Using the infinitive or the -ing form after “start” and “begin”

Stuart Cook January 10, 2023 English grammar 4

“Start going” or “start to go”?

The verbs start and begin can be followed by an infinitive or –ing form, usually without a difference in meaning.

For example, you can say I started to work or I started working to mean the same thing. Similarly, they began to cook and they began cooking also have the same meaning.

Beware of the continuous form!

After the continuous (progressive) forms, beginning and starting, the infinitive is usually preferred:

It is starting to rain.
starting raining

The leaves are beginning to fall.
beginning falling

Beware again!

Note that the verbs know, understand and realise take the infinitive form after start and begin:

I am beginning to understand the problem.
beginning understanding

I started to realise how urgent it was.
started realising

Examples

We will start installing the machinery tomorrow.

We will start to install the machinery tomorrow.

They began demolishing the building yesterday.

They began to demolish the building yesterday.

I am starting to feel much better after my cold.
starting feeling

I began to understand the problem with his plan.
began understanding

He is beginning to understand the importance of teamwork.
beginning understanding

They are starting to realise the impact of their actions.
starting realising

By Stuart Cook

Stuart is an English teacher and runs the Speakspeak website. He currently lives in Prague and has been teaching for over 25 years. ⎜ Get Stuart's e-books

4 Comments

Sona Barha - March 9, 2023, 12:23 am Reply

It is always confusing to use infinitives where to use ing or ed . can you explain more thoroughly the usage of ing and ed using gerunds and infinitives
Stuart Cook - March 11, 2023, 6:07 pm Reply

Hello Sona

You can find some more information about infinitives and gerunds in two-verb combinations here:
https://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/verb-structures/verb-to-infinitive

and here:
https://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/verb-structures/verb-ing
Jill lin - November 12, 2023, 7:42 am Reply

Hi Mr. Cook,

Thank you for this great learning website. The following sentences are above.

I began to understand the problem with his plan.
began understanding => I am wondering why this is wrong.

I began understading the problem with his plan. (?)

Thank you so much for your time and help.
- Stuart Cook - December 17, 2023, 6:36 pm Reply
  
  Hi Jill
  
  The verbs ”know”, ”understand” and ”realise” take the infinitive form after ”start” and ”begin”.