Verbs like like, love, hate, and prefer accept either a gerund or an infinitive with no difference in meaning, as in I like swimming in the sea or I like to swim in the sea. With would, however, only the infinitive is possible, as in I would like to visit Japan someday.
Grammar Rule
Like/love/hate/prefer accept either a gerund or an infinitive with no difference in meaning. With would, only the infinitive is possible.
Verbs with No Change in Meaning: Rules and Examples
| Verb | Accepted form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| like / love / hate / prefer | gerund or infinitive | I like swimming in the sea. / I like to swim in the sea. She loves to dance at parties. |
| would like / love / hate / prefer | infinitive only | I would like to visit Japan someday. She would love to join us for dinner. |
Remember: like/love/hate/prefer + gerund or infinitive; would like/love/hate/prefer + infinitive only.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using the gerund or infinitive correctly with like, love, hate, or prefer. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Gerund vs. Infinitive – No Change of Meaning (Consolidation)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive?
Like, love, hate, and prefer, as in I like swimming in the sea or I like to swim in the sea.
Does the meaning change between the gerund and infinitive with these verbs?
No, both forms have the same meaning with like, love, hate, and prefer.
What happens when you add would before these verbs?
Only the infinitive is possible, as in I would like to visit Japan someday.
Can you say I would like swimming?
No, with would you must use the infinitive, so it should be I would like to swim, not I would like swimming.