Some verbs take -ing or to + verb with little or no change in meaning: It started raining / It started to rain. I love cooking / I love to cook. Common ones: like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue. But would like / would love / would prefer always take to.
It started raining. It started to rain.
Both forms work here, and they mean the same.
| start, begin, continue | Same meaning: It began to snow / It began snowing. |
|---|---|
| like, love, hate, prefer | Almost the same: I like swimming / I like to swim. |
| would like, would love, would prefer | Only to: I'd love to come. |
| After starting, beginning | Only to, to avoid two -ing forms: It's starting to rain. |
She began to cry. She began crying.
Either form, same meaning.
I love reading before bed.
Love reading and love to read are both correct.
I'd love to come!
A wish about now or the future points forward, so it takes to.
It's starting to rain.
After starting, beginning and continuing, use to: two -ing forms together sound wrong.
Common expressions worth learning as they are.
I'd like _____ a table for two.
Which verbs take -ing, which take to, and which change meaning.
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Very small. Like doing focuses on enjoying the activity. Like to do can mean you think it's a good habit: I like to get up early (even if you don't enjoy it). Both are correct.
English avoids two -ing forms next to each other, so after starting, beginning and continuing, use to: It's starting to rain.