Gerunds and Infinitives: B1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I really enjoy ___ early in the morning. → running

Enjoy always takes the -ing form.

2. She has decided ___ for a postgraduate course. → to apply

Decide is followed by a to-infinitive.

3. He is very good at ___ problems nobody else can solve. → fixing

After a preposition — here at — English always uses the -ing form.

4. What is the difference between 'I stopped smoking' and 'I stopped to smoke'? → The first means giving up, the second means pausing in order to smoke

Stop plus -ing ends the activity; stop plus to-infinitive states the purpose of the pause.

5. Would you mind ___ the door? → closing

Mind is one of the verbs that must be followed by an -ing form.

6. We cannot afford ___ another delay. → to risk

Afford takes a to-infinitive.

7. Remember ___ the gas before you leave. → to turn off

Remember plus a to-infinitive is about a future duty; remember plus -ing is about a past memory.

8. I will never forget ___ the Northern Lights for the first time. → seeing

Forget plus -ing refers to a memory of something that happened.

9. She suggested ___ the meeting until Thursday. → postponing

Suggest never takes a to-infinitive, despite how often learners use one.

10. They agreed ___ the contract without further negotiation. → to sign

Agree is followed by a to-infinitive.

11. Instead of ___, he apologised immediately. → arguing

Instead of ends in a preposition, so the -ing form is compulsory.

12. 'Try adding more salt' means ___. → experiment with adding salt to see if it helps

Try plus -ing means experiment; try plus to-infinitive means make an effort at something difficult.

13. He promised ___ me the money back by Friday. → to give

Promise takes a to-infinitive.

14. I am looking forward to ___ from you. → hearing

The to in look forward to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so an -ing form follows.

15. She avoided ___ his question altogether. → answering

Avoid belongs to the -ing group.

16. We managed ___ the last train by two minutes. → to catch

Manage plus a to-infinitive describes a difficult success.

17. Which sentence is correct? → I look forward to seeing you.

Look forward to is followed by a noun or an -ing form, never a bare infinitive.

18. He regrets ___ school at sixteen. → leaving

Regret plus -ing is about the past; regret plus to-infinitive introduces bad news formally.

19. The doctor advised him ___ more exercise. → to take

Advise plus an object takes a to-infinitive, though advise alone takes -ing.

20. After ___ the report, she went straight home. → finishing

After functions as a preposition here, so the -ing form is required.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I cannot stand ___ in long queues. → waiting

Can't stand belongs to the group of verbs taking an -ing form.

2. She hopes ___ study medicine in Edinburgh. → to

Hope is followed by a to-infinitive.

3. Thank you for ___ me with the move. → helping

For is a preposition, so the verb after it takes -ing.

4. He offered ___ drive us to the airport. → to

Offer takes a to-infinitive.

5. Do you mind ___ your seat so we can sit together? → changing

Mind is always followed by an -ing form.

6. They refused ___ answer any further questions. → to

Refuse takes a to-infinitive.

7. I am not used to ___ up quite so early. → getting

The to in be used to is a preposition, so an -ing form must follow.

8. She admitted ___ the vase but insisted it was an accident. → breaking

Admit is followed by an -ing form, never by a to-infinitive.

9. We have arranged ___ meet outside the theatre. → to

Arrange takes a to-infinitive.

10. He kept ___ the same mistake all afternoon. → making

Keep plus -ing describes a repeated or continuing action.

11. I would like ___ book a table for four. → to

Would like takes a to-infinitive, unlike the plain verb like which can take either.

12. She is interested in ___ a new language this year. → learning

In is a preposition, so the -ing form follows.

13. Please remember ___ lock the back door tonight. → to

Remember plus a to-infinitive refers to a duty still ahead.

14. I remember ___ him at a conference years ago. → meeting

Remember plus -ing refers to a memory of a past event.

15. He finished ___ the walls just before it rained. → painting

Finish is always followed by an -ing form.

16. They warned us not ___ swim beyond the buoys. → to

Warn plus an object takes a negative to-infinitive.

17. Instead of ___, why not ask for directions? → guessing

Instead of ends in a preposition, so the -ing form is compulsory.

18. She denied ___ anything about the missing file. → knowing

Deny is followed by an -ing form.

19. We are looking forward to ___ you next month. → seeing

The to here is a preposition, which is why an -ing form is needed.

20. He tried ___ the window, but it was painted shut. → opening

Try plus -ing means experimenting with a method to see whether it works.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Express a pleasure with an -ing verb. → I enjoy cooking for large groups.

Express a pleasure with an -ing verb.

2. Report a decision with an infinitive. → She decided to study architecture instead.

Report a decision with an infinitive.

3. Use the compulsory form after a preposition. → He is good at solving puzzles.

Use the compulsory form after a preposition.

4. Make a polite request with mind. → Would you mind waiting a few minutes?

Make a polite request with mind.

5. Report an agreement. → They agreed to meet again next week.

Report an agreement.

6. Say you gave an activity up. → I stopped smoking five years ago.

Say you gave an activity up.

7. State the purpose of a pause. → We stopped to buy petrol on the way.

State the purpose of a pause.

8. Make a suggestion with the -ing form. → She suggested taking the coastal road.

Make a suggestion with the -ing form.

9. Report a promise. → He promised to call as soon as possible.

Report a promise.

10. End a formal email politely. → I am looking forward to hearing from you.

End a formal email politely.

11. Describe evasion with an -ing verb. → They avoided answering the difficult questions.

Describe evasion with an -ing verb.

12. Report a difficult success. → We managed to finish before the deadline.

Report a difficult success.

13. Open with a preposition plus -ing. → After checking the figures, he signed it.

Open with a preposition plus -ing.

14. Express regret about the past. → She regrets leaving her last job.

Express regret about the past.

15. Use advise with an object. → The nurse advised him to rest completely.

Use advise with an object.

16. Express a strong dislike. → I cannot stand listening to that song.

Express a strong dislike.

17. Report a refusal. → He refused to discuss the matter further.

Report a refusal.

18. Thank somebody using a preposition. → Thank you for coming at such short notice.

Thank somebody using a preposition.

19. Suggest experimenting with a method. → Try restarting the computer first.

Suggest experimenting with a method.

20. Report a confession with -ing. → She admitted forgetting the appointment entirely.

Report a confession with -ing.