Gerund and Infinitive - Exercise 4 | ESL Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this exercise on gerunds and infinitives step by step. The goal is to fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb — either the gerund (verb + -ing) or the to-infinitive (to + base verb) — based on grammar rules.

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🔹 Key Rules to Remember:

- After certain verbs, we use:
- Gerund (-ing): *enjoy, avoid, mind, finish, consider, suggest, deny, keep, postpone, fancy, etc.*
- To-infinitive: *want, hope, decide, promise, threaten, refuse, offer, agree, need, etc.*
- Some verbs can take both, but meaning may change.
- Verbs like deny, avoid, enjoy, mind, suggest, admit, etc. are usually followed by a gerund.
- Verbs like promise, threaten, refuse, fail, plan, want, etc. are usually followed by to-infinitive.
- "Suggest" is followed by a gerund, but "suggest that..." uses subjunctive or infinitive in clauses.
- "Tend to" always takes to-infinitive.
- "Deserve" can be followed by to-infinitive or gerund, but "deserve to be done" = passive; "deserve doing" = active (same meaning).
- "Fail" is followed by to-infinitive.
- "Have you ever considered...?" → considering (gerund)
- "Enjoyed" → enjoying (gerund)

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Now let’s go through each sentence:

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1. Andrew denied _________ the phone. (steal)
→ "Deny" is followed by a gerund.
✔ Answer: stealing

2. My family can't afford _________ a car. (buy)
→ "Afford" is followed by to-infinitive or gerund, but "afford to do" is standard.
✔ Answer: to buy

3. The student refused _________ the question. (answer)
→ "Refuse" is followed by to-infinitive.
✔ Answer: to answer

4. Why do you keep _________ me all the time? (interrupt)
→ "Keep" is followed by gerund when it means "continuously doing something".
✔ Answer: interrupting

5. My husband promised me _________ home earlier on Friday. (come)
→ "Promise" is followed by to-infinitive.
✔ Answer: to come

6. They don't mind _________ a surprise party for John. (make)
→ "Mind" is followed by gerund.
✔ Answer: making

7. Willan suggested _________ New York in autumn. (visit)
→ "Suggest" is followed by gerund.
✔ Answer: visiting

8. Lilly deserves _________ the truth. (find out)
→ "Deserve" can take gerund or infinitive. But "deserve to find out" is more natural here.
✔ Answer: to find out *(or "finding out" – both acceptable, but "to find out" is more common in this context)*

9. Have you ever considered _________ abroad? (live)
→ "Consider" is followed by gerund.
✔ Answer: living

10. Kevin failed _________ Amelia out on a date. (ask)
→ "Fail" is followed by to-infinitive.
✔ Answer: to ask

11. The teacher threatened _________ my mother. (call)
→ "Threaten" is followed by to-infinitive.
✔ Answer: to call

12. You shouldn't postpone _________ with your problems at work. (deal)
→ "Postpone" is followed by gerund.
✔ Answer: dealing

13. Everybody likes Kate, but sometimes she tends _________ a bit bossy with her friends. (be)
→ "Tend" is followed by to-infinitive.
✔ Answer: to be

14. We don't fancy _________ dinner in a Thai restaurant. (have)
→ "Fancy" is followed by gerund.
✔ Answer: having

15. I've enjoyed _________ to you. (talk)
→ "Enjoy" is followed by gerund.
✔ Answer: talking

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✔ Final Answers:

1. stealing
2. to buy
3. to answer
4. interrupting
5. to come
6. making
7. visiting
8. to find out *(or finding out)*
9. living
10. to ask
11. to call
12. dealing
13. to be
14. having
15. talking

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📝 Summary:

This exercise reinforces the rule that some verbs require gerunds, others require infinitives, and knowing which ones helps you choose correctly. Practice helps build intuition!

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for any specific rule!