Gerunds & Infinitives Exercises

About Gerunds & Infinitives exercises

Some verbs are followed by an -ing form (a gerund) and some by a to-infinitive. A few verbs can take either. A B1 gap fill practises common verb patterns, such as enjoy, want and stop. B2 multiple choice practises verbs where the meaning changes with the form.

There is no simple rule that decides the pattern, so each verb needs to be learned with its pattern. Enjoy, avoid and finish take a gerund: I enjoy swimming. Want, decide and hope take a to-infinitive: I want to swim. With some verbs, the form changes the meaning. She stopped smoking means she gave up the habit. She stopped to smoke means she paused in order to smoke. Remember to lock the door is a task for the future, while I remember locking the door is a memory. Try to open it means make an effort, and try opening it means test what happens. Learn each verb together with the pattern that follows it.

A B2 gap fill practises the -ing form after a preposition. A verb that follows a preposition always takes -ing: She is thinking about changing jobs. The same rule works after adjectives such as tired of, good at and interested in. Take care with look forward to and be used to. Here to is a preposition, so say I look forward to meeting you, not to meet you.

• Verbs followed by a gerund (enjoy, avoid, finish)
• Verbs followed by a to-infinitive (want, decide, hope)
• Stop to do and stop doing
• Remember and forget with to or -ing
• Try to do and try doing
• Choosing the form that matches the meaning