動名詞與不定詞：為什麼 "Enjoy to Swim" 聽起來怪怪的

動名詞與不定詞：為什麼 "Enjoy to Swim" 聽起來怪怪的

"I enjoy to swim" 很容易懂，但它讓英文小小跌了一跤。意思很清楚，問題在 enjoy 後面的形狀。英文不說 enjoy to do，而是說 enjoy doing："I enjoy swimming."

動名詞和不定詞不是深奧哲學。它們是在處理哪一種動詞形狀自然跟在另一個字後面。有些動詞想接 -ing，有些動詞想接 to + base verb，有些兩種都可以，有時意思還會改變。整場遊戲就是這樣。

Quick Answer

Gerund 是像名詞一樣使用的 -ing 形式：

  • Swimming is relaxing.
  • I enjoy reading.
  • She is good at explaining problems.

Infinitive 是 to + base verb：

  • I want to leave.
  • He forgot to call.
  • We decided to wait.

許多常見動詞後面自然會接某一種模式。把它們分成小群學，不要當成一張巨大清單硬背。最有用的規則是：看第一個動詞。它通常決定下一個動詞的形狀。

The Pattern

Verbs Often Followed by Gerunds

以下這些動詞後面常用 verb + -ing：

  • enjoy
  • avoid
  • finish
  • keep
  • mind
  • suggest
  • consider
  • practice

例句：

  • I enjoy cooking on weekends.
  • She avoided answering the question.
  • We finished cleaning the kitchen.
  • He keeps forgetting his password.
  • Would you mind opening the window?
  • They suggested meeting earlier.

這些動詞把第二個動作當成活動、習慣或經驗。

Verbs Often Followed by Infinitives

以下這些動詞後面常用 verb + to + base verb：

  • want
  • need
  • hope
  • decide
  • plan
  • promise
  • agree
  • learn

例句：

  • I want to rest.
  • We need to leave soon.
  • She hopes to study abroad.
  • They decided to cancel the meeting.
  • He promised to help.
  • I am learning to drive.

這些動詞常指向目標、意圖、計畫或未來動作。

Verbs That Can Take Both

有些動詞兩種模式都可以：

  • I like swimming.
  • I like to swim before work.
  • We started eating.
  • We started to eat.

有時意思幾乎一樣。有時會改變：

  • I stopped smoking. 我戒掉或停止抽菸這個活動。
  • I stopped to smoke. 我停下另一個活動，目的是要抽菸。
  • She remembered locking the door. 她記得自己鎖過門。
  • She remembered to lock the door. 她沒有忘記去鎖門。

意思會改變時，模式就非常重要。

Natural Examples

Everyday Plans

  • I need to buy groceries.
  • We decided to try the new restaurant.
  • He hopes to finish early.

這些句子往前看。動作是目標、計畫或意圖，所以不定詞很自然。

Hobbies and Habits

  • I enjoy baking bread.
  • She practices speaking every day.
  • They keep arriving five minutes late.

這些句子描述活動或重複行為，所以常用動名詞。

Polite Requests

  • Would you mind closing the door?
  • Could you help me carry this box?
  • I would like to ask a question.

注意不同請求片語會用不同模式。Mind 接動名詞。Would like 接不定詞。Help 後面常可接原形動詞或不定詞："help me carry" 或 "help me to carry."

After Prepositions

介系詞後面用動名詞：

  • She is interested in learning design.
  • He apologized for arriving late.
  • They talked about moving to a bigger office.
  • I am tired of waiting.

這個模式非常實用，因為介系詞到處都會出現。如果你看到 in、for、about、of、after、before 或 without，下一個動詞通常會變成 -ing。

After Adjectives

許多形容詞模式會用不定詞：

  • I am happy to help.
  • She was surprised to hear the news.
  • The instructions are easy to follow.
  • This problem is hard to explain.

這些形容詞常描述和某個動作有關的反應、判斷或難度。不定詞指出解釋這個形容詞的動作。

但如果形容詞後面接介系詞，仍然要遵守介系詞規則：

  • I am excited about starting the course.
  • He is responsible for checking the forms.
  • They are tired of waiting.

所以不要只看形容詞。看第二個動詞前面緊貼著的字。如果那個字是介系詞，-ing 通常就在附近等著。

The First-Verb Habit

最快的進步方式，是把第一個動詞和它喜歡的模式一起學。不要只背 enjoy。要背 enjoy doing。不要只背 decide。要背 decide to do。模式應該像背包一樣跟著動詞走。

試著做很短、很個人的例句：

  • I enjoy watching quiet videos before bed.
  • I decided to clean my desk.
  • I avoided checking my phone.
  • I hope to finish early.

短例句很有力，因為它們會變成可重複使用的句子零件。之後需要更長句子時，你的大腦已經準備好形狀。

還有一個實用習慣：正句和否定句都練。"I enjoy cooking" 要和 "I do not enjoy cooking" 一起走。"I decided to go" 要和 "I decided not to go" 一起走。否定形式常常能看出這個模式是真的自動化，還是只背在一個固定句子裡。

Common Traps

Trap 1: Using To After Enjoy

說 "I enjoy reading"，不要說 "I enjoy to read"。enjoy 想接一個活動，而英文會把這個活動包成動名詞。

Trap 2: Using -ing After Want

說 "I want to sleep"，不要說 "I want sleeping"。want 指向目標或想做的動作，所以接不定詞。

Trap 3: Forgetting Prepositions

"I am interested to learn" 在某些情境可能聽起來可以，但一般模式是 "interested in learning"。介系詞 in 會把下一個動詞拉成 -ing。

Trap 4: Thinking Every -ing Word Is the Same

"I am swimming" 的 -ing 是動詞時態的一部分。"I enjoy swimming" 的 swimming 是動名詞，比較像名詞。形狀一樣，工作不同。

Trap 5: Missing Meaning Changes

"Remember doing" 和 "remember to do" 不是雙胞胎。"I remembered locking the door" 表示我記得做過這個動作。"I remembered to lock the door" 表示我沒有忘記要做這件事。

Trap 6: Trying to Memorize Too Much at Once

一張巨大動詞清單很容易忘。小而個人的清單更有用。從你每天真的會用的動詞開始：want to、need to、decide to、enjoy -ing、avoid -ing、finish -ing、good at -ing、interested in -ing。這些自動化之後，再加入下一組。文法附著在你真的會說的句子上時，更容易留下來。

Wrong / Better / Why

Wrong Better Why
I enjoy to swim. I enjoy swimming. Enjoy 後面接動名詞。
She wants learning piano. She wants to learn piano. Want 後面接不定詞。
We discussed to change the schedule. We discussed changing the schedule. Discuss 後面接名詞或動名詞。
He is good at explain ideas. He is good at explaining ideas. 介系詞後面用動名詞。
I forgot calling her, so I called later. I forgot to call her, so I called later. 任務沒有完成；用不定詞。
They decided moving next month. They decided to move next month. Decide 後面接不定詞。

Mini Practice

選出最佳形式。

  1. I avoid _____ emails when I am angry. (send / sending / to send)
  2. She plans _____ a new course this summer. (take / taking / to take)
  3. We talked about _____ the deadline. (extend / extending / to extend)
  4. He promised _____ earlier next time. (arrive / arriving / to arrive)
  5. Do you mind _____ here for a minute? (wait / waiting / to wait)
  6. I remembered _____ the lights before leaving. (turn off / turning off / to turn off)
  7. They finished _____ the report at noon. (write / writing / to write)
  8. I stopped _____ coffee after lunch. (drink / drinking / to drink)

Answer Key

  1. sending - Avoid 接動名詞。
  2. to take - Plan 接不定詞。
  3. extending - about 後面用動名詞。
  4. to arrive - Promise 接不定詞。
  5. waiting - Mind 接動名詞。
  6. to turn off - 這表示你沒有忘記任務。
  7. writing - Finish 接動名詞。
  8. drinking - 這表示停止或戒掉這個活動。

Tiny Summary

動名詞是像名詞一樣使用的 -ing 形式。

不定詞是 to + base verb。

第一個動詞通常決定下一個動詞的形狀。

介系詞後面用動名詞。

兩種形式都可以時，檢查意思是否改變。