Grammar · Verb Patterns: -ing & Infinitives
Verbs + To-Infinitive (Want, Decide, Hope)
Raya wants to find the last dragon. She decides to trust Sisu. Verbs that take to + verb, with the film Raya and the Last Dragon.
Grammar › Verb Patterns: -ing & Infinitives › Verbs + To-Infinitive (Want, Decide, Hope)
The rule in one sentenceAfter verbs like want, decide, hope, plan and promise, the next verb takes to + verb (Raya wants to find the last dragon), never -ing. Other verbs, like enjoy and finish, take -ing instead (Sisu enjoys swimming).
About the film
Raya and the Last Dragon is a Disney film from 2021. Long ago, dragons and people lived together in a land called Kumandra. Then a dark force turned the dragons, and many people, to stone. Years later, Raya, a young warrior, wants to find the last dragon, Sisu, and hopes to bring everyone back. But the land is now broken into five parts, and the people refuse to trust each other. Raya must learn that trust, not fighting, is the way to save the world.
What does it do?
When one verb comes right after another, the first verb decides the shape of the second. want, decide, hope, plan and promise are all followed by to + verb. We call this the to-infinitive.
The other big group, enjoy, finish, mind and avoid, takes -ing. There is no rule to work it out. You learn the verbs in groups.
Here is a helpful idea. The to-infinitive often points forward to something that has not happened yet: a wish, a plan, a hope, a promise. That is why verbs about the future, like want, hope and plan, all take to.
In speech, want to and going to often get shorter. You will hear these in films, but do not write them in an essay:
Raya wants to swim across the river. Sisu enjoys swimming across the river.
Same river, same action. The first verb decides the shape of the second verb.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
Verb + to + verb — want, decide, hope
Raya wants to find Sisu.
Namaari doesn’t want to help Raya at first.
don’t / doesn’t + want + to + verbDid Raya decide to trust her?
Did + subject + decide + to + verbVerb + -ing — enjoy, finish, mind
Sisu enjoys making jokes.
Raya doesn’t enjoy waiting.
don’t / doesn’t + enjoy + verb-ingHas Raya finished looking for the pieces?
Has + subject + finished + verb-ingThe tense of the first verb can change, but the pattern stays the same: she wanted to find, she has wanted to find, she will want to find. And the negative goes before to: she promised not to fight.
When to use each one
Verb + to + verb
Verb + -ing
Words that help: to or -ing?
Learn these verbs as two groups. The first verb tells you what comes next.
Verb + to + verb
Verb + -ing
Common mistakes
❌ Raya wants finding the last dragon.
✅ Raya wants to find the last dragon.
“Want” always takes “to” + verb, never -ing.
❌ She decided trusting Sisu.
✅ She decided to trust Sisu.
“Decide” takes “to” + verb in every tense.
❌ Sisu promised to not leave.
✅ Sisu promised not to leave.
“Not” goes before “to”: not to leave.
❌ Sisu enjoys to swim in the river.
✅ Sisu enjoys swimming in the river.
“Enjoy” is in the other group. It takes -ing.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“Would like” and “like” are different.
✅ I would like to watch the film tonight. (one wish, now, polite)
✅ I like watching films. (a general habit)
“Would like” always takes “to”. Plain “like” and “love” usually take -ing for things you do often.
Practice: to or -ing?
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. Raya wants ___ the last dragon.
“Want” → to + verb.
2. She decided ___ Sisu.
“Decide” → to + verb.
3. Sisu enjoys ___ jokes.
“Enjoy” → -ing.
4. Raya hopes ___ the dragons back.
“Hope” → to + verb.
5. Sisu promised ___ leave.
The negative is “not to” + verb.
6. Namaari refused ___ Raya at first.
“Refuse” → to + verb.
7. Would you mind ___ a moment?
“Would you mind” → -ing.
8. I would like ___ this film again.
“Would like” → to + verb.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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