Often, sentences may be different, but they mean the same thing, it’s a matter of learning about what verbs take the ‘to-infinitive” clauses and what verbs take an ‘-ing’ clauses. For example, ‘hope’ and ‘expect’ take ‘to infinitive’: “I hope to wake up in time for my meeting.” “I expect to get good marks in my English exam as I worked hard for it.”
Moreover, after a few verbs in the case of ‘to infinitive’ an object follows, for example, ‘tell’, ‘advise’, or ‘ask’: “I asked them to repeat the answer.” “We advised him to eat healthy.” “I told her to have fun.”
Furthermore, verbs like ‘enjoy’, ‘admit’, or ‘look forward to’ take the ‘-ing’ clause: “I enjoy being in nature.” ” I admit to taking the bribe.” “I look forward to seeing you.” The verb ‘prevent’ is followed by an object + (from) + an ‘-ing’. “I prevented them from stealing an artwork.”
Verbs like begin, start, love, continue, or cease can take both, either the ‘to infinitive’ clause or ‘-ing’ clause, and there aren’t differences in meaning between them: “I started to eat healthy.” “I started eating healthy.”
The difference between ‘I like to read’ and ‘I like reading’ is in clauses, ‘I like to read’ uses the ‘to infinitive‘ clause, while ‘I like reading’ uses the ‘-ing’ clause.
Moreover, when someone says, “I like to read”, it’s implying that they read but not as often as you would think. When someone says, “I like reading”, it is implying that they read regularly.
“I like to read” also means that one likes to read books by a specific author or magazine, for example, “I like to read Shakespeare.”
While “I like reading” means, that one likes to read for a purpose, for example, “I like reading because it helps me relax.”
Keep going for more information.
What is the difference between I like to read and I like reading?
The differences between “I like to read” and “I like reading” are several, “I like to read” is “to-infinitive”, while “I like reading” is a present participle.
Moreover, ‘I like to read’ also implies that one reads a specific material, for example, “I like to read thrillers.” Whereas “I like reading” implies that one reads for a purpose, for example, “I like reading to take my mind off work things.”
What’s the difference between Read, Read (red), and Reading?
Read, read (red), and reading are different types of tenses. Read is present simple, read (red) is past simple, and reading is present continuous. Examples: “He reads a newspaper every day.” “She read (red) a newspaper yesterday.” “They are reading a newspaper.”
In order to differentiate between sentences, you should be familiar with tenses, and I have listed all the tenses with examples below.
Understanding the Twelve English Tenses for Effective Communication
There are three main tenses: past, present, and future and every one of these tenses has four main aspects, which are simple, perfect, continuous (also called progressive), and perfect continuous.
| Tense | Meaning | Example |
| Present simple | It’s used when facts, generalizations, and truths are involved which aren’t affected by the passage of time | He reads the newspaper every day |
| Past simple | It’s used for events that were completed in the past | He read (red) a newspaper yesterday |
| Future simple | It’s used for events that will be finished in the future | He will read the newspaper tomorrow |
| Present perfect | It’s used to describe the events that began in the past and are expected to continue. | He has read (red) a newspaper |
| Past perfect | It’s used to describe the events that occurred before other events in the past | He had read (red) yesterday’s newspapers before he switched to today’s newspaper |
| Future perfect | It’s used to describe the events that will be completed between now and a specific time in the future | He will have read (red) several newspapers by the end of this week |
| Present continuous | It’s used to describe the actions which are currently ongoing (often temporary) | He is reading a newspaper |
| Past continuous | It’s used to describe the ongoing past events, often those events are in relation to the occurrence of another event | He was reading a newspaper when his water bottle spilled |
| Future continuous | It’s used to describe the future events that are expected to continue over a certain period of time | He will be reading ten newspapers next week |
| Present perfect continuous | It’s used to describe the events which started in the past and will continue into the present or were recently completed | He has been reading a newspaper all day, and now he needs to get some sleep |
| Past perfect continuous | It’s used to describe the events which began, continued, and finished in the past | He had been reading a newspaper all day, and she needed to get some sleep |
| Future perfect continuous | It’s used to describe the events which will continue until a point in the future | He will have been reading this newspaper for two hours when he gets some sleep |
Learn more about tenses through this video and have a firm garsp on tenses.
What does “To be read” mean?
“To be read” means to understand the true feelings of people just by looking at how they act. For example, one can read someone if they are lying as they would be sweaty and will not be making eye contact.
There is a phrase that you may have heard of, ‘read (someone) like a book’. What it means is to analyze and quickly understand someone.
Generally, reading a person means taking a hard look at them and quickly knowing something about them. It’s basically a feeling that you get by observing how they behave.
Here is a list of phrases of ‘read’ to improve your English.
- Read for filth: Basically, to scold.
- Read the room: Understand the thoughts and emotions of people who are present in a room.
- Read between the lines: Infer a meaning which isn’t said explicitly.
- Read the Riot Act: Scold someone in an extreme manner.
- Don’t read like a robot: Don’t read without any expression.
- Read in: Accept the input or data.
- Read in: Give access to some classified information.
- Read between the lines: To understand the reality or a hidden truth.
- Read my lips: It’s used to emphasize a statement.
What is another word for Read?
There are other words for every single word, which means that there is another for “read” as well. Let’s have a look at them.
- Study: Give time and attention in order to gain knowledge of.
- Flick through: Look quickly through a book, newspaper, magazine, etc
- Interpret: Understand (an action, mood, or behavior) as having a specific meaning.
- Understand: Perceive the meaning which is intended (words, a language, or a speaker).
- Devour: Read in a quick and eager manner.
- Scrutinize: Examine closely and thoroughly.
- Scan: Look at it from every angle carefully to detect some features.
- Wade through: Read laboriously.
- Peruse: Read something in a thorough or careful manner.
To Conclude
- Verbs like ‘hope’ and ‘expect’ use the ‘to-infinitive’ clauses. In contrast, ‘enjoy’ or ‘look forward to’ use ‘-ing’ clauses.
- ‘I like to read’ implies preference. It does not guarantee frequent reading. In contrast, ‘I like reading’ suggests habitual reading behavior.
- ‘To be read’ implies interpreting someone’s actions without clear communication.
- Tenses (present, past, continuous) impact verb forms (‘read,’ ‘read,’ ‘reading’).
- Synonyms for ‘read’ (‘study,’ ‘devour,’ ‘scan’) indicate diverse reading styles.
- Understanding tense differences (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) is important for good communication.
- Phrases with ‘read’ (‘read for filth,’ ‘read between the lines’) carry nuanced meanings about comprehension.
- ‘Reading someone’ means grasping something about them by observing their behavior.