Sprachlehrern und melden Sie sich jetzt zu Ihrer ersten Unterrichtsstunde an!

Heute mit dem Lernen beginnen