begin/start + -ing vs to — avoid double -ing (GiU Unit 56)
The frame
Section titled “The frame”Julia has been ill, but she’s beginning getting better. → not OK ✓ she’s beginning to get better
The rule
Section titled “The rule”begin / start + -ing or to — both work normally:
- It began raining = It began to rain ✓
- She started crying = She started to cry ✓
Exception — double -ing. When begin/start is itself in an -ing form (is beginning, was starting, has been starting), use the to-infinitive:
- ✓ She’s beginning to get better (✗ beginning getting)
- ✓ It’s starting to rain (✗ starting raining)
- ✓ I’m beginning to understand (✗ beginning understanding)
Reason: English avoids stacked -ing forms; the second verb flips to the infinitive.
Same avoidance elsewhere
Section titled “Same avoidance elsewhere”- keep (on) — keep on doing forces the -ing to stay, so it’s fine, but be keeping on doing is avoided
- continue — after a continuous form, prefer to: it’s continuing to rise
- go on — is going on talking avoided → went on to talk changes meaning (see [go-on-to-vs-ing])
Is begin/start carrying -ing? → switch the next verb to to. Otherwise both are fine.
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Unit 56 — Verb + -ing or to… 1. Ebot lesson 2026-09-05.