Look at these sentences:

• My sister promised to help
• John doesn’t want to wait.

We use to + infinitive after these verbs:

Look at these sentences:

• Have they finished painting the garage?
• We enjoy sitting in the garden.

We use an –ing form after these verbs:

Look at these sentences:

• Jenny likes to stay at home.
• Jenny likes staying at home.

These verbs can usually take an –ing form or to + infinitive with no difference in meaning:

But after would have, would like, would love, or would prefer, we use to + infinitive:

• Would you like to go for a walk?
• I’d love to visit New Zealand.

We can use an –ing form or to + infinitive after these verbs, but the meaning is different:

• I tried to lift that heavy stone. (= make an attempt: I made an attempt to lift the stone.)
• If you can’t read where you are, try sitting nearer the window. (= test something out/experiment: Sit nearer the window and see if you can read there.)

• Remember to go to the bank. (= Don’t forget that you must go to the bank.)
• She remembers going to the bank. (= She remembers that she went to the bank.)

• Don’t forget to phone Mrs Jones. (= Remember that you must phone Mrs Jones.)
• I’ll never forget seeing that rainbow. (= I saw that rainbow, and I will always remember it.)