Gerunds and Infinitives. What are They and How Do You Use Them?

Gerunds and Infinitives. What are They and How Do You Use Them?

 We use gerunds (verb + ing):

• After certain verbs - I enjoy singing
• After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving
• As the subject or object of a sentence - Swimming is good exercise

We use 'to' + infinitive:

• After certain verbs - We decided to leave
• After many adjectives - It's difficult to get up early
• - I came to London to study English

We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to'):

• After modal verbs - I can meet you at six o'clock
• After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help' - The teacher let us leave early
• After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) - I watched her walk away
• After expressions with 'why' - why go out the night before an exam?

Verbs that take the gerund or 'to + infinitive' with examples and exercises:

Understanding The Basic Rules for Gerunds and Infinitives Including 23 Downloadable Slides For Use In The Classroom.

Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by gerunds.

• enjoy: I enjoyed living in France.
• fancy: I fancy seeing a film tonight.
• discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.
• dislike: I dislike waiting for buses.
• finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.
• mind: I don't mind coming early.
• suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
• recommend: They recommended meeting earlier.
• keep: He kept working, although he felt ill.
• avoid: She avoided talking to her boss.ç
• miss: She misses living near the beach.
• appreciate: I appreciated her helping me.
• delay: He delayed doing his taxes.
• postpone: He postponed returning to Paris
• practise: She practised singing the song.
• consider: She considered moving to New York.
• can't stand: He can't stand her smoking in the office.
• can't help: He can't help talking so loudly.
• risk: He risked being caught.
• admit: He admitted cheating on the test.

And here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive.

• agree: She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting.
• ask*: I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early.
• decide: We decided to go out for dinner.
• help*: He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the kitchen.
• plan: She plans to buy a new flat next year.
• hope: I hope to pass the exam.
• learn: They are learning to sing.
• want*: I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party.
• would like*: I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her tonight.
• promise: We promised not to be late.
• can afford: We can't afford to go on holiday.
• manage: He managed to open the door without the key.
• prepare*: They prepared to take the test /
  the teachers prepared the students to take the test.
• demand: He demanded to speak to Mr. Harris.
• choose: I chose to help.
• offer: Frank offered to drive us to the supermarket.
• wait: She waited to buy a movie ticket.
• would hate*: I'd hate to be late / I'd hate you to be late.
• would love*: I'd love to come / I'd love him to come.
• seem: Nancy seemed to be disappointed.

*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

Teaching The Verb To Be To True Beginners. Starting From The Basics.

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 1 

1) A lot of people are worried about _______their jobs. (lose)
2) He agreed _______ a new car. (buy)
3) The question is easy _______ (answer)
4) Not everybody can afford _______ to university. (go)
5) I look forward to _______ you at the weekend. (see)
 6) Are you thinking of _______ London? (visit)
 7) He apologized for _______ so late. (arrive)
 8) Stop _______ noise, please; I’m studying. (make)
 9) She doesn't mind _______ the night shift. (work)
 10) I learned ______ the bike at the age of 5.(ride)

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 2
  
1) We decided _______ a new car. (buy)
2) I regret _______ you we won’t lend you the money. (tell)
3) Peter gave up _______.(smoke)
4) He'd like _______ an aeroplane.(fly)
 5) I enjoy _______ picture postcards. (write)
6) He offered _______ help with the cleaning. (help)
7) Avoid _______ silly mistakes.(make)
8) My parents wanted me _______ home at 11 o'clock. (be)
9) I dream about _______ a big house. (build)
10) He advised me _______ so much money. (not spend) 

Phonics and Young Learners. (Includes 60 Printable/PowerPoint/ Flash card materials)

Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 3 

Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets in the appropriate form.
1 I can't stand ________________ in queues. ( to wait )
2 I wouldn't like ________________ in his shoes. ( to be )
3 Jim loves ________________ in Thailand. ( to work )
4 I hate ________________ the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )
5 Blast! I forgot ________________ milk. ( to buy )
6 In the end we decided ________________ in. ( to stay )
7 I need ________________ some information about Portugal. ( to find )
8 My parents like ________________ for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )
9 Tony gave up ________________ years ago. ( to smoke )
10 I wanted ________________ and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )
11 Mrs Leith offered ________________ us to the airport. ( to take )
12 Clare refused ________________ clean up after the party. ( to help )
13 I tried ________________ him to come but it was no use. ( to persuade )
14 Do you mind not ________________ ? ( to smoke )
15 Everybody really enjoyed ________________ the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )
16 Lionel admitted ________________ my chocolate mousse. ( to eat )

Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 4  Use the verbs in brackets to fill the gaps.

1 We arranged _____________ under the station clock at half nine. ( to meet )
2 I always try to avoid _____________ him whenever I can. ( to see )
3 I long _____________ in Scotland again. ( to be )
4 My Mum demanded _____________ the manager. ( to see )
5 My brother denied _____________ my chocolate mousse.Maybe his hamster ate it. (to eat )
6 I tried _____________ but I just couldn't. ( to understand )
7 In the end I gave up _____________ to persuade her. ( to try )
8 Charlie was pretending _____________ a chicken. ( to be )
9 They chose _____________ in a cheap hotel but spend more money on meals. ( to stay)
10 We like Galicia so much that we keep _____________ back there. ( to go )
11 He deserves _____________ severely punished. ( to be )
12 When we visit my aunt, they expect me _____________ on my best behaviour. ( to be )
13 I didn't mean _____________ her feelings. I'm really sorry. ( to hurt )
14 I always put off _____________ my homework until the last possible moment. ( to do )
15 He goes on _____________ me the same thing over and over again. ( to tell )
16 I can't stand _____________ in the queue at the baker's. ( to wait )
17 The firemen managed _____________ the fire pretty quickly. ( to put out )
18 I never risk _____________ through that part of town. ( to go )
19 Clare offered _____________ me to the airport, which was very kind of her. ( to take )
20 Dad threatened _____________ my pocket money if I didn't do my homework.(to stop) 

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ANSWERS

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 1 answers

1) A lot of people are worried about losing their jobs. (lose) 
2) He agreed to buy a new car. (buy) 
3) The question is easy to answer. (answer) 
4) Not everybody can afford to go to university. (go) 
5) I look forward to seeing you at the weekend. (see) 
 6) Are you thinking of visiting London? (visit) 
 7) He apologized for arriving so late. (arrive) 
 8) Stop making noise, please; I’m studying. (make) 
 9) She doesn't mind working the night shift. (work) 
 10) I learned to ride the bike at the age of 5.(ride) 

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 2 answers
  
1) We decided to buy a new car. (buy) 
2) I regret telling you we won’t lend you the money. (tell) 
3) Peter gave up smoking. (smoke) 
4) He'd like to fly an aeroplane.(fly) 
 5) I enjoy writing picture postcards. (write) 
6) He offered to help with the cleaning. (help) 
7) Avoid making silly mistakes.(make) 
8) My parents wanted me to be home at 11 o'clock. (be) 
9) I dream about building a big house. (build) 
10) He advised me to not spend so much money. (not spend) 

Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 3 answers

1 I can't stand waiting in queues. ( to wait )
2 I wouldn't like to be in his shoes. ( to be )
3 Jim loves working in Thailand. ( to work )
4 I hate doing the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )
5 Blast! I forgot to buy milk. ( to buy )
6 In the end, we decided to stay in. ( to stay )
7 I need to find some information about Portugal. ( to find )
8 My parents like going for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )
9 Tony gave up smoking years ago. ( to smoke )
10 I wanted to go and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )
11 Mrs Leith offered to take us to the airport. ( to take )
12 Clare refused to help clean up after the party. ( to help )
13 I tried to persuade him to come but it was no use. ( to persuade )
14 Do you mind not smoking? ( to smoke )
15 Everybody really enjoyed dancing the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )
16 Lionel admitted eating my chocolate mousse. ( to eat ) 

Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 4 answers 

1 We arranged to meet under the station clock at half nine. ( to meet )
2 I always try to avoid seeing him whenever I can. ( to see )
3 I long to be in Scotland again. ( to be )
4 My Mum demanded to see the manager. ( to see )
5 My brother denied eating my chocolate mousse. Maybe his hamster ate it.(to eat)
6 I tried to understand but I just couldn't. ( to understand )
7 In the end I gave up trying to persuade her. ( to try )
8 Charlie was pretending to be a chicken. ( to be )
9 They chose to stay in a cheap hotel but spend more money on meals. ( to stay )
10 We like Galicia so much that we keep going back there. ( to go )
11 He deserves to be severely punished. ( to be )
12 When we visit my aunt, they expect me to be on my best behaviour. ( to be )
13 I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. I'm really sorry. ( to hurt )
14 I always put off doing my homework until the last possible moment. ( to do )
15 He goes on telling me the same thing over and over again. ( to tell )
16 I can't stand waiting in the queue at the baker's. ( to wait )
17 The firemen managed to put out the fire pretty quickly. ( to put out )
18 I never risk going through that part of town. ( to go )
19 Clare offered to take me to the airport, which was very kind of her. ( to take )
20 Dad threatened to stop my pocket money if I didn't do my homework. ( to stop )