Can't Stand Doing vs. Can't Stand To Do
Oxford documents both stand doing something and stand to do something, including paired tolerate/dislike examples such as not being able to stand hearing or to hear something. The two patterns often overlap, but idiomatic preference can vary by following verb and variety; avoid inventing a rigid universal meaning split.
Both “can’t stand doing” and “can’t stand to do” can be grammatical in the tolerate/dislike sense; choose the form that sounds natural for the verb and context rather than treating one as universally wrong.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| dislike or cannot tolerate an activity | can’t stand + -ing | common natural choice |
| dislike or cannot tolerate an action/event | can’t stand + to-infinitive | also grammatical in suitable contexts |
Quick tests
Tolerance test
Is the phrase expressing strong dislike or inability to tolerate an activity?
If yes: Either complement may be grammatical; use the form natural for the verb and sentence.
If no: If “stand” has another meaning, this comparison does not apply.
Caveat: Do not label the infinitive universally wrong; this is a usage-choice page, not a one-form-only rule.
Examples
I can’t stand waiting in long lines.
The -ing form naturally presents the activity.
I can’t stand to watch animals suffer.
The infinitive is also grammatical in the tolerate/dislike sense.
She can’t stand being interrupted during calls.
The gerund phrase names the activity she dislikes.
Further guidance
Boundary
The two patterns often overlap, but idiomatic preference can vary by following verb and variety; avoid inventing a rigid universal meaning split.
Construction
Oxford documents both stand doing something and stand to do something, including paired tolerate/dislike examples such as not being able to stand hearing or to hear something.
Decision
Both “can’t stand doing” and “can’t stand to do” can be grammatical in the tolerate/dislike sense; choose the form that sounds natural for the verb and context rather than treating one as universally wrong.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- stand — Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford Learner's Dictionaries · Can't stand with both -ing and to-infinitive complements in the tolerate/dislike sense, including perception examples