Pdf online activity: Gerunds and Infinitives - Free Printable

Let's go through each sentence and determine whether the correct form is the gerund (verb + -ing) or the infinitive (to + verb), or if both are acceptable. We’ll explain the grammar rule behind each choice.

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🔹 Rules Recap:

- Gerunds (-ing) are used after:
- Verbs like *enjoy, mind, avoid, hate, love, dislike, can't stand, prefer, miss, suggest, etc.*
- Prepositions
- Certain expressions like *be used to*, *look forward to*
- Infinitives (to + verb) are used after:
- Verbs like *want, hope, plan, decide, promise, agree, expect, learn, try, afford, need, forget, remember, etc.*
- Some verbs can take either gerund or infinitive with no change in meaning (e.g., *start, begin, continue*).
- But some have different meanings depending on form (e.g., *remember to do* vs *remember doing*).

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Now let’s solve each one:

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1. I prefer (eat) savoury foods rather than sweets.
✔ eating
👉 *Prefer* is followed by a gerund when comparing two actions.
Correct: *I prefer eating savoury foods...*

2. My dad has managed (fix) our computer.
✔ to fix
👉 *Manage* is followed by an infinitive.
Correct: *has managed to fix*

3. I don’t mind (do) the washing up.
✔ doing
👉 *Mind* takes a gerund.
Correct: *don’t mind doing*

4. My mother enjoys (exercise) at the gym.
✔ exercising
👉 *Enjoy* takes a gerund.
Correct: *enjoys exercising*

5. I can’t stand (wear) glasses.
✔ wearing
👉 *Can’t stand* is followed by a gerund.
Correct: *can’t stand wearing*

6. I like (travel) to other countries.
✔ travelling OR to travel
👉 *Like* can be followed by either gerund or infinitive; both are correct.
Correct: *like travelling* or *like to travel*

7. He finally admitted (lie) about doing his homework.
✔ lying
👉 *Admit* takes a gerund.
Correct: *admitted lying*

8. The school has agreed (postpone) exams because of COVID.
✔ to postpone
👉 *Agree* takes an infinitive.
Correct: *agreed to postpone*

9. I hate (take) my dog for a walk when it’s raining.
✔ taking
👉 *Hate* takes a gerund.
Correct: *hate taking*

10. Please stop (make) a noise. The baby is sleeping.
✔ making
👉 *Stop doing* = cease an ongoing action.
Correct: *stop making* (means: stop the action now)

11. I love (listen) to the Beatles music.
✔ listening OR to listen
👉 *Love* can take both forms; both are correct.
Correct: *love listening* or *love to listen*

12. Our teacher promised (take) us to the zoo if we worked well.
✔ to take
👉 *Promise* takes an infinitive.
Correct: *promised to take*

13. We must do warm-up exercises before we begin (walk).
✔ to walk
👉 *Begin* can take either, but here it's about starting a future action → infinitive is more natural.
Correct: *begin to walk*
💡 Note: "begin walking" is also acceptable, but "to walk" fits better with the idea of starting a planned activity.

14. Today we will continue (work) from our workbooks.
✔ working OR to work
👉 *Continue* can take both gerund and infinitive with little difference in meaning.
Both are correct: *continue working* or *continue to work*

15. Please remember (fetch) the children from school.
✔ to fetch
👉 *Remember to do* = don’t forget to do something (future action).
Correct: *remember to fetch*

16. Please try (finish) your work on time.
✔ to finish
👉 *Try to do* = make an effort to do something.
Correct: *try to finish*
⚠️ *Try finishing* would mean “experiment with finishing” – not intended here.

17. You deserve (be) punished for driving under the influence.
✔ to be
👉 *Deserve* is followed by an infinitive.
Correct: *deserve to be punished*

18. I can’t afford (buy) a new car.
✔ to buy
👉 *Afford* takes an infinitive.
Correct: *can’t afford to buy*

19. My dad hates (stand) in long queues.
✔ standing
👉 *Hate* takes a gerund.
Correct: *hates standing*

20. John pretended (be) sick because he didn’t want to go to school.
✔ to be
👉 *Pretend* takes an infinitive.
Correct: *pretended to be*

21. The children enjoy (go) to the movies.
✔ going
👉 *Enjoy* takes a gerund.
Correct: *enjoy going*

22. My mother avoids (speak) in public.
✔ speaking
👉 *Avoid* takes a gerund.
Correct: *avoids speaking*

23. I miss (play) cricket with my friends.
✔ playing
👉 *Miss* (as in longing for) takes a gerund.
Correct: *miss playing*

24. I wouldn’t advise you skip classes before the exam.
✔ to skip
👉 *Advise* is followed by object + infinitive.
Correct: *advise you to skip*

25. I can’t bear (hear) nails on a chalkboard.
✔ hearing
👉 *Can’t bear* takes a gerund.
Correct: *can’t bear hearing*

26. My dad wants to learn (fly) a helicopter.
✔ to fly
👉 *Learn* takes an infinitive.
Correct: *learn to fly*

27. My friend hopes (travel) with us when we fly to London.
✔ to travel
👉 *Hope* takes an infinitive.
Correct: *hopes to travel*

28. Don’t forget (come) to school early tomorrow.
✔ to come
👉 *Forget to do* = don’t forget to do something (future action).
Correct: *forget to come*

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

| # | Correct Form | Explanation |
|----|--------------|------------|
| 1 | eating | *prefer* + gerund |
| 2 | to fix | *manage* + infinitive |
| 3 | doing | *mind* + gerund |
| 4 | exercising | *enjoy* + gerund |
| 5 | wearing | *can't stand* + gerund |
| 6 | travelling / to travel | *like* + both OK |
| 7 | lying | *admit* + gerund |
| 8 | to postpone | *agree* + infinitive |
| 9 | taking | *hate* + gerund |
|10 | making | *stop doing* = cease action |
|11 | listening / to listen | *love* + both OK |
|12 | to take | *promise* + infinitive |
|13 | to walk | *begin* + infinitive (planned action) |
|14 | working / to work | *continue* + both OK |
|15 | to fetch | *remember to do* = future action |
|16 | to finish | *try to do* = make effort |
|17 | to be | *deserve* + infinitive |
|18 | to buy | *afford* + infinitive |
|19 | standing | *hate* + gerund |
|20 | to be | *pretend* + infinitive |
|21 | going | *enjoy* + gerund |
|22 | speaking | *avoid* + gerund |
|23 | playing | *miss* + gerund |
|24 | to skip | *advise* + object + infinitive |
|25 | hearing | *can't bear* + gerund |
|26 | to fly | *learn* + infinitive |
|27 | to travel | *hope* + infinitive |
|28 | to come | *forget to do* = don’t forget |

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✔ Note: In cases where both are correct (like #6, #11, #14), students should understand that while both are grammatically correct, the nuance may vary slightly.

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