Exercises of Gerunds and Infinitives | Gerunds and Infinitives Exercises with Answers

by | Feb 16, 2024 | General | 0 comments

Gerunds and Infinitives Exercises with Answers

 

English Grammar  – Gerunds and Infinitives exercises Exercises with Answers

 

Gerunds and Infinitives Exercises – Learning gerunds and infinitives is essential to become proficient in English grammar. Despite the fact that each of these verb forms are nouns, they have different structures and purposes, which have a big influence on sentence building. Gerunds are formed by appending the suffix “-ing” to verbs. They can be subjects, objects, complements, prepositional objects, or parts of compound nouns. 

On the other hand, infinitives, denoted by “to” before verbs, serve comparable purposes as subjects, objects, complements, objects of particular verbs, and means of conveying intent. But learners frequently struggle to distinguish between set patterns and knowing when to use gerunds instead of infinitives, especially after certain verbs. This article explores typical problems and offers exercises on Gerunds and infinitives to help with understanding and using gerunds and infinitives in English grammar.

 

  • What is Gerunds and Infinitives?
  • Functions of Gerunds and Infinitives
  • Exercise 1- Identify Gerunds and Infinitives
  • Exercise 2- Fill in the Blanks
  • Common Challenges and Pitfalls
  • Exercise 3 – Dialogue Completion
  • Conclusion

    • What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

     

    Gerunds and infinitives are both verb forms that function as nouns in a sentence, but they differ in their structures and usage.

    Firstly, gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of a verb. They can act as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence. For example, “Swimming is my favorite activity” showcases a gerund (“swimming”) as the subject of the sentence. In “I enjoy swimming,” the gerund “swimming” serves as the object of the verb “enjoy.” Additionally, in “His favorite hobby is swimming,” the gerund functions as the complement of the verb “is.”

     

    On the contrary, infinitives are a verb’s basic form that comes before the word “to.” Infinitives function similarly to gerunds in a sentence, taking on the roles of subjects, objects, or complements. For example, the sentence “To swim in the ocean is a great experience” has the infinitive “to swim” as its subject. The verb “loves” in the sentence “She loves to swim” has the infinitive “to swim” as its object. Similarly, the infinitive serves as the word “is’s” complement in “Her goal is to swim competitively.”

     

    Function of Gerunds and Infinitives

    Functions of Gerunds:

    Subject: Gerunds can act as the subject of a sentence. Example: “Swimming is good exercise.”

    Object: Gerunds can function as the direct object of a verb.Example: “I enjoy swimming.”

    Complement: Gerunds can serve as the complement of a verb, often linking the subject to additional information. Example: “His favorite activity is swimming.”

    Object of Prepositions: Gerunds can act as the object of a preposition.Example: “She is interested in reading.”

    Part of a Compound Noun: Gerunds can form part of a compound noun. Example: “His favorite hobby is birdwatching.”

     

    Functions of Infinitives:

    Subject: Infinitives can serve as the subject of a sentence. Example: “To travel is my dream.”

    Object: Infinitives can function as the direct object of a verb. Example: “She wants to learn Spanish.”

    Complement: Infinitives can act as the complement of a verb, providing additional information about the subject. Example: “Her goal is to become a doctor.”

    Object of Certain Verbs: Infinitives can function as the object of certain verbs such as “hope,” “want,” “need,” etc. Example: “He hopes to win the game.”

    Modifier: Infinitives can also modify nouns and pronouns, often expressing purpose. Example: “She gave him a book to read.”

     

    Exercise Set 1: Identify the Gerunds and Infinitives

     

    a. Identify the Gerunds and/or infinitives in the following sentences:

    1. They are likely to show up at any time.
    2. The man denied committing the crime.
    3. Their memories of traveling in Africa will stay with them forever.
    4. He has always been afraid of flying.
    5. Swimming is good for your health.
    6. Would you mind passing me the sugar?
    7. She promised to read the report as soon as possible.
    8. I had a hard time explaining the situation to my husband.
    9. She had some problems reading without glasses.
    10. Paul gave up smoking five years ago.
    11. What about going to the zoo tomorrow?
    12. Barca is succeeding in winning the Spanish championship.
    13. They had fun skiing.
    14. My friend was happy to see me at the party.
    15. He was ashamed to admit that he had lied.
    16. It was very kind of you to help me.
    17. She always wastes her time reading bad books.
    18. We had no problem driving from the airport to the train station.
    19. She hadn’t expected this task to be so difficult.
    20. It’s no use taking a taxi. We’ll be late anyway.
    21. Don’t forget to sign the document as soon as you are finished.
    22. She made me feel like a real man.
    23. Playing video games all the time is very boring.
    24. She is fond of reading comics.
    25. Alvaro admitted cheating during the English test.

     

    Answers:

    1. infinitive: to show
    2. gerund: committing
    3. gerund: traveling
    4. gerund: flying
    5. gerund: swimming
    6. gerund: passing
    7. infinitive: to read
    8. gerund: explaining
    9. gerund: reading
    10. gerund: smoking
    11. gerund: going
    12. gerund: succeeding
    13. gerund: skiing
    14. infinitive: to see
    15. infinitive: to admit
    16. infinitive: to help
    17. gerund: reading
    18. gerund: driving
    19. infinitive: to be
    20. gerund: taking
    21. infinitive: to sign
    22. infinitive: to feel
    23. gerund: playing
    24. gerund: reading
    25. gerund: cheating

     

    b. Fill in the correct form for the following sentences:-

    1. I can’t imagine __________________ at home. (work)
    2. We have decided against __________________ a new car. (buy)
    3. She seems __________________ her new job. (like)
    4. The students hope __________________ the exam. (pass)
    5. He won’t go by plane. He is afraid of __________________ . (fly)
    6. I am lazy. I don’t feel like __________________ any work. (do)
    7. Remember __________________ the letter. Otherwise they won’t get it by Saturday. (post)
    8. Have you ever learned how __________________ such a plane? (fly)
    9. They were too lazy __________________ out with us. (go)
    10. I always enjoy __________________ to my grandfather. He always tells me great stories. (talk)
    11. I’m very interested in __________________ French. (learn)
    12. My pen friend is coming next Friday. I’m really looking forward ________ her. (meet)
    13. Don’t you mind __________________ away from your family for such a long time? (be)
    14. The children promised __________________ back by nine. (be)
    15. I wanted to go alone but Joe insisted on __________________ with me. (come)
    16. Tom offered __________________ me home. (bring)
    17. I requested her __________________ a weekend in Scotland. (spend)
    18. I’m sorry I can’t come to your party but thank you for __________________ me. (invite)
    19. Our neighbors apologized for __________________ such noise. (make)
    20. Paris is always worth __________________ to. (travel)
    21. I’m sure I gave him back the money. I remember __________________ it back to him. (give)
    22. She eventually managed __________________ her bike. (repair)
    23. Would you like __________________ a cup of coffee? (drink)
    24. There’s no point in __________________ the matter. He has already made his decision. (discuss)
    25. I prefer __________________ to skiing. (snowboard)

     

    Answers:

    1. I can’t imagine working at home.
    2. We have decided against buying a new car.
    3. She seems to like her new job.
    4. The students hope to pass the exam.
    5. He won’t go by plane. He is afraid of flying.
    6. I am lazy. I don’t feel like doing any work.
    7. Remember to post the letter. Otherwise they won’t get it by Saturday.
    8. Have you ever learned how to fly such a plane?
    9. They were too lazy to go out with us.
    10. I always enjoy talking to my grandfather. He always tells me great stories.
    11. I’m very interested in learning French.
    12. My pen friend is coming next Friday. I’m really looking forward to meeting her.
    13. Don’t you mind being away from your family for such a long time?
    14. The children promised to be back by nine.
    15. I wanted to go alone but Joe insisted on coming with me.
    16. Tom offered to bring me home.
    17. I requested her to spend a weekend in Scotland.
    18. I’m sorry I can’t come to your party but thank you for inviting me.
    19. Our neighbors apologized for making such noise.
    20. Paris is always worth traveling to.
    21. I’m sure I gave him back the money. I remember giving it back to him.
    22. She eventually managed to repair her bike.
    23. Would you like to drink a cup of coffee?
    24. There’s no point in discussing the matter. He has already made his decision.
    25. I prefer snowboarding to skiing.

     

    Exercise Set 2: Fill in the blanks

     

    a. Fill in the gerund with the correct word:

     

    1. She is looking forward _________________ his aunt in Chicago. (visit)
    2. My wife is keen _________________ pop songs. (sing)
    3. His mother was excited _________________ to Africa. (go)
    4. The secretary carried _________________ the letter. (type)
    5. The construction workers worried _________________ their jobs. (lose)
    6. They tried to cope up_________________ in bad weather. (work)
    7. The pupil is known _________________ problems. (cause)
    8. My wife apologized _________________ late. (be)
    9. The teacher always keeps _________________ his timetable. (complain)
    10. I insisted _________________ the dog for a walk myself. (take)
    11. The teenager is addicted _________________ TV. (watch)
    12. The actor is famous _________________ crazy once in a while. (be)
    13. The money will be devoted _________________ the environment. (protect)
    14. The au-pair succeeds _________________ the children busy for some time. (keep)
    15. He blamed me _________________ the CD player. (damage)
    16. George Clooney is proud _________________ in humanitarian projects. (take part)
    17. I’m tired _________________ the same things over and over again. (repeat)
    18. She said she was sorry _________________ the vase. (break)
    19. She is scared _________________ alone at night. (be)
    20. I’m very excited _________________ tomorrow’s game. (attend)
    21. Jamie is sick _________________ hamburgers all the time. (eat)
    22. She ran away _________________ behind her. (look)
    23. The hikers are worried _________________ enough water. (not have)
    24. We are accustomed _________________ our own bath. (have)
    25. He has a habit _________________ in the morning. (smoke)

     

    Answers:

    1. She is looking forward to visiting his aunt in Chicago.
    2. My wife is keen on singing pop songs.
    3. His mother was excited about going to Africa.
    4. The secretary carried on typing the letter.
    5. The construction workers worried about losing their jobs.
    6. They tried to cope with working in bad weather.
    7. The pupil is known for causing problems.
    8. My wife apologized for being late.
    9. The teacher always keeps complaining about his timetable.
    10. I insisted on taking the dog for a walk myself.
    11. The teenager is addicted to watching TV.
    12. The actor is famous for being crazy once in a while.
    13. The money will be devoted to protecting the environment.
    14. The au-pair succeeds in keeping the children busy for some time.
    15. He blamed me for damaging the CD player.
    16. George Clooney is proud of taking part in humanitarian projects.
    17. I’m tired of repeating the same things over and over again.
    18. She said she was sorry about breaking the vase.
    19. She is scared of being alone at night.
    20. I’m very excited about attending tomorrow’s game.
    21. Jamie is sick of eating hamburgers all the time.
    22. She ran away without looking behind her.
    23. The hikers are worried about not having enough water.
    24. We are accustomed to having our own bath.
    25. He has a habit of smoking in the morning

     

    b. Combine the following pairs of sentences using infinitives:

    1. He did not have even a penny with him. He could not buy a piece of bread.
    2. The team has a captain. He leads other team members.
    3. You must give me the keys to the safe. If you do that you will be able to save your life.
    4. We went to Ajmer last week. Our intention was to visit the shrine of Khwaja Pir.
    5. I speak the truth. I am not afraid of it.
    6. The robber took out his knife. His intention was to frighten the traveler.
    7. He has to support his family. He works hard for that reason.
    8. The management called a meeting of the employees. They wanted to discuss their requirements.
    9. He helps the poor. He is anxious to relieve them of their offerings.
    10. I have no interest in politics. I must admit it frankly.
    11. I want to retire at forty. That is my ambition.
    12. You have to cross the river without being seen. That is your task.
    13. The meeting should start at six. It is very important.
    14. She is out so late. I thought it was strange.
    15. The oil tank is so close to the house. It is not good.
    16. He will start work this week. But it seems unnecessary.
    17. They did not win after all their work. It was a real shame.
    18. They did not keep James as treasurer. It was a big mistake.
    19. We want students to learn as quickly as possible. That is our aim.
    20. This is too heavy. You cannot lift it.
    21. Every class has a class teacher. She takes care of all the students.
    22. Tia collects old coins. It is her hobby.
    23. Ritu went to France. She wanted to see the Eiffel Tower.
    24. Arjun got into bakery classes. He wanted to learn baking.
    25. Prerna has a family. She has to take care of them.

     

    Answers:

    1. He did not have even a penny to buy a piece of bread.
    2. The team has a captain to lead other team members.
    3. To save your life, you must give me the keys to the safe.
    4. We went to Ajmer last week to visit the shrine of Khwaja Pir.
    5. I am not afraid to speak the truth.
    6. The robber took out his knife to frighten the traveler.
    7. He works hard to support his family.
    8. The management called a meeting of the employees to discuss their requirements.
    9. He helps the poor to relieve them of their offerings.
    10. To be frank, I have no interest in politics.
    11. To retire at forty is my ambition. OR It is my ambition to retire at forty.
    12. Your task is to cross the river without being seen.
    13. It is very important for the meeting to start at six.
    14. I thought it strange for her to be out so late.
    15. It is not good for the oil tank to be too close to the house.
    16. It seems unnecessary for him to start work this week.
    17. It was a real shame for them not to win after all their work.
    18. It was a big mistake for them not to keep James as treasurer.
    19. Our aim is for students to learn as quickly as possible.
    20. This is too heavy for you to lift.
    21. Every class has a class teacher to take care of all the students.
    22. It is Tiya’s hobby to collect old coins.
    23. Ritu went to France to see the Eiffel Tower.
    24. Arjun got into bakery classes to learn baking.
    25. Prerna has a family to take care of.

     

    Common Challenges and Pitfalls:

     

    a. Choosing between gerunds and infinitives after certain verbs

    One common challenge learners face is determining whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after certain verbs. The meaning of the statement may be greatly affected by this choice. For example, saying “I remember to swim” means that swimming is something that needs to be remembered or is something that will be essential in the future, whereas saying “I remember swimming” says that swimming is something that happened in the past and is remembered. Effective communication requires an understanding of the minute differences between these formats. But because different verbs have diverse ways of being used, it can be difficult for learners to acquire this part of grammar; in order to become proficient, one must carefully study and practice.

     

    b. Confusion with the use of certain verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives

    The uncertainty about whether verbs are followed by gerunds or by infinitives is another frequent problem. Certain verbs have set patterns; they always need an infinitive or gerund, depending on the situation. Examples of patterns that are followed include “She hopes to swim” (infinitive) and “She enjoys swimming” (gerund). But there are anomalies that can be confusing to learners, as “I stopped to rest” (infinitive) and “I stopped running” (gerund). It can be difficult to remember these trends and identify deviations, but doing so is crucial. For learners to effectively internalize these grammatical nuances, they need to practice a lot and be exposed to a variety of settings.

     

    Exercise Set 3: Dialogue Completion

    a. Complete the following dialogues:

    Dialogue 1:

    Person A: “Have you ever considered ____________(travel) abroad?”

    Person B: “Yes, I’ve always dreamed of ____________ (explore) the world.”

    Person A: “That sounds amazing! How about ____________ (start) in Europe first?”

    Person B: “I’m definitely open to____________ (experience) different cultures.”

    Person A: “Great! Let’s start ___________(plan) our trip.”

     

    Answer:

    Person A: “Have you ever considered travelling abroad?”

    Person B: “Yes, I’ve always dreamed of exploring the world.”

    Person A: “That sounds amazing! How about starting in Europe first?”

    Person B: “I’m definitely open to experiencing different cultures.”

    Person A: “Great! Let’s start planning our trip.”

     

    Dialogue 2:

    Person A: “I’m thinking about ____________(learn) a new language.”

    Person B: “That’s a fantastic idea! I’ve been ____________(study) Spanish for a while now.”

    Person A: “Really? I’ve always wanted ____________(learn) Spanish too.”

    Person B: “We should consider ____________(take) classes together. It’s more fun with a partner.”

    Person A: “I agree! ___________(learn) a language is so fun.”

     

    Answer:

    Person A: “I’m thinking about learning a new language.”

    Person B: “That’s a fantastic idea! I’ve been studying Spanish for a while now.”

    Person A: “Really? I’ve always wanted to learn Spanish too.”

    Person B: “We should consider taking classes together. It’s more fun with a partner.”

    Person A: “I agree! Learning a language is so fun .”

     

    Dialogue 3:

    Person A: “I’m tired of ____________(eat) unhealthy food.”

    Person B: “Me too. I’ve started ____________(eat) more fruits and vegetables.”

    Person A: “I’ve heard that ____________(cut) out  junk food can improve your health.”

    Person B: “Definitely. I’ve noticed a difference since ____________(make) healthier choices.”

    Person A: “I should start ____________(make) better choices too.”

     

    Answer:

    Person A: “I’m tired of eating unhealthy food.”

    Person B: “Me too. I’ve started eating more fruits and vegetables.”

    Person A: “I’ve heard that cutting out junk food can improve your health.”

    Person B: “Definitely. I’ve noticed a difference since making healthier choices.”

    Person A: “I should start making better choices too.”

     

    Dialogue 4:

    Person A: “I can’t decide whether ____________(go) to the party or not.”

    Person B: “Why don’t you consider ____________(go)? It could be fun.”

    Person A: “I’ve been avoiding ____________(stay) late, but I don’t want to miss out.”

    Person B: “True. I’m planning a____________(meet) with a few friends before heading there.”

    Person A: “Okay, I’ll think about ____________(go) too.”

     

    Answer:

    Person A: “I can’t decide whether to go to the party or not.”

    Person B: “Why don’t you consider going? It could be fun.”

    Person A: “I’ve been avoiding staying late, but I don’t want to miss out.”

    Person B: “True. I’m planning a meeting with a few friends before heading there.”

    Person A: “Okay, I’ll think about going too.”

     

    Dialogue 5:

    Person A: “I remember ____________(go) to the beach every summer as a child.”

    Person B: “Those were the best times! I miss ____________(be) by the sea.”

    Person A: “We should consider ____________(plan) a trip together this summer.”

    Person B: “That sounds like a plan! I’ve been wanting ____________(be) by the ocean again.”

    Person A: “Let’s start ____________(organize) our vacation now.”

     

    Answer:

    Person A: “I remember going to the beach every summer as a child.”

    Person B: “Those were the best times! I miss being by the sea.”

    Person A: “We should consider planning a trip together this summer.”

    Person B: “That sounds like a plan! I’ve been wanting to be by the ocean again.”

    Person A: “Let’s start organizing our vacation now.”

     

    b. Write a sentence using a gerund or infinitive form of the verb provided:

     

    1. Run
    2. Read
    3. Write
    4. Swim
    5. Jump
    6. Cook
    7. Dance
    8. Sing
    9. Walk
    10. 10.Talk
    11. 11.Drive
    12. Think
    13. Eat
    14. Sleep
    15. Study
    16. Work
    17. Play
    18. Listen
    19. Clean
    20. Help
    21. Teach
    22. Learn
    23. Paint
    24. Travel
    25. Exercise

     

    Answers:

    1. Running every morning keeps him fit.
    2. She loves to read books before bedtime.
    3. Writing poetry helps him express his emotions.
    4. Swimming in the ocean is her favorite activity.
    5. He decided to jump over the obstacle to save time.
    6. 6.Cooking dinner together is a great way to bond.
    7. 7.She enjoys dancing to her favorite songs.
    8. 8.Singing in the choir brings her joy.
    9. 9.Walking in nature clears his mind.
    10. Talking to a therapist can help you manage stress.
    11. 11.Learning to drive was a milestone for her.
    12. 12.She paused to think about her next move.
    13. Eating fruits and vegetables is important for a balanced diet.
    14. 14.She needs to sleep for at least eight hours to feel rested.
    15. Studying for exams requires focus and dedication.
    16. Working as a team leads to better results.
    17. Playing the piano is his favorite hobby.
    18. Listening to classical music relaxes her.
    19. 19.Cleaning the house is part of her weekly routine.
    20. Helping others is a rewarding experience.
    21. 21.Teaching English to non-native speakers is her passion.
    22. 22.She wants to learn how to speak French fluently.
    23. 23.Painting landscapes is his artistic outlet.
    24. Traveling to new countries broadens your perspective.
    25. Exercising regularly improves your overall health.

    Conclusion:

    To sum up, understanding and mastering gerunds and infinitives is an essential skill for being proficient in English grammar. These verb forms function as nouns and are essential for communication and sentence construction. Infinitives, which are created by placing “to” before verbs and adding “-ing” before verbs, can be used as subjects, objects, complements, or to convey purpose. Even though it can be difficult for students to tell the difference between gerunds and infinitives, speaking skills can be improved with constant practice and exposure to a variety of situations. Learners can improve their fluency and communication skills in English by mastering the usage of gerunds and infinitives, as well as navigating through exercises and recognizing typical errors.

    Also See :


    Exercises of Tenses

    Exercises on Prepositions

    Exercises of Articles

    Exercises of Simple Present Tense

    Exercise of Adjectives

    Exercise of Conjunctions

    Exercise of Clauses

    Exercises of Countable and Uncountable Nouns

    Exercises of Determiners

    Exercises of Gerunds

    Exercises of Direct and Indirect Speech

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