Love as a verb pattern

Question

Hola amigos.

I've learnt that love, as a verb pattern, only can be followed by a gerund -ing

-I love listening to music.

And, I would love is followed by an infinitive - to verb

-I'd love to change the world.

There's no doubt about the second, but someone has told me that love can be followed either by a gerund or an infinitive...

Is it I love to listen to music right?, Are there another verbs like this one that can be confusing?, Please give me some examples.

Thanks in advance.. Chao.

Yes Nelson..you can use either the gerund form or the infinitive in your example..they both have a slight subtle difference but essentially mean the same thing. - drvicente, Feb 4, 2012

Gracias Vicente - nelson_rafael, Feb 4, 2012

Answer 1

As far as other examples... I'm sure there are some. The obvious ones are "to like" and "to hate" - the synonym and antonym of your excellent example.

• "I like listening to classical music while I study." (a generalization)
• "I like to listen to classical music while I study." (same as above)
• "I would like to listen to classical music while I study." (specific)

As Webdunce said, this last sentence, "I would..." only makes sense within certain contexts of specificity, like a time frame, or a request, or if accompanied by an explanation or qualifier. For example:

• "I'm changing the station because I would like to listen to classical music (specifically classical) while I study."
• "Do you mind if I turn on the radio? I would like to listen to classical music while I study (specifically while I study)."
• "I would like to listen to classical music while I study, but my roommate hates anything with violins." (therefore I don't listen to classical music while I study)."

The same is true for the following:

• "I hate listening to the same stupid song played over and over."
• "I hate to listen to the same stupid song played over and over."

• "I would hate to listen to the same stupid song played over and over."

• "I hate changing managers in the middle of a project."

• "I hate to change managers in the middle of a project."
• "I would hate to change managers in the middle of a project."

The first two statements are generalizations and can stand alone. The last needs context. You "would".... when? why? under what conditions? What prompted you to say that?

BUT! Talk about confusing.... The next examples only work with only certain of the available options.

• "I hate finding a hair in my soup." (correct)
• "I hate to find a hair in my soup." (not commonly used)
• "I would hate to find a hair in my soup." (correct)

• "I would hate finding a hair in my soup." (correct)

• "I use listening to music as an excuse not to study." (correct)

• "I use to listen to music as an excuse not to study." (incorrect)
• "I would use listening to music as an excuse not to study." (correct)
• "I would use to listen to music as an excuse not to study." (incorrect)

I'm glad you brought this up, Nelson. It tells me I should not be so discouraged when I find similar mysteries of usage in my Spanish studies!

Muchas gracias, ajaks. Muy buena explicación, me ayudó bastante. - nelson_rafael, Feb 5, 2012

Answer 2

I would say either way...in either case (speaker's preference, perhaps).

I love to listen to music = I love listening to music

.

I would love to listen to music = I would love listening to music.

.

I would love listening to music really feels like you are going to follow it with, "but {some reason why you can't or shouldn't listen to music}." Whereas I would love to listen to music feels like it could go either way...maybe you are about to tell me why you can't or maybe you are just telling me that that is what you'd like to do.

But the difference is so slight that I think either way is okay.

That's my opinion.

If you are just telling me what you'd like to do, the most common way would be, "I would love to listen to *some* music." - webdunce, Feb 4, 2012

And, I guess there is a slight difference...using the -ing form feels somewhat more general...especially when used with would. - webdunce, Feb 4, 2012

Gracias Webdunce, como siempre, buena explicación - nelson_rafael, Feb 4, 2012