Question 1

Is there any difference between like doing and like to do?

Accepted Answer

For most situations, "like doing" and "like to do" mean exactly the same thing, and you can choose either form freely. However, some grammar books note a subtle difference in British English: "I like reading" (gerund) emphasises enjoyment, while "I like to read before bed" (infinitive) can emphasise habit or routine rather than pure enjoyment. For example, "I like to check my emails first thing" might suggest it is a useful habit rather than something you find pleasant. In practice, most native speakers use both forms without thinking about this difference, and in exams, both are always marked correct.

Question 2

Do all opinion verbs work with both forms?

Accepted Answer

No, only certain opinion verbs accept both gerunds and infinitives. The main ones are "like," "love," "hate," "prefer," "begin," "start," and "continue." Other opinion verbs are fixed to one form. "Enjoy" always takes a gerund: "I enjoy swimming," never "I enjoy to swim." "Want" always takes an infinitive: "I want to go," never "I want going." The verbs that accept both forms are the exception, not the rule. When learning new verbs, always check which form they require rather than assuming they work like "like" or "love."

Question 3

Which form is more common in spoken English?

Accepted Answer

Studies of spoken English show that the gerund form is slightly more common with "like," "love," and "hate" in everyday conversation: "I like cooking," "She loves dancing." The infinitive form tends to be more common in formal writing and when describing specific occasions: "Would you like to join us?" (invitation) rather than "Would you like joining us?" For "begin," "start," and "continue," both forms are equally common. In Cambridge exams, questions test whether you know both forms are possible, not which is more frequent. Use whichever feels more natural to you.

Gerunds and Infinitives: Like, Love, Hate, Prefer

All 20 questions

Grammar review

Quick Rule

Continue Practising

Gerunds and Infinitives Error Correction

Common Gerund and Infinitive Verbs

Preposition + Gerund

-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect