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Gerunds and Infinitives Exercise
Practice using verbs with gerunds (-ing form) and infinitives (with 'to') correctly.
Gerund (-ing form): Functions as a noun. Infinitive (to + verb): Often expresses purpose or intention.
Verbs + GERUND (-ing)
enjoy swimming
avoid talking
consider moving
finish working
miss seeing
practice speaking
Verbs + INFINITIVE (to + verb)
want to go
hope to see
plan to visit
decide to buy
offer to help
promise to call
Verbs + GERUND only:
enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, miss, practice, deny, risk, imagine
enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, miss, practice, deny, risk, imagine
Verbs + INFINITIVE only:
want, hope, plan, decide, offer, promise, refuse, manage, deserve
want, hope, plan, decide, offer, promise, refuse, manage, deserve
Verbs + BOTH (different meaning):
remember, forget, stop, try, regret, like, love, hate, prefer
remember, forget, stop, try, regret, like, love, hate, prefer
Activity 1: Basic Choice
Choose between gerund (-ing) or infinitive (to + verb) for these sentences.
1
Easy
I enjoy ________ (read) novels in my free time.
2
Easy
We decided ________ (go) to the beach this weekend.
3
Medium
She promised ________ (call) me when she arrives.
Activity 2: Complete the Sentences
Fill in the blanks with the correct form (gerund or infinitive) of the verb in parentheses.
4
Medium
I can't imagine ________ (live) in another country.
Verb: imagine + ________
Remember: Some verbs only take gerunds
5
Medium
He hopes ________ (study) abroad next year.
Verb: hope + ________
Think: Which form follows 'hope'?
6
Hard
I remember ________ (visit) my grandmother when I was a child.
Verb: remember + ________ (past memory)
'Remember' can take both, with different meanings
Activity 3: Verbs with Both Forms
Some verbs can take both gerunds and infinitives with different meanings. Choose the correct option.
7
Hard
I'll never forget ________ (meet) you for the first time.
8
Hard
Please remember ________ (lock) the door when you leave.
9
Medium
He stopped ________ (smoke) three years ago for health reasons.
'Stop' + gerund = cease an activity; 'Stop' + infinitive = pause to do something else
Activity 4: After Prepositions
After prepositions, we always use gerunds. Complete these sentences.
10
Medium
She's interested in ________ (learn) French.
11
Hard
I'm looking forward to ________ (see) you next week.
'To' here is a preposition, not part of infinitive
12
Medium
He apologized for ________ (be) late to the meeting.
After 'for' (preposition), use gerund
Activity 5: Mixed Practice
Complete these sentences with the correct form (gerund or infinitive).
13
Hard
I regret ________ (inform) you that your application has been rejected.
14
Medium
We managed ________ (finish) the project on time despite the difficulties.
'Manage' is followed by infinitive
15
Hard
They discussed ________ (move) to a bigger house.
'Discuss' is followed by gerund
Activity 6: Special Cases
These sentences have special constructions or idiomatic uses.
16
Hard
It's no use ________ (cry) over spilled milk.
17
Hard
She deserves ________ (get) a promotion for all her hard work.
'Deserve' is followed by infinitive
18
Hard
Create your own sentence using a verb that can take both gerund and infinitive with different meanings:
Example with 'try': I tried opening the window (attempted) vs. I tried to open the window (attempted with difficulty)
Key Rules: Gerunds vs. Infinitives
GERUNDS (-ing form): Used as nouns. Follow certain verbs (enjoy, avoid, finish), after prepositions (interested in, good at), as subjects (Swimming is fun), after certain expressions (It's no use, It's worth)
INFINITIVES (to + verb): Express purpose or intention. Follow certain verbs (want, hope, decide, promise), after adjectives (happy to help, difficult to understand), to express purpose (I study to learn)
VERBS WITH BOTH FORMS (different meanings):
| Verb | + Gerund | + Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember | memory of past (I remember meeting her) | remember to do something (Remember to call) |
| forget | memory of past (I'll never forget seeing it) | forget to do something (Don't forget to lock) |
| stop | cease activity (Stop smoking) | pause to do something else (Stop to smoke) |
| try | experiment (Try restarting the computer) | attempt with difficulty (Try to lift this) |
| regret | regret past action (I regret saying that) | regret to inform (I regret to inform you) |
GOLDEN RULE: After prepositions, ALWAYS use gerund. "I'm thinking about going" (NOT "to go")
Common verbs + gerund: enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, miss, practice, deny, risk, imagine, discuss, delay, suggest
Common verbs + infinitive: want, hope, plan, decide, offer, promise, refuse, manage, deserve, attempt, choose, expect
Verbs + object + infinitive: want him to go, tell her to call, ask them to wait, advise us to leave
Answers & Explanations
Correct: reading (gerund)
Explanation: 'Enjoy' is always followed by a gerund. We say "enjoy doing" something, never "enjoy to do."
Correct: to go (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Decide' is followed by an infinitive. We say "decide to do" something.
Correct: to call (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Promise' is followed by an infinitive. We say "promise to do" something.
Correct: living (gerund)
Explanation: 'Imagine' is followed by a gerund. We say "imagine doing" something.
Correct: to study (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Hope' is followed by an infinitive. We say "hope to do" something.
Correct: visiting (gerund)
Explanation: 'Remember' + gerund refers to a memory of the past. Here, it's a memory from childhood.
Correct: meeting (gerund)
Explanation: 'Forget' + gerund refers to a memory you can't forget from the past. This is a memory of first meeting.
Correct: to lock (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Remember' + infinitive means don't forget to do something in the future. This is a reminder for future action.
Correct: smoking (gerund)
Explanation: 'Stop' + gerund means cease an activity. He ceased the activity of smoking.
Correct: learning (gerund)
Explanation: After prepositions (like 'in'), we always use gerunds. "Interested in learning."
Correct: seeing (gerund)
Explanation: 'Look forward to' - here 'to' is a preposition, not part of infinitive. After prepositions, use gerund.
Correct: being (gerund)
Explanation: After 'for' (preposition), use gerund. "Apologize for being late."
Correct: to inform (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Regret' + infinitive is used for bad news or formal announcements. "Regret to inform" is a fixed expression.
Correct: to finish (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Manage' is followed by infinitive. We say "manage to do" something (succeed in doing).
Correct: moving (gerund)
Explanation: 'Discuss' is followed by gerund. We say "discuss doing" something.
Correct: crying (gerund)
Explanation: After expressions like "It's no use," we use gerund. This is an idiomatic expression.
Correct: to get (infinitive)
Explanation: 'Deserve' is followed by infinitive. We say "deserve to get/to have" something.
Correct: Any sentence correctly using a verb that can take both forms with different meanings.
Example: "I like swimming" (general enjoyment) vs. "I like to swim in the morning" (preference/routine). Must show understanding of different meanings.
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