Have Difficulty Doing vs. Have Difficulty To Do
Cambridge directly documents have difficulty doing something and the variant have difficulty in doing something. The cited construction does not license have difficulty to + infinitive as the parallel complement pattern; keep the documented -ing construction.
Use have difficulty + -ing, or have difficulty in + -ing, when describing difficulty performing an activity.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| describe difficulty performing an activity | have difficulty + -ing | Use the -ing form. |
| same meaning with an optional linking preposition | have difficulty in + -ing | The reviewed source also supports “in” before the -ing form. |
| proposed equivalent with a to-infinitive | have difficulty to do | Do not treat this as the standard equivalent of the documented patterns. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you naming the activity that is difficult?
If yes: Use “have difficulty” plus -ing (or “in” plus -ing where appropriate).
If no: Use a different construction if you need a to-infinitive elsewhere in the sentence.
Caveat: The page concerns the complement after the noun “difficulty”; a separate adjective construction such as “difficult to open” follows a different grammar.
Examples
She had difficulty opening the file.
The difficult activity is expressed with -ing.
They had difficulty in finding the entrance.
“In” plus -ing is also supported.
Avoid “had difficulty to open” as the direct equivalent.
The documented complement is the -ing form.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited construction does not license have difficulty to + infinitive as the parallel complement pattern; keep the documented -ing construction.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents have difficulty doing something and the variant have difficulty in doing something.
Decision
Use have difficulty + -ing, or have difficulty in + -ing, when describing difficulty performing an activity.
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.
- have difficulty doing something (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Preferred lexical authority directly documenting have difficulty doing something and have difficulty in doing something.