She likes ________(to have/having) the birds
isas an expensive hobby.
What should we use here ? Infinitive or Gerund? Why?
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Per this NGram, both forms occur. The infinitive is a bit more common, but they're both fine, and I can't think of a context where they'd have different meanings. – FumbleFingers Mar 15 '17 at 14:22
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Like + V / Like + Ving
Like can be followed by either a plain verb (V) or by V-ing. But there's a slight difference in meaning.
She likes having birds as a hobby.
Using the -ing form stresses the fact that it is a pleasurable experience.
She likes to have birds but it's an expensive hobby.
In this sentence I use the infinitive because I put the stress not on the pleasure she draws from her hobby, but on its consequence: it costs her a lot of money.
-Note that in your sentence you would not have a definite article before "birds".
-Using "have" is fine but "keep" would probably be better at least in your second sentence, having birds does not necessarily imply you provide for their expenses:
She likes to keep birds but it's an expensive hobby.
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