Level B1

Verbs + Gerund (enjoy doing)

I enjoy playing football.

Look: I enjoy playing football. After enjoy comes the form playing.

Forms

• I enjoy playing football. — after enjoy the second verb takes -ing
• She finished reading the book. — the same after finish, keep and avoid
• I want to play football. — after want it is to + verb: the first verb chooses the form

A common mistake

Wrong: I enjoy to play football.

Right: I enjoy playing football.

Many people say I enjoy to play football, but after enjoy comes -ing. We say: I enjoy playing football.

More examples

We avoid walking at night.

The same after avoid: We avoid walking at night.

He keeps asking the same question.

And after keep: He keeps asking the same question.