Gerund or infinitive: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc ... - Free Printable

To solve this problem, we need to determine whether to use the gerund (verb + -ing) or the infinitive (to + verb) in each sentence. Here's a breakdown of the rules and solutions for each sentence:

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Rules for Gerund vs. Infinitive

1. Gerund:
- Used after certain verbs: enjoy, finish, mind, suggest, etc.
- Used after prepositions: about, after, before, etc.
- Used as the subject or object of a sentence.

2. Infinitive:
- Used after certain verbs: want, decide, plan, etc.
- Used after adjectives: easy, hard, difficult, etc.
- Used after modal verbs: can, should, must, etc.
- Used after "would like" or "had better."

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Solutions

1. Fancy ________ tonight? (eat out)
- "Fancy" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Fancy eating out tonight?

2. Do you want ________ at home tonight? (stay)
- "Want" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: Do you want to stay at home tonight?

3. I’d like ________ a few things with you. (discuss)
- "Would like" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: I’d like to discuss a few things with you.

4. I’d rather ________ somewhere else. (go)
- "Rather" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: I’d rather go somewhere else.

5. You’d better ________ so much junk food. (not eat)
- "Had better" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: You’d better not eat so much junk food.

6. I’ll never forget ________ the competition. (win)
- "Forget" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I’ll never forget winning the competition.

7. I promised ________ her. (help)
- "Promise" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: I promised to help her.

8. I advised them ________ the car. (buy)
- "Advise" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: I advised them to buy the car.

9. Have you ever considered ________ plastic surgery? (have)
- "Consider" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Have you ever considered having plastic surgery?

10. Keep ________! (work)
- "Keep" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Keep working!

11. How about ________ to town tonight? (go)
- "About" is a preposition, so it is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: How about going to town tonight?

12. My parents allowed me ________ my birthday party at home. (throw)
- "Allow" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: My parents allowed me to throw my birthday party at home.

13. Imagine ________ around the world. (travel)
- "Imagine" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Imagine traveling around the world.

14. Try ________ something. I know you aren’t hungry but it will do you good. (eat)
- "Try" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Try eating something.

15. Oh gosh! I forgot ________ the flowers for grandma. It’s her birthday today. (buy)
- "Forgot" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Oh gosh! I forgot buying the flowers for grandma.

16. He regretted ________ to her. Now their relationship is over. (not apologise)
- "Regret" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: He regretted not apologising to her.

17. There’s no point ________. (cry)
- "Point" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: There’s no point crying.

18. I’m not used to ________ up at 5 a.m. (get)
- "Used to" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I’m not used to getting up at 5 a.m.

19. I’m fed up with ________. (wait)
- "Fed up with" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I’m fed up with waiting.

20. She prefers ________ strong tea. (drink)
- "Prefer" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: She prefers drinking strong tea.

21. I couldn’t resist ________ all the cookies. (eat)
- "Resist" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I couldn’t resist eating all the cookies.

22. I couldn’t help ________ when I saw her strange dress. (laugh)
- "Couldn’t help" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I couldn’t help laughing when I saw her strange dress.

23. He refused ________ the police. (call)
- "Refuse" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: He refused to call the police.

24. I feel like ________ cappuccino. Anyone else? (drink)
- "Feel like" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I feel like drinking cappuccino. Anyone else?

25. They must ________ a rest now. (have)
- "Must" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: They must have a rest now.

26. I like ________ my room every weekend. (clean)
- "Like" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: I like cleaning my room every weekend.

27. Do you remember ________ in the ocean last summer? (surf)
- "Remember" is followed by a gerund.
- Answer: Do you remember surfing in the ocean last summer?

28. My parents encourage me ________ medicine. (study)
- "Encourage" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: My parents encourage me to study medicine.

29. My bro used to ________ to hip hop when he was a teen. (listen)
- "Used to" is followed by an infinitive.
- Answer: My bro used to listen to hip hop when he was a teen.

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Final Answers

1. eating out
2. to stay
3. to discuss
4. go
5. not eat
6. winning
7. to help
8. to buy
9. having
10. working
11. going
12. to throw
13. traveling
14. eating
15. buying
16. not apologising
17. crying
18. getting
19. waiting
20. drinking
21. eating
22. laughing
23. to call
24. drinking
25. have
26. cleaning
27. surfing
28. to study
29. listen

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Boxed Final Answer

\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
&1. \text{eating out} \\
&2. \text{to stay} \\
&3. \text{to discuss} \\
&4. \text{go} \\
&5. \text{not eat} \\
&6. \text{winning} \\
&7. \text{to help} \\
&8. \text{to buy} \\
&9. \text{having} \\
&10. \text{working} \\
&11. \text{going} \\
&12. \text{to throw} \\
&13. \text{traveling} \\
&14. \text{eating} \\
&15. \text{buying} \\
&16. \text{not apologising} \\
&17. \text{crying} \\
&18. \text{getting} \\
&19. \text{waiting} \\
&20. \text{drinking} \\
&21. \text{eating} \\
&22. \text{laughing} \\
&23. \text{to call} \\
&24. \text{drinking} \\
&25. \text{have} \\
&26. \text{cleaning} \\
&27. \text{surfing} \\
&28. \text{to study} \\
&29. \text{listen} \\
\end{aligned}
}