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Gerund vs Infinitive — "I Enjoy Working" vs "I Want to Work"
The problem
In French, the infinitive handles almost everything: j'aime travailler, je veux travailler, je continue de travailler. English splits these into two patterns — and using the wrong one is a grammar error that native speakers immediately notice.
Verbs + gerund (-ing)
J'aime travailler avec cette équipe.
→ enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, keep, mind, suggest, recommend, risk, imagine → always + -ing
Verbs + infinitive (to + verb)
Je veux finir ça d'ici vendredi.
→ want, need, decide, plan, hope, expect, agree, offer, refuse, learn → always + to
Verbs that take BOTH (with different meanings)
"I stopped to smoke." = I paused what I was doing in order to have a cigarette.
Same verb, completely different meaning depending on -ing or to.
"I remembered to send the email." = I didn't forget — I remembered, then sent it.
-ing = memory of a past action. To = remembering before doing.
The work essentials
-ing: "I suggest postponing the meeting." "Would you mind sending me the file?" "I've finished writing the report."
to: "I need to check with my manager." "We agreed to extend the deadline." "I'd like to schedule a call."
Common mistakes
"I enjoy to work here" → "I enjoy working here.""I suggest to postpone" → "I suggest postponing.""I avoid to make mistakes" → "I avoid making mistakes.""Would you mind to help me?" → "Would you mind helping me?"
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Fix these French-influenced restaurant phrases:
- ‘I take the salmon, please.’
- ‘Can we have the addition?’
- ‘I am allergic at nuts.’
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