Gerund exercise-1 | PDF - Free Printable

To solve this exercise, we need to follow the rule given in the title: Gerund after prepositions.

The Rule:
When a verb comes immediately after a preposition (words like *in, on, at, for, of, about, with, to* when used as a preposition), that verb must be in the -ing form (also called a gerund).

* Example: *good at* → *good at playing*
* Example: *afraid of* → *afraid of losing*

Let's go through each sentence step-by-step to find the preposition and change the verb in brackets to its -ing form.

1. My brother is good \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (drive)
* The phrase is "good at".
* Preposition: *at*
* Verb: *drive* → drop the 'e' and add 'ing' → driving
* Answer: *at driving*

2. I'm not very keen \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ computer games. (play)
* The phrase is "keen on".
* Preposition: *on*
* Verb: *play* → playing
* Answer: *on playing*

3. I have no objection \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ the football match tonight. (watch)
* The phrase is "objection to".
* Preposition: *to*
* Verb: *watch* → watching
* Answer: *to watching*

4. She is afraid \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ her boyfriend. (lose)
* The phrase is "afraid of".
* Preposition: *of*
* Verb: *lose* → drop the 'e' and add 'ing' → losing
* Answer: *of losing*

5. We are fed \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ nothing all the weekend. (do)
* The phrase is "fed up with".
* Preposition: *with*
* Verb: *do* → doing
* Answer: *up with doing* (Note: "fed up" is an adjective phrase, but "with" is the preposition linking to the verb).

6. I'm tired \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in the queues at the airport. (wait)
* The phrase is "tired of".
* Preposition: *of*
* Verb: *wait* → waiting
* Answer: *of waiting*

7. We had difficulty \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ the way to the museum. (find)
* The phrase is "difficulty (in)". Often "in" is omitted in modern English, but strictly speaking, it implies "in finding". However, looking at standard exercises, "difficulty" is often followed directly by the gerund or "in + gerund". Let's look at the structure. Usually, it's "have difficulty (in) doing something". If we must include a preposition, it is *in*. If the blank allows just the verb form, it might be tricky. But the instruction says "Complete the sentences with preposition + gerund". So we need a preposition.
* Preposition: *in*
* Verb: *find* → finding
* Answer: *in finding*

8. Are you interested \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ your professional career? (build)
* The phrase is "interested in".
* Preposition: *in*
* Verb: *build* → building
* Answer: *in building*

9. There's no point \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ an old car. (buy)
* The phrase is "point in".
* Preposition: *in*
* Verb: *buy* → buying
* Answer: *in buying*

10. I disapprove \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in restaurants. (smoke)
* The phrase is "disapprove of".
* Preposition: *of*
* Verb: *smoke* → drop the 'e' and add 'ing' → smoking
* Answer: *of smoking*

11. We are happy \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ a new house. (have)
* The phrase is "happy about" or "happy with". "About" is very common for feelings regarding a situation.
* Preposition: *about* (or *with*)
* Verb: *have* → drop the 'e' and add 'ing' → having
* Answer: *about having* (or *with having*)

12. My daughter dreams \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ a film star. (become)
* The phrase is "dreams of" or "dreams about". "Of" is very standard for aspirations.
* Preposition: *of* (or *about*)
* Verb: *become* → becoming
* Answer: *of becoming*

13. John can't cope \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ unemployed. (be)
* The phrase is "cope with".
* Preposition: *with*
* Verb: *be* → being
* Answer: *with being*

14. Sarah is thinking \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in Grey's place. (move)
* The phrase is "thinking of" or "thinking about". Both work for considering an action.
* Preposition: *of* (or *about*)
* Verb: *move* → drop the 'e' and add 'ing' → moving
* Answer: *of moving* (or *about moving*)

15. The children were accused \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ the window. (smash)
* The phrase is "accused of".
* Preposition: *of*
* Verb: *smash* → smashing
* Answer: *of smashing*

Final Answer:
1. at driving
2. on playing
3. to watching
4. of losing
5. up with doing
6. of waiting
7. in finding
8. in building
9. in buying
10. of smoking
11. about having
12. of becoming
13. with being
14. of moving
15. of smashing