Gerund exercises - ESL worksheet by nanahara - Free Printable

Gerund Exercises Solution and Explanation

#### Part I: Complete the sentences with one suitable word using the Gerund

The task is to fill in the blanks with the appropriate gerund form of the verbs provided in the box. The gerund is formed by adding "-ing" to the base form of the verb.

Verbs in the box:
paint, check, clean, wash, sweep, water, cut, wind, feed

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1. This shirt is quite clean; it doesn’t want ________ yet.
- The shirt is already clean, so it doesn't need to be cleaned again.
- Answer: cleaning

2. The grass in the garden is quite dry; it wants ________ badly.
- Dry grass needs water.
- Answer: watering

3. The baby is crying; I think he needs ________.
- A crying baby likely needs food.
- Answer: feeding

4. The house is old and colorless; it badly wants ________.
- An old and colorless house needs painting to improve its appearance.
- Answer: painting

5. The windows are filthy; they need ________.
- Filthy windows need cleaning.
- Answer: cleaning

6. I know my hair needs ________, but never have time to go to the hairdresser’s.
- Hair that needs attention typically requires cutting.
- Answer: cutting

7. The floor is covered with dust; it needs ________.
- Dusty floors need sweeping.
- Answer: sweeping

8. My watch keeps being slow; it requires ________.
- A slow watch needs checking or winding.
- Answer: checking/winding (either could work, but "checking" is more common)

9. The report has a lot of misprints; it requires ________.
- A report with misprints needs checking or reviewing.
- Answer: checking

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#### Part II: Open the brackets using the correct form of the Gerund

The task is to use the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses to complete the sentences. The gerund is used after certain prepositions (e.g., despite, after, in spite of) and after certain verbs (e.g., remember, insist on).

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1. He remembered crossing the road, but he didn’t remember ________ (to knock down).
- After "remember," the gerund is used.
- Answer: knocking down

2. I am still hungry in spite of ________ (to eat) four sandwiches.
- After "in spite of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: eating

3. He got into the house by ________ (to climb) through the window, without ________ (see) by anyone.
- After "by," the gerund is used.
- After "without," the gerund is used.
- Answer: climbing, being seen

4. He woke up at dawn in spite of ________ (to work) late.
- After "in spite of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: working

5. He complained of ________ (to give) a very small baby room at the back of the hotel.
- After "complained of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being given

6. The little girl isn’t afraid of dogs in spite of ________ (to bite) twice.
- After "in spite of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being bitten

7. The baby went to sleep a few minutes after ________ (to feed).
- After "after," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being fed

8. The child never gets tired of ________ (to ask) his mother freaky questions, but the mother often gets tired of ________ (ask) them.
- After "gets tired of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: asking, being asked

9. Mary was chosen to fill the opening. She was very pleased at ________ (to choose).
- After "pleased at," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being chosen

10. I always treat people with respect and I insist on ________ (to treat) the same way.
- After "insist on," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being treated

11. The boy was very thirsty in spite of ________ (to drink) a lot of water.
- After "in spite of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: drinking

12. He was extremely grateful for ________ (to offer) help in this challenging situation.
- After "grateful for," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being offered

13. The old man couldn’t stand ________ (to tell) what to do.
- After "couldn’t stand," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being told

14. Jane Eyre remembered ________ (to lock) up in the basement for ________ (to contradict) Mrs. Reed.
- After "remembered," the gerund is used.
- After "for," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being locked, contradicting

15. Why do you avoid ________ (to speak) to me?
- After "avoid," the gerund is used.
- Answer: speaking

16. She tried to avoid ________ (to speak) to him.
- After "avoid," the gerund is used.
- Answer: speaking

17. He showed no sign of ________ (to recognize) her and she showed no sign of ________ (to surprise) by it.
- After "sign of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: recognizing, being surprised

18. After ________ (to look through) and ________ (to mark) the students’ papers, the teacher handed them back to the students.
- After "after," the gerund is used.
- Answer: looking through, marking

19. After ________ (to look) through and ________ (to mark) the papers were handed back to the students.
- After "after," the gerund is used.
- Answer: looking, marking

20. You never mentioned ________ (to be) to Greece.
- After "mentioned," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being

21. I don’t remember ________ (to ask) this question by anybody.
- After "remember," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being asked

22. The cat was afraid of ________ (to punish) for ________ (to break) the vase and hid itself under the couch.
- After "afraid of," the gerund is used.
- After "for," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being punished, breaking

23. The girls were busy ________ (to pack) when one of them suddenly remembered ________ (to leave) the milk on the stove which was probably boiling over.
- After "busy," the gerund is used.
- After "remembered," the gerund is used.
- Answer: packing, leaving

24. He hates ________ (talk) in public, because each time he does, he can’t help ________ (make) mistakes, though he tries hard to avoid ________ (displease) people and ________ (laugh) at.
- After "hates," the gerund is used.
- After "can’t help," the gerund is used.
- After "avoid," the gerund is used.
- Answer: talking, making, displeasing, being laughed

25. He was proud of ________ (choose) to represent the university sports team at the forthcoming competition.
- After "proud of," the gerund is used.
- Answer: being chosen

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Final Answers:

#### Part I:
1. cleaning
2. watering
3. feeding
4. painting
5. cleaning
6. cutting
7. sweeping
8. checking/winding
9. checking

#### Part II:
1. knocking down
2. eating
3. climbing, being seen
4. working
5. being given
6. being bitten
7. being fed
8. asking, being asked
9. being chosen
10. being treated
11. drinking
12. being offered
13. being told
14. being locked, contradicting
15. speaking
16. speaking
17. recognizing, being surprised
18. looking through, marking
19. looking, marking
20. being
21. being asked
22. being punished, breaking
23. packing, leaving
24. talking, making, displeasing, being laughed
25. being chosen

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Final Answer:
\boxed{
\text{See detailed explanations above.}
}