Infinitive

The -ing form is used:
1. As a noun in the function of the subject.
Exercising is a good for your health.

The -ing form is used:
2. After the verbs:
admit
appreciate
avoid
consider
continue
deny
fancy
go (for activities)
imagine
mind
miss
practise
prevent
quit
save
suggest
You should avoid eating junk food.

The -ing form is used:
3. After the verbs:
love
like
enjoy
prefer
dislike
hate
to express general preference.
Jane prefers living alone.
Jack enjoys playing his guitar.

The -ing form is used:
4. After expressions such as:
be busy
it’s no use
it’s no good
it’s (not) worth
what’s the use of
can’t help
there’s no point (in)
can’t stand
have difficulty (in)
have trouble
I have difficulty (in) understanding what he says.

The -ing form is used:
4. After the verbs:
spend
waste
lose
(time, money)
He spends hours reading every day.

The -ing form is used:
5. After the preposition to with verbs and expressions such as:
look forward to
be used to
in addition to
object to
prefer (doing sth to sth else)
She prefers walking to driving to work.

7. After the verbs:
hear
listen to
notice
see
watch
feel
The -ing form is used:
BUT we use the infinitive without to with hear, listen to, notice, see, watch and feel to describe a completed action.
I saw Pam waiting for the bus. (I only saw part of the action.)
I didn’t see Pam get on the bus. (The action was completed.)

1. To express purpose.
The to-infinitive is used:
She went to the supermarket to buy some cheese.