Let's see what comes to mind — no notes, and don't worry about mistakes.
You already know one pattern like this. Complete the sentence:
"I'd like (go) home now — I'm tired."
Have a go out loud: say two things you'd like to do this weekend. Any two things — nothing has to be true yet.
A: What have you been up to lately?
B: I've started going to a pottery class on Tuesdays. I really enjoy making things with my hands. I've also decided to sign up for a photography course — I want to try something new.
Look again at what B says. Compare "enjoy making" and "decided to sign up". Both sentences have two verbs next to each other, but the second verb looks different each time. Why, do you think? Say your idea out loud before you check.
Some verbs are always followed by the -ing form. There's no "to" involved anywhere.
Three everyday sentences:
Before you check: what comes straight after enjoy, avoid, and can't stand?
Complete each sentence. Type only the missing word.
1. My neighbour borrows my ladder again and again, and he never asks first.
Complain to a friend: "My neighbour keeps my ladder without asking."
2. It's warm in the room and you'd like some fresh air.
Ask politely: "Would you mind the window? It's a bit stuffy in here."
3. You'd rather see your colleague at a café than at the office.
Email them: "I suggested at the café instead of the office."
Say three things: one you enjoy doing, one you avoid doing, and one you can't stand doing in your free time.
Other verbs always take "to + verb". And when there's a person involved, that person goes in the middle.
Three everyday sentences:
What comes after decided, promised, and refused?
Compare these two:
Same "to + verb", but now there's a person between them — because it's you who's leaving, not "I". It works the same with tell and ask: "She asked me to close the door." "They told us to wait outside."
1. You've emailed a colleague about a report that's due Friday.
Report what you did: "I've asked her the report by Friday."
2. Your current flat is too big and too expensive.
Tell a friend your plan: "We've decided to a smaller flat next year."
3. Your parents hope you'll become a doctor one day, but you haven't decided yet.
Explain the situation: "My parents want me medicine, but I'm not sure."
Tell me about something you've decided to do soon, and something someone has asked you to do this week.
After any preposition, the verb always takes -ing — never "to".
Three everyday sentences:
Look at the small word right before each -ing verb (in, at, before). What kind of word is it?
1. Your colleague spends every lunch break with a history book.
Explain why: "She's interested in about ancient history."
2. Your colleague has a habit of reading her emails only at one particular moment.
Describe it: "She always checks her emails after breakfast."
3. You keep forgetting people's names at parties.
Admit it: "I'm not very good at names."
Say two things you're good at, and one thing you always do before leaving the house in the morning.
Time to use all three patterns in one real conversation. You do the talking.
Think about a normal week for you — your hobbies, a plan you've made, and a favour someone has asked of you (or you've asked of someone).
Talk about it out loud for one minute. Try to cover:
Write a short message (3–5 sentences) to a friend about your week — a hobby, a plan, and a favour. Use all three patterns from today. The checker will tell you which ones it finds.
Real life doesn't tell you which pattern to use. Here everything is mixed — you decide.
Each sentence has one grammar mistake. Rewrite the whole sentence correctly.
1. "I really enjoy to travel to new places."
2. "She wants going to the concert with us."
3. "He imagined to live in Australia one day."
4. "I'm good at to cook Italian food."
5. Your teacher wants the homework finished on time. She says: "My teacher asked us ___ the homework by Monday."
6. You're stuck on the motorway again. "I can't stand ___ in traffic every morning."
7. A friend mentions a possible move abroad. "We're thinking about ___ to Portugal next summer."
One-minute challenge: a friend calls and asks you to help them move house this weekend. Say what you've decided to do, what you can't stand doing, and what you're not very good at — using the patterns from today. Use the timer above if you like the pressure.
1. The pattern you already knew before today — complete it: "I'd like you something."
2. Say it out loud: what always follows a preposition like "in", "at", "before" or "after" — the -ing form, or to + verb? Why?
3. Your grandmother spends every Saturday in the garden and loves it. Give the news: "My grandmother really enjoys at the weekend."
4. The roof has been leaking for weeks, but it's finally sorted. Tell a friend: "We've finally managed the leak in the roof."
5. After a check-up, the dentist gives an instruction. Report it: "The dentist told me back in six months."
Which practice helped you most today — fixing the mistakes, choosing the right form, or the speaking tasks? Say why you think that one worked for you.
At the start we said: today you'd learn how the first verb decides -ing or to + verb, plus what happens with a person in the middle. Tick what's true: