Ask a partner what they enjoy or love doing in their free time. Explain your reasons.

Good afternoon, everyone. Today, I want to give you advice on improving your communication skills, especially if you live in a country where English isn’t the main language. And one of the best ways to improve speaking is practicing every day. Now I realize that’s easier said than done, but you can start by joining an online conversation club or talking with friends who are also learning English, and if possible, attending local English-speaking clubs or meetups is another excellent way to speak with others and gain confidence.

I also recommend listening to English podcasts or watching videos online, and even if you don’t have people to speak with in person, you can practice shadowing, which is repeating sentences after a speaker to improve pronunciation. You might enjoy reading news articles aloud or recording yourself speaking to notice mistakes and improve fluency.

Remember, the key is making English a part of your daily life and practicing consistently.

English uses two common verb forms after certain main verbs: gerunds (verb + -ing) and infinitives (to + base verb). The correct form depends on the main verb that comes before.

Gerunds: Use gerunds after verbs like: enjoy, suggest, avoid, finish, and mind.

• Examples:
  • “I enjoy listening to music at night.”
  • “She suggested going to a new restaurant.”
  • “He avoids driving during rush hour.”
  • “They finished cleaning the house already.”

Infinitives: Use infinitives after verbs like: want, hope, decide, agree, and plan.

• Examples:
  • “I want to visit my cousin in Canada.”
  • “They hope to win the competition.”
  • “She decided to apply for the job.”
  • “We agreed to meet at 6 p.m.”

Both: Some verbs allow both, but with a change in meaning:

• Examples:
  • “I stopped smoking.” (I quit.)
  • “I stopped to smoke.” (I paused what I was doing in order to smoke.)

Learning which verbs take gerunds or infinitives is essential for speaking and writing correctly. It helps you express preferences, plans, suggestions, and actions clearly. Understanding the difference also improves your ability to follow spoken English in conversations, videos, and other real-life situations.

Gerunds and infinitives appear frequently in everyday conversations, especially when people talk about their plans, habits, and opinions. Understanding how to use them correctly helps you speak naturally and understand others better in many social and work settings.

• Talking about hobbies and interests:
  
  • These forms help you describe what you or others like doing.
    ➤ “I love reading historical novels.”
    ➤ “She enjoys playing the piano.”
• Describing plans and decisions:
  • Infinitives are common when talking about goals or next steps.
    ➤ “I plan to study English in Canada.”
    ➤ “We decided to take the earlier train.”
    
• Giving and understanding suggestions:
  • Gerunds follow verbs of advice and recommendation.
    ➤ “He suggested going to a different restaurant.”
    ➤ “I recommend trying the seafood.”
• Real-life conversations:
  • ➤ “What do you want to do this weekend?”
    ➤ “I like cooking for my family.”
    ➤ “She hopes to find a better job.”

Listening for these forms helps you catch important details about someone’s preferences or future plans. When speaking, using the right form shows that you’re confident and grammatically accurate. These small patterns make a big difference in how fluent and professional you sound.

Now, practice your language skills with this interactive game.

Use these questions to talk about your preferences, plans, and suggestions. Practice answering with correct grammar and asking follow-up questions to build a natural conversation.

1. Talk About Your Likes:
   
   • What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
     ➤ For example: “I enjoy watching movies.”
     ➤ For example: “I like painting.”
2. Future Goals:
   
   • What do you hope to do next year?
     ➤ For example: “I hope to get a better job.”
     ➤ For example: “I want to travel overseas for work and pleasure.”
3. Daily Routines:
   
   • What things do you avoid doing during the week?
     ➤ For example: “I avoid driving in traffic. The streets are too congested.”
     ➤ For example: “I avoid eating late.”
4. Advice and Suggestions:
   
   • What do you suggest doing for fun in your city?
     ➤ For example: “I suggest going to the zoo.”
     ➤ For example: “Try visiting the art museum. There are some wonderful paintings there from famous and local artists.”
5. Talking About Decisions:
   
   • Have you decided to start something new?
     ➤ For example: “Yes, I decided to take a yoga class because it helps me improve my flexibility”
     ➤ For example: “I decided to learn Spanish since many of my clients speak the language.”
6. People Around You:
   
   1. What does someone in your family like to do?
      ➤ For example: “My dad likes watching soccer.”
      ➤ For example: “My sister loves to dance, and she has been taking classes for years.”