Gerund/Infinitive – verbos comunes (like, want, start …) – Gramática inglesa B1

1) Mapa rápido

enjoy + -ing finish + -ing mind + -ing want + to + V need + to + V would like + to + V like/love/hate + -ing / to + V start/begin + -ing / to + V stop + -ing / to + V (cambia)

Idea general:
• -ing se siente más como actividad en general (hobby, hábito).
• to + V se siente más como plan, intención, objetivo.

En español casi siempre usamos “infinitivo” (“quiero comer”, “disfruto comer”), pero en inglés el verbo que sigue cambia de forma.

2) Verbos comunes seguidos de -ing

Estos verbos normalmente van seguidos de gerundio:

Verbo	Patrón	Ejemplo
enjoy (disfrutar)	enjoy + V-ing	I enjoy reading* in bed.*
finish (terminar)	finish + V-ing	She finished doing* her homework.*
stop (dejar de)	stop + V-ing	He stopped smoking* last year.*
hate (odiar)	hate + V-ing / to + V	I hate getting up* early.*
like/love (gustar/encantar)	like/love + V-ing / to + V	She loves cooking.

• Do you enjoy learning English?
• They finished cleaning the house.

Después de preposición casi siempre usamos -ing: good at speaking, interested in learning, before going.

3) Verbos comunes seguidos de to + infinitive

Estos verbos normalmente van seguidos de to + verb (infinitivo con to):

Verbo	Patrón	Ejemplo
want (querer)	want + to + V	I want to go* home.*
need (necesitar)	need + to + V	You need to study* more.*
would like (me gustaría)	would like + to + V	I’d like to visit* Canada.*
plan (planear)	plan + to + V	We’re planning to move* next year.*
decide (decidir)	decide + to + V	She decided to change* her job.*
hope (esperar)	hope + to + V	They hope to find* a new flat.*

want / need / would like casi siempre van con to + infinitive, no con -ing.

4) Verbos que aceptan ambos: like, love, hate, start, begin…

Algunos verbos pueden ir con -ing o con to + V sin gran cambio de significado (en nivel B1):

Verbo	Patrón	Ejemplo
like	like + V-ing / like + to + V	I like reading* at night.* I like to read* before bed.*
love	love + V-ing / love + to + V	She loves swimming* / She loves to swim.*
hate	hate + V-ing / hate + to + V	He hates waiting* / He hates to wait.*
start	start + V-ing / start + to + V	It started raining. / It started to rain.
begin	begin + V-ing / begin + to + V	They began laughing. / They began to laugh.

En conversación es más común el uso con -ing para hobbies y actividades: I like cooking, I love reading.

5) stop / remember / try: cambio de significado (vista B1)

Algunos verbos cambian de significado según vayan con -ing o con to + infinitive. Aquí un primer vistazo (no te preocupes si parece más de B2):

Verbo	Patrón	Significado	Ejemplo
stop	stop + V-ing	Dejar una actividad	He stopped smoking. (Dejó de fumar.)
stop	stop + to + V	Parar otra cosa para hacer algo	He stopped to smoke. (Se detuvo para fumar.)
remember	remember + V-ing	Recordar algo del pasado	I remember meeting* her.*
remember	remember + to + V	No olvidar hacer algo	Remember to call* me.*
try	try + V-ing	Probar algo como experimento	Try adding* more salt.*
try	try + to + V	Hacer esfuerzo	I’m trying to learn* English.*

En B1 aprende sobre todo stop + -ing = dejar de hacer algo, y want/need/would like + to + V. El resto lo verás más a fondo más adelante.

6) Errores comunes

Incorrecto	Correcto	Por qué
I enjoy to travel.	I enjoy travelling.	enjoy va con -ing, no con to.
I want going home.	I want to go home.	want va con to + V.
She finished to do her homework.	She finished doing her homework.	finish va con -ing.
I like very much to cook. (orden)	I really like cooking.	El adverbio suele ir antes de like, y aquí se prefiere -ing.
He stopped to smoke last year. (queriendo decir “dejó de fumar”)	He stopped smoking last year.	stop + -ing = dejar el hábito.

7) Mini-práctica

Completa con -ing o to + verbo (forma correcta):
a) I enjoy ______ (listen) to music.
b) She wants ______ (learn) English.
c) They finished ______ (clean) the kitchen.
d) We need ______ (leave) now.
e) He loves ______ (play) football.
Elige la opción correcta:
a) I like (cook / cooking) Italian food.
b) She decided (to change / changing) her job.
c) We hope (to see / seeing) you soon.
d) He stopped (to smoke / smoking) last year.
e) They enjoy (to travel / travelling).
Reescribe usando el patrón indicado:
a) I like pizza. (usa: like + -ing para un hobby general)
b) I have a plan: travel to Canada. (usa: plan + to + V)
c) My doctor says: “Rest more”. (usa: advise + to + V en estilo indirecto)
d) “Don’t forget: call me.” (usa: remember + to + V)
e) I want this: learn more vocabulary. (usa: want + to + V)
Corrige si es necesario:
a) I enjoy to watch movies.
b) She needs studying more.
c) We started to raining.
d) He hates to get up early. (OK?)
e) They stopped to play football because it was late. (queriendo decir: dejaron de jugar)
Traduce al inglés usando -ing o to + V:
a) Disfruto aprender inglés.
b) Quiero viajar a Estados Unidos.
c) Terminamos de limpiar la casa.
d) A ella le encanta cocinar.
e) Dejó de comer azúcar.

Respuestas ejemplo:
1) a) listening b) to learn c) cleaning d) to leave e) playing
2) a) cooking b) to change c) to see d) smoking e) travelling
3) a) I like eating pizza. / I enjoy eating pizza.
b) We plan to travel to Canada.
c) My doctor advised me to rest more.
d) Remember to call me.
e) I want to learn more vocabulary.
4) a) I enjoy watching movies.
b) She needs to study more.
c) It started raining / It started to rain.
d) He hates getting up early. (también: hates to get up early → ambas son posibles).
e) They stopped playing football because it was late.
5) a) I enjoy learning English.
b) I want to travel to the United States.
c) We finished cleaning the house.
d) She loves cooking.
e) He stopped eating sugar.

8) Próximo paso

Continúa con Conectores de razón/contraste: because/so/but/however para mejorar la cohesión de tus frases y explicar causas, resultados y contrastes de forma más natural.