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Part 1 ยท Episode 39 A2-B1

To Learn or Learning?

๐Ÿ“ Infinitive vs -ing comparison

Leonardo da Vinci ยท 1490s: Renaissance studio ๐Ÿ“– 5 min read

Episode 39: To Learn or Learning?

Infinitive vs -ing comparison โ€” Leonardo da Vinci, 1490s (A2-B1)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Some verbs take to-infinitive (future, intention, goals). Some take -ing (experience, ongoing states). Some take both with different meanings. Want/plan/hope use to. Enjoy/finish/keep use -ing.

Form: Verb + to + base verb | Verb + verb-ing

Example 1: I want to learn. (future intention)

Example 2: I enjoy learning. (present experience)

Common mistake: Wrong: I hope learning. Better: I hope to learn.

The Question

Luna reviewed her notes. “I want to paint.” “I enjoy painting.” Both correct. But different verbs. Different forms. “Professor, is there a simple rule? How do I remember which verbs take ‘to’ and which take ‘-ing’?” The watch glowed. Professor Wisdom appeared. “Let’s visit the ultimate learner. A man who never stopped exploring.”

The Journey

Florence, Italy, 1490s. Leonardo da Vinci’s studio. The room was chaos. Half-finished paintings. Sketches of machines. Notebooks filled with mirror writing. Anatomical drawings. Musical instruments. Scientific tools. Leonardo was 40 years old. A genius. But also restless. Always starting. Rarely finishing.

His apprentice Marco entered. “Master, when will you finish painting the Last Supper?” Leonardo looked up. “I hope to finish it soon. But I keep discovering new techniques. I can’t stop experimenting.”

Notice his words. “Hope to finish.” Future goal. “Keep discovering.” Ongoing process. “Can’t stop experimenting.” Continuous action. Different verbs. Different forms. Each one precise.

Leonardo walked to his workbench. “Marco, I’ve decided to learn anatomy. I need to understand how bodies work. I want to paint them perfectly.” All pointing forward. All using ‘to.’ These were intentions. Goals. Decisions about the future.

Then he picked up a brush. “But I also love painting. I enjoy mixing colors. I don’t mind spending hours on one small detail.” All describing experiences. All using ‘-ing.’ These were states of being. Ongoing pleasures. Current realities.

Marco was confused. “Master, how do you choose? Do you want to paint or do you enjoy painting?” Leonardo smiled. “Both! I want to create something new. That’s my goal, my intention. But I also enjoy creating. That’s my experience, my pleasure. They’re different meanings. Different feelings.”

He showed Marco his notebook. “Look. I plan to build a flying machine. Future intention. Use ‘to.’ But I also remember trying to fly as a child. Past experience. Use ‘-ing.’ The grammar follows the meaning.”

Luna watched Leonardo move between projects. Painting. Engineering. Science. Music. He wanted to master everything. That was his endless intention. But he also enjoyed learning. That was his constant experience. The two forms captured two truths about his life. He was always reaching forward (to). He was always immersed in the present (-ing).

The studio smelled of oil paint and old parchment. Sunlight revealed dust particles dancing. Leonardo never chose between ‘to’ and ‘-ing.’ He lived in both. Future goals and present joy. Grammar reflected his philosophy. Life is both becoming and being.

The Insight

Professor Wisdom explained carefully. “English has two verb form patterns. Some verbs take ‘to + verb.’ Some take ‘-ing.’ Some take both but with different meanings.”

“Verbs about future, intention, and decision use ‘to’: want, need, hope, plan, decide, promise, try. Verbs about experience, reaction, and ongoing states use ‘-ing’: enjoy, finish, stop, keep, mind, avoid.”

“Some verbs change meaning: ‘I stopped to smoke’ (I stopped doing something else in order to smoke). ‘I stopped smoking’ (I quit smoking forever). ‘I remember to call’ (I don’t forget to call). ‘I remember calling’ (I recall the experience of calling).”

“The pattern is: Forward-looking verbs want ‘to.’ Experience verbs want ‘-ing.’ Leonardo knew this instinctively. His goals used ‘to.’ His joys used ‘-ing.'”

Practice Zone

More Examples:

  1. “I hope to see you soon.” โ€” future intention
  2. “I enjoy seeing you.” โ€” present pleasure
  3. “I stopped to rest.” โ€” purpose (stopped in order to)
  4. “I stopped resting.” โ€” quit the activity
  5. “I forgot to call.” โ€” failed to do it
  6. “I forgot calling.” โ€” don’t remember doing it

Exercises:

  1. Choose to or -ing: “I want _____ (learn) Spanish.”

  2. Select the correct meaning:
    “I stopped to smoke.”
    a) I quit smoking.
    b) I paused my activity to have a cigarette.

  3. Complete both sentences:
    – “I plan _ (study) tonight.”
    – “I finished     ___ (study) last night.”

  4. Fix the mistake: “I enjoy to paint on weekends.”

  5. Your turn: Write one sentence about a future goal (use ‘to’) and one about a current hobby (use ‘-ing’).

Answer Key:

  1. to learn
  2. b) I paused to have a cigarette
  3. to study / studying
  4. “I enjoy painting on weekends.”
  5. Check: Future goal uses verb + to? Current hobby uses verb + -ing?

The Lesson

Luna made two lists. “Goals (to): I want to improve. I hope to travel. I plan to read more.” “Joys (-ing): I enjoy studying. I keep practicing. I love learning.” The lists captured two sides of her life. Leonardo taught her something profound. We live in two times simultaneously. What we’re becoming (to). What we’re experiencing (-ing). Grammar doesn’t complicate this. It clarifies it. Different forms for different truths.