apu:lecons:langues:anglais:grammaire:to_vs_ing:start

-ING vs TO + VERB

🧠 Astuce principale

-ING → action réelle, vécue, ou générale → on est *dans* l’action ou le souvenir. TO + VERB → action prévue, à faire, ou intention → on regarde *vers* l’action.

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📌 1. Quand utiliser -ING

  • Après certains verbes (souvent émotions, goûts, habitudes) :

enjoy, avoid, suggest, admit, consider, deny, miss, finish, give up, keep, can’t stand, practice, be worth… 

  → ''I enjoy **reading** before bed.''
* Après une préposition (in, at, for, without, about, etc.) :  
  → ''She’s good **at singing**.''
* Comme sujet ou objet :  
  → ''**Swimming** is good exercise.''
* Après certaines expressions fixes :  
  it’s no use, it’s worth, can’t help, spend time…  
  → ''It’s worth **trying** again.''
* Pour les temps continus :  
  → ''I’m **studying** now.''

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📌 2. Quand utiliser TO + VERB

  • Après certains verbes (souvent intention, décision, plan) :

want, need, decide, plan, hope, expect, promise, agree, refuse, afford, manage, learn… 

  → ''I decided **to leave** early.''
* Après des adjectifs + ''it'' :  
  → ''It’s important **to arrive** on time.''
* Après certaines structures :  
  too + adj, adj + enough, first/last/best…  
  → ''She’s too young **to drive''.
* Après verbe + objet + to + verb :  
  advise, allow, tell, ask, expect, want…  
  → ''They told me **to wait** here.''

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📌 3. Verbes qui acceptent les deux (sens différent)

Verbe -ING = passé / expérience TO + VERB = futur / intention
remember I remember locking the door. Remember to lock the door.
forget I’ll never forget meeting you. Don’t forget to meet her.
stop He stopped smoking. He stopped to smoke.
try Try adding more salt. Try to finish on time.
regret I regret telling her. I regret to tell you…
go on She went on talking. She went on to talk about…
like/love/hate I love reading. I love to read before bed.
mean This means getting up early. I meant to call you.

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📌 4. Mini-rappel

Ne pense pas seulement émotion vs rationnel — pense aussi temps et perspective :

  • -ING → souvenir, expérience → on *vit* l’action.
  • TO + VERB → but, plan → on *vise* l’action.