Using the infinitive form of verbs to express the English "-ING"

Take the fastest path to fluent French
Generally, when talking about an activity in English, we use either the -ing form of the verb or the to + verb form:
Dieting is useful.  /  To diet is useful.
I love going on holiday.  /  I love to go on holiday.  

Learn how to use infinitive verbs in French

Now look at these examples:

Faire un régime est utile.Dieting is useful.  

J'adore aller en vacances.I love going on holiday.

J'aime lire.I like to read / I like reading.

Je déteste manger des épinards.I hate to eat spinach / I hate eating spinach.

In French, you will always use the infinitive in those cases.

Case of reflexive infinitives

Je déteste me lever tôt.I hate getting up early.

Vous aimez bien vous promener.You like going for a walk.

Basile adore se coucher tard.Basile loves going to bed late.

When the infinitive is a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) matches the subject of the sentence (i.e. the person referred to).




See also Conjugate reflexive verbs in the near future in French using aller + infinitive (Le Futur Proche)

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Ils aiment dessiner.They like drawing.  /  They like to draw.
J'adore aller en vacances.I love going on holiday.
Je déteste manger des épinards.I hate to eat spinach / I hate eating spinach.
Je n'aime pas nager.I don't like to swim / I don't like swimming.
J'adore faire du shopping.I love to go shopping / I love going shopping.
J'aime lire.I like to read / I like reading.
Faire de l'exercice est fatiguant.Exercising is tiring.
Nous détestons marcher.We hate walking.  /  We hate to walk.
Faire un régime est utile.Dieting is useful.  
Je déteste me lever tôt.I hate getting up early.
Vous aimez bien vous promener.You like going for a walk.
Basile adore se coucher tard.Basile loves going to bed late.
Ne pas écouter est sa spécialité.Not listening is his speciality.
Ménager le vin quand le tonneau est à sa fin, c'est s'y prendre un peu tard. 
(Proverbe agricole)
Sparing the wine when the barrel is at its end is getting to it a bit late.
(Farmer's proverb)
Poser un lapin le jour de la Saint-Valentin, ça craint !Standing someone up on Valentine's Day, that sucks!
Il aime lire.He likes reading.  /  He likes to read.
J'adore regarder la télé.I love watching telly.  /  I love to watch telly.
Pose ce téléphone !
Se faire les yeux doux par écran interposé, si ça marchait, ça se saurait !
Put down that phone!
Making doe eyes with a screen in-between, if that worked, we would know!
Clever stuff happening!