Gerunds and Infinitives | Denise Pienaar | Live - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Gerunds and Infinitives | Denise Pienaar | Live. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Gerunds and Infinitives | Denise Pienaar | Live
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Gerunds and Infinitives | Denise Pienaar | Live
Let's solve this grammar exercise on gerunds and infinitives. The goal is to choose the correct form (gerund or infinitive) after each verb, noting that sometimes both can be correct.
---
- Gerund = verb + *-ing* (e.g., eating, walking)
- Infinitive = *to* + base verb (e.g., to eat, to walk)
Some verbs are followed by gerunds, some by infinitives, and others can take both with slight differences in meaning.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence one by one:
---
1. I prefer (eat) savoury foods rather than sweets.
✔ eating
→ *Prefer* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "I prefer eating savoury foods..."
---
2. My dad has managed (fix) our computer.
✔ to fix
→ *Manage* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "has managed to fix"
---
3. I don’t mind (do) the washing up.
✔ doing
→ *Mind* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "don’t mind doing"
---
4. My mother enjoys (exercise) at the gym.
✔ exercising
→ *Enjoy* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "enjoys exercising"
---
5. I can’t stand (wear) glasses.
✔ wearing
→ *Can't stand* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "can’t stand wearing"
---
6. I like (travel) to other countries.
✔ travelling OR to travel
→ *Like* can be followed by gerund or infinitive, both acceptable.
✔️ "like travelling" or "like to travel" — both correct.
---
7. He finally admitted (lie) about doing his homework.
✔ lying
→ *Admit* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "admitted lying"
---
8. The school has agreed (postpone) exams because of COVID.
✔ to postpone
→ *Agree* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "agreed to postpone"
---
9. I hate (take) my dog for a walk when it’s raining.
✔ taking
→ *Hate* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "hate taking"
---
10. Please stop (make) a noise. The baby is sleeping.
✔ making
→ *Stop doing something* means cease an action.
✔️ "stop making a noise" (correct)
> Note: "stop to make" would mean “stop in order to make” — which doesn't fit here.
---
11. I love (listen) to the Beatles music.
✔ listening OR to listen
→ *Love* can take both gerund and infinitive. Both are acceptable.
✔️ "love listening" or "love to listen"
---
12. Our teacher promised (take) us to the zoo if we worked well.
✔ to take
→ *Promise* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "promised to take"
---
13. We must do warm up exercises before we begin (walk).
✔ walking
→ *Begin* can take either, but gerund is more natural here for ongoing action.
✔️ "begin walking"
> Also acceptable: "begin to walk", but "walking" is smoother.
---
14. Today we will continue (work) from our workbooks.
✔ working OR to work
→ *Continue* can take both.
✔️ "continue working" or "continue to work" — both OK.
---
15. Please remember (fetch) the children from school.
✔ to fetch
→ *Remember to do* = recall to perform an action (future).
✔️ "remember to fetch"
> Not "remember fetching" — that would mean you recall having already fetched them.
---
16. Please try (finish) your work on time.
✔ to finish
→ *Try to do* = attempt to do something.
✔️ "try to finish"
> "Try finishing" = experiment with finishing (different meaning).
---
17. You deserve (be) punished for driving under the influence.
✔ to be
→ *Deserve* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "deserve to be punished"
---
18. I can’t afford (buy) a new car.
✔ to buy
→ *Afford* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "can’t afford to buy"
---
19. My dad hates (stand) in long queues.
✔ standing
→ *Hate* takes a gerund.
✔️ "hates standing"
---
20. John pretended (be) sick because he didn’t want to go to school.
✔ to be
→ *Pretend* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "pretended to be sick"
---
21. The children enjoy (go) to the movies.
✔ going
→ *Enjoy* takes a gerund.
✔️ "enjoy going"
---
22. My mother avoids (speak) in public.
✔ speaking
→ *Avoid* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "avoids speaking"
---
23. I miss (play) cricket with my friends.
✔ playing
→ *Miss* (as in longing for) is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "miss playing"
---
24. I wouldn’t advise you skip classes before the exam.
✔ to skip
→ *Advise* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "advise you to skip"
> So: "I wouldn’t advise you to skip classes..."
---
25. I can’t bear (hear) nails on a chalkboard.
✔ hearing
→ *Can’t bear* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "can’t bear hearing"
---
26. My dad wants to learn (fly) a helicopter.
✔ to fly
→ *Learn* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "learn to fly"
---
27. My friend hopes (travel) with us when we fly to London.
✔ to travel
→ *Hope* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "hopes to travel"
---
28. Don’t forget (come) to school early tomorrow.
✔ to come
→ *Forget to do* = don’t remember to do something (future action).
✔️ "forget to come"
> If it were "forget coming", it would mean "forget that you came" — not the intended meaning.
---
| No | Correct Form |
|----|--------------|
| 1 | eating |
| 2 | to fix |
| 3 | doing |
| 4 | exercising |
| 5 | wearing |
| 6 | travelling / to travel |
| 7 | lying |
| 8 | to postpone |
| 9 | taking |
| 10 | making |
| 11 | listening / to listen |
| 12 | to take |
| 13 | walking |
| 14 | working / to work |
| 15 | to fetch |
| 16 | to finish |
| 17 | to be |
| 18 | to buy |
| 19 | standing |
| 20 | to be |
| 21 | going |
| 22 | speaking |
| 23 | playing |
| 24 | to skip |
| 25 | hearing |
| 26 | to fly |
| 27 | to travel |
| 28 | to come |
---
- Verbs like prefer, enjoy, hate, mind, avoid, miss, can’t stand, admit, love → gerund
- Verbs like manage, agree, promise, hope, want, desire, decide, expect, need, plan, offer, refuse, intend → infinitive
- Remember / forget / stop:
- to do = future intention or action
- doing = past experience or cessation of an action
- Try:
- to do = attempt
- doing = experiment
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or flashcards! 😊
---
🔹 Rules Recap:
- Gerund = verb + *-ing* (e.g., eating, walking)
- Infinitive = *to* + base verb (e.g., to eat, to walk)
Some verbs are followed by gerunds, some by infinitives, and others can take both with slight differences in meaning.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence one by one:
---
1. I prefer (eat) savoury foods rather than sweets.
✔ eating
→ *Prefer* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "I prefer eating savoury foods..."
---
2. My dad has managed (fix) our computer.
✔ to fix
→ *Manage* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "has managed to fix"
---
3. I don’t mind (do) the washing up.
✔ doing
→ *Mind* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "don’t mind doing"
---
4. My mother enjoys (exercise) at the gym.
✔ exercising
→ *Enjoy* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "enjoys exercising"
---
5. I can’t stand (wear) glasses.
✔ wearing
→ *Can't stand* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "can’t stand wearing"
---
6. I like (travel) to other countries.
✔ travelling OR to travel
→ *Like* can be followed by gerund or infinitive, both acceptable.
✔️ "like travelling" or "like to travel" — both correct.
---
7. He finally admitted (lie) about doing his homework.
✔ lying
→ *Admit* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "admitted lying"
---
8. The school has agreed (postpone) exams because of COVID.
✔ to postpone
→ *Agree* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "agreed to postpone"
---
9. I hate (take) my dog for a walk when it’s raining.
✔ taking
→ *Hate* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "hate taking"
---
10. Please stop (make) a noise. The baby is sleeping.
✔ making
→ *Stop doing something* means cease an action.
✔️ "stop making a noise" (correct)
> Note: "stop to make" would mean “stop in order to make” — which doesn't fit here.
---
11. I love (listen) to the Beatles music.
✔ listening OR to listen
→ *Love* can take both gerund and infinitive. Both are acceptable.
✔️ "love listening" or "love to listen"
---
12. Our teacher promised (take) us to the zoo if we worked well.
✔ to take
→ *Promise* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "promised to take"
---
13. We must do warm up exercises before we begin (walk).
✔ walking
→ *Begin* can take either, but gerund is more natural here for ongoing action.
✔️ "begin walking"
> Also acceptable: "begin to walk", but "walking" is smoother.
---
14. Today we will continue (work) from our workbooks.
✔ working OR to work
→ *Continue* can take both.
✔️ "continue working" or "continue to work" — both OK.
---
15. Please remember (fetch) the children from school.
✔ to fetch
→ *Remember to do* = recall to perform an action (future).
✔️ "remember to fetch"
> Not "remember fetching" — that would mean you recall having already fetched them.
---
16. Please try (finish) your work on time.
✔ to finish
→ *Try to do* = attempt to do something.
✔️ "try to finish"
> "Try finishing" = experiment with finishing (different meaning).
---
17. You deserve (be) punished for driving under the influence.
✔ to be
→ *Deserve* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "deserve to be punished"
---
18. I can’t afford (buy) a new car.
✔ to buy
→ *Afford* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "can’t afford to buy"
---
19. My dad hates (stand) in long queues.
✔ standing
→ *Hate* takes a gerund.
✔️ "hates standing"
---
20. John pretended (be) sick because he didn’t want to go to school.
✔ to be
→ *Pretend* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "pretended to be sick"
---
21. The children enjoy (go) to the movies.
✔ going
→ *Enjoy* takes a gerund.
✔️ "enjoy going"
---
22. My mother avoids (speak) in public.
✔ speaking
→ *Avoid* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "avoids speaking"
---
23. I miss (play) cricket with my friends.
✔ playing
→ *Miss* (as in longing for) is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "miss playing"
---
24. I wouldn’t advise you skip classes before the exam.
✔ to skip
→ *Advise* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "advise you to skip"
> So: "I wouldn’t advise you to skip classes..."
---
25. I can’t bear (hear) nails on a chalkboard.
✔ hearing
→ *Can’t bear* is followed by a gerund.
✔️ "can’t bear hearing"
---
26. My dad wants to learn (fly) a helicopter.
✔ to fly
→ *Learn* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "learn to fly"
---
27. My friend hopes (travel) with us when we fly to London.
✔ to travel
→ *Hope* is followed by an infinitive.
✔️ "hopes to travel"
---
28. Don’t forget (come) to school early tomorrow.
✔ to come
→ *Forget to do* = don’t remember to do something (future action).
✔️ "forget to come"
> If it were "forget coming", it would mean "forget that you came" — not the intended meaning.
---
✔ Final Answers:
| No | Correct Form |
|----|--------------|
| 1 | eating |
| 2 | to fix |
| 3 | doing |
| 4 | exercising |
| 5 | wearing |
| 6 | travelling / to travel |
| 7 | lying |
| 8 | to postpone |
| 9 | taking |
| 10 | making |
| 11 | listening / to listen |
| 12 | to take |
| 13 | walking |
| 14 | working / to work |
| 15 | to fetch |
| 16 | to finish |
| 17 | to be |
| 18 | to buy |
| 19 | standing |
| 20 | to be |
| 21 | going |
| 22 | speaking |
| 23 | playing |
| 24 | to skip |
| 25 | hearing |
| 26 | to fly |
| 27 | to travel |
| 28 | to come |
---
📌 Summary Tips:
- Verbs like prefer, enjoy, hate, mind, avoid, miss, can’t stand, admit, love → gerund
- Verbs like manage, agree, promise, hope, want, desire, decide, expect, need, plan, offer, refuse, intend → infinitive
- Remember / forget / stop:
- to do = future intention or action
- doing = past experience or cessation of an action
- Try:
- to do = attempt
- doing = experiment
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or flashcards! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of gerunds and infinitives worksheet.
