Gerunds & Infinitives worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to fill in the blanks using the rules from the chalkboards.

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First paragraph (about sports and swimming):

We are told:
- “enjoy”, “hate”, “love”, “like”, “good at”, “weak in” → followed by -ing form (gerund)
- “need”, “want”, “would like” → followed by to + base verb
- “can”, “must”, “should” → followed by base verb (no “to”)

Now let’s fill each blank:

(1) I enjoy ___ sports.
→ “enjoy” takes -ing → playing

(2) I am good at ___.
→ “good at” takes -ing → Since he talks about being a lifeguard and running fast, likely swimming or running. But later he says “I need ___ swimming”, so probably swimming here too? Wait — actually, look ahead: He says “I can ___ fast” → that’s likely “run”. So maybe (2) is running? Let’s check context.

Actually, let’s read the whole thing:

> I enjoy (1)___ sports. I am good at (2)___. I can (3)___ fast. I want (4)___ a lifeguard. To stay healthy and strong, I need (5)___ swimming and do exercise every week. I should also (6)___ healthily.

So:

(1) enjoy → playing
(2) good at → could be “swimming” or “running” — but since he says “I can ___ fast” next, which is likely “run”, then (2) might be “running” to match. But wait — later he says “I need ___ swimming”, meaning he needs to swim. So maybe he’s good at running, but needs to work on swimming? That makes sense.

But actually, “good at” doesn’t have to match what he “needs” — they can be different.

However, looking at common usage and flow: If he enjoys sports, is good at something, can run fast, wants to be a lifeguard — lifeguards need to swim well. So maybe he’s good at running, but needs to improve swimming? Or vice versa?

Wait — sentence (5): “I need ___ swimming” → “need” takes “to + base verb” → so “to swim”

Then (6): “I should also ___ healthily.” → “should” takes base verb → “eat”

Back to (2): “I am good at ___” — if he can run fast, maybe he’s good at running? That fits.

But let’s see the second paragraph for clues? No, it’s separate.

Actually, let’s just follow grammar strictly.

(1) enjoy → playing
(2) good at → ? We don’t know yet — but logically, if he can run fast, maybe he’s good at running. Let’s put running for now.

(3) can → base verb → “run” (since “fast” suggests speed)

(4) want → to + base verb → “to be” (a lifeguard)

(5) need → to + base verb → “to swim” (he says “swimming” after, but that’s part of the phrase — “need to swim swimming”? No, that’s wrong. Wait — look: “I need (5)___ swimming and do exercise...”

Ah! The word “swimming” is already there — so (5) must be the verb before “swimming”. But “need” requires “to + base verb”, so it should be “to swim”, but then it would say “to swim swimming” — which is redundant.

Wait — perhaps it’s “I need to do swimming”? But “do swimming” is not natural — we usually say “go swimming” or just “swim”.

Alternatively, maybe the blank is for the verb that goes with “swimming” as a gerund? But “need” doesn’t take gerund — it takes infinitive.

Unless... is “swimming” being used as a noun? Like “I need swimming” — but that’s not standard without “to do” or similar.

Wait — let’s reread: “I need (5)___ swimming and do exercise every week.”

Perhaps (5) is “to do”? Then it becomes “I need to do swimming and do exercise” — which is grammatically correct, though a bit awkward. “Do swimming” is acceptable in some contexts.

But more naturally, we’d say “I need to swim and do exercise”.

But the word “swimming” is written after the blank — so maybe the blank is for “to do”, making “to do swimming”.

Alternatively, maybe it’s a typo or misphrasing, and it should be “I need to swim”, but the worksheet has “swimming” fixed.

Looking back at the image description — the text says: “I need (5)__________ swimming and do exercise every week.”

So “swimming” is part of the sentence, not part of the blank. Therefore, (5) must be a verb that connects to “swimming”.

Given that “need” requires “to + base verb”, the only logical choice is “to do” — because “do swimming” is a phrase (though less common than “go swimming”).

In many educational materials, “do swimming” is accepted as equivalent to “swim” for simplicity.

So (5) = to do

Then (6) “should also ___ healthily” → “should” + base verb → “eat”

Okay, moving to second paragraph:

“I love (7)___ on stage.” → “love” takes -ing → performing or acting? Given she’s an actress, likely acting

“(8) weak in ___ things” → “weak in” takes -ing → what kind of things? Later she says she needs to remember lines, so maybe “remembering” or “memorizing”

“(9) good at ___” → again, -ing → probably “acting” or “performing”

“(10) want ___ an actress” → “want” + to + base verb → “to be”

“(11) would like ___ in movies” → “would like” + to + base verb → “to act”

“(12) need ___ my memory” → “need” + to + base verb → “to improve” or “to train” — but given context, “to improve” fits best

“(13) can ___ the lines” → “can” + base verb → “remember” or “learn” — “remember” is better since she mentions memory

Let’s finalize:

First paragraph:

(1) playing
(2) running [since he can run fast]
(3) run
(4) to be
(5) to do [because “swimming” is already there — “to do swimming”]
(6) eat

Second paragraph:

(7) acting [on stage]
(8) remembering [things — related to memory]
(9) acting [she’s good at acting]
(10) to be
(11) to act
(12) to improve
(13) remember

Wait — for (8) and (9), let’s make sure.

She says: “Although I am weak in (8)___ things, I am good at (9)___.”

If she’s weak in remembering things, but good at acting — that makes sense.

And (12) “need to improve my memory” — yes.

(13) “can remember the lines” — perfect.

Also, for (7) “love acting on stage” — yes.

Is there any conflict?

In first paragraph, (2) “good at running” — but he wants to be a lifeguard, which requires swimming. Maybe he’s good at running but needs to work on swimming — that’s plausible.

Alternatively, maybe (2) is “swimming”? But then why say “I can run fast” separately? It could be both.

But the sentence structure: “I am good at ___. I can ___ fast.” — these are two separate abilities. So (2) could be swimming, and (3) run.

That also works.

Which is better?

If he’s good at swimming, and can run fast, and wants to be a lifeguard — that makes even more sense.

Lifeguards need to swim well AND be able to run (to reach someone quickly).

So perhaps (2) is swimming, and (3) is run.

Then (5) “I need to do swimming” — but if he’s already good at swimming, why does he need to do it? Unless “need to do swimming” means he needs to practice it regularly.

That still works.

To avoid redundancy, maybe (2) is “running”, and (5) is “to swim” — but the word “swimming” is written after the blank, so we can’t change that.

The worksheet has “swimming” fixed in the sentence, so (5) must be “to do” to make “to do swimming”.

Therefore, to keep consistency, let’s assume:

(2) running — because he emphasizes “can run fast” right after, suggesting that’s his strength.

And (5) to do swimming — meaning he needs to practice swimming regularly.

That seems reasonable.

Final decision:

First paragraph:
1. playing
2. running
3. run
4. to be
5. to do
6. eat

Second paragraph:
7. acting
8. remembering
9. acting
10. to be
11. to act
12. to improve
13. remember

All fit the grammar rules and context.

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Final Answer:
(1) playing
(2) running
(3) run
(4) to be
(5) to do
(6) eat
(7) acting
(8) remembering
(9) acting
(10) to be
(11) to act
(12) to improve
(13) remember