Infinitive or -ing?



According to the book SUCCESS AT FIRST CERTIFICATE / Ed.Oxford Univesity Press
page165: Verbs followed by either the -ing form or the infinitive

2a When verbs like can't bear , enjoy, like, love, hate, prefer are
followed by the -ing form, they tend to refer to a GENERAL activity.

2b BUT when these verbs are followed by the infinitive,
they tend to refer to PARTICULAR occasions.

So, context is a decisive factor!
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Which sport do you like?
I like skiing.(In general)
I like to ski the mornings.(Particular situation)



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In I like skiing the important bit is the like. You're talking about something you enjoy, and not saying much about the skiing. You might like doing it, watching it on TV, or you might just like the idea of it, because of all the clothing and those fancy goggles you wear.

In I like to ski you're saying something about what you enjoy, but you're also saying something about skiing, ie that it's an activity that you actually do. I like to ski is not appropriate if you just watch it on TV.

In other words:
I like skiing = I like skiing
I like to ski = I like skiing + I ski

Personally I could say that I like going to the theatre, although I haven't been in years. I still have an affection for it. I couldn't say that I like to go to the theatre because that would suggest that it is one of my current pastimes.

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more information here:
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=74694
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv29.shtml

an activity here:
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/verbs-followed-ing-clauses





more explanations below:



Question Answer + Answer -
Do you feel like going out tonight? Yes, I'd love to. No, I don't feel like it.
Do you fancy going for a drive? Yes, I'd love to. No, I don't feel like it.




Question Answer + Answer -
How about going out tonight? Yes, I'd love to. No, I don't feel like it.
Would you like to go out tonight? Yes, I'd love to. No, I don't feel like it.
How about having a drink? Yes, I'd love to. No, thanks.
Would you like to have a drink? Yes, I'd love one. No, thank you.

! Note. 'How about ...' is informal. 'Would you like to ...' is formal.


Mr Bean is at home when his wife comes in... 
Mr Bean: Hello, darling. Do you fancy going out tonight?
Mrs Bean: Oh, no thanks, I don't really feel like it tonight. How about renting a film instead.
Mr Bean: OK. Do you feel like watching the new Bruce Willis film, Die Hard 13?
Mrs Bean: Oh, no. I hate him. Do you like Julia Roberts?
Mr Bean: I don't mind her.
Mrs Bean: Well I really like her. Let's rent her new film then.



p.s.:


Love Like Don't mind Hate
Noun (coffee) I love coffee. I like coffee. I don't mind coffee. I hate coffee.
Pronoun (him) I love him. I like him. I don't mind him. I hate him.
Verb (flying) I love flying. I like flying. I don't mind flying. I hate flying.


verbs followed by -ing clauses

 
Common verbs followed by –ing nouns are:

Verbs of liking and disliking:

  • detest
  • dislike
  • enjoy
  • hate
  • fancy
  • like
  • love
I love swimming but I hate jogging.
They always enjoyed visiting their friends.
A: Do you fancy going for a walk?
B: I wouldn’t mind

Phrases with mind:

  • wouldn’t mind (= would like)
  • don’t mind (= I am willing to)
  • would you mind (= will you please…?)
I wouldn’t mind having some fish and chips.
I don’t mind waiting for a few minutes.
Would you mind holding this for me?

Verbs of saying and thinking:

  • admit
  • consider
  •  deny
  • imagine
  • remember
  • suggest
Our guide suggested waiting until the storm was over.
Everyone denied seeing the accident.

Other common verbs are:

  • avoid
  • begin
  • finish
  • keep
  • miss
  • practise
  • risk
  • start
  • stop
I haven’t finished writing this letter.
Let’s practise speaking English.

Passive form of -ing

Many of these verbs are sometimes followed by the passive form of -ing: being + past participle
I don’t like being interrupted.
Our dog loves being stroked under the chin.

Noun + -ing clause

Some verbs are followed by a noun and an -ing clause:
Verbs to do with the senses:
  • see
  • watch
  • hear
  • smell
  • listen to
  • etc.
We saw everybody running away.
I could hear someone singing.
Other common verbs:
  • catch
  • find
  • imagine
  • leave
  • prevent
  • stop
I caught someone trying to break into my house.
We couldn’t prevent them getting away.