Gerunds and Infinitives

Question 1

Complete the sentence with the correct use of the gerund. Thank you for ____________ care of my plants. A. take B. taking C. to take

Answer 1

B. taking Thank you for ____________ care of my plants.

Question 2

Complete the sentence with the correct use of the gerund. The children are excited about ___________________ the circus. A. going B. to go to C. going to D. to going to

Answer 2

C. going to The children are excited about ___________________ the circus.

Question 3

Complete the sentence with the correct use of the gerund. I’m used _________________ tea, not coffee. A. to drinking B. to drink C. drinking D. to drink to

Answer 3

A. to drinking I’m used _________________ tea, not coffee.

Question 4

Complete the sentence with the correct use of the gerund. We look forward _____________ from you soon. A. from hearing B. with hearing C. to hear D. to hearing

Answer 4

D. to hearing We look forward _____________ from you soon.

Question 5

Complete the sentence with the correct use of the gerund. Frieda is always complaining _________________ a headache. A. about have B. about having C. to have D. for having

Answer 5

B. about having Frieda is always complaining _________________ a headache.

Question 6

What’s the correct preposition? Let’s go to the movies instead _______ going to the dance. A. of B. to C. about D. with

Answer 6

A. of Let’s go to the movies instead _______ going to the dance.

Question 7

What’s the correct preposition? I apologized ___________ losing their keys. A. of B. to C. for D. with

Answer 7

C. for I apologized ___________ losing their keys.

Question 8

What’s the correct preposition? I am not interested ___________ that TV show. A. in B. to C. for D. with

Answer 8

A. in I am not interested ___________ that TV show.

Question 9

What’s the correct preposition? Aren’t you tired __________studying? Let’s take a break. A. in B. to C. of D. with

Answer 9

C. of Aren’t you tired __________studying? Let’s take a break.

Question 10

What’s the correct answer? He enjoys ______________ chess. A. to play B. to playing C. playing D. playing to

Answer 10

C. playing He enjoys ______________ chess. NOTE: You can’t use the word “to” after the word “enjoy.”

Question 11

What’s the correct answer? Every Saturday, they ___________________. A. bowling B. going bowling C. go to bowling D. go bowling

Answer 11

D. go bowling Every Saturday, they ___________________.

Question 12

What’s the correct answer? Tomorrow, I am ___________________. A. to fish B. going fishing C. go to fishing D. go fishing

Answer 12

B. going fishing Tomorrow, I am ___________________.

Question 13

What’s the correct answer? We agreed _________________. A. to work B. going working C. me to work D. go working

Answer 13

A. to work We agreed _________________.

Question 14

What’s the correct answer? We offered ___________ ice cream for the children. A. to buy B. buying C. to buying D. go buying

Answer 14

A. to buy We offered ___________ ice cream for the children.

Question 15

What’s the correct answer? Would you mind ____________ up the heat? It’s cold in here. A. to turn B. turning C. to turning

Answer 15

B. turning Would you mind ____________ up the heat? It’s cold in here. NOTE: “would you mind” is always followed by a gerund.

Question 16

What’s the correct answer? I will never forget ___________________ the president when I was a child. A. to meet B. meeting C. to meeting D. for meet

Answer 16

B. meeting I will never forget ___________________ the president when I was a child.

Question 17

What’s the correct answer? The veteranarian tried ___________ the dog’s life, but he failed. A. to save B. saving C. to saving D. for save

Answer 17

Both “to save” and “saving” are correct. The veteranarian tried ___________ the dog’s life, but he failed. NOTE: With some sentences, both the gerund and infinitive have the same meaning. Read the sentence carefully, however, because the use of one or the other could change the meaning of the sentence.

Question 18

What’s the correct answer? I regret not ________________ harder when I was in high school. A. to study B. studying C. studiing D. for studying

Answer 18

B. studying I regret not ________________ harder when I was in high school.

Question 19

Which is the best word: Too or Very? The box is ___________ heavy, but I can lift it.

Answer 19

Very NOTE: “Too” imples a negative result. “Very” implies that it is difficult, but possible.

Question 20

Which is the best word: Too or Very? The soup is ___________ spicy; I can’t eat it.

Answer 20

Too NOTE: “Too” imples a negative result. “Very” implies that it is difficult, but possible.

Question 21

Which is the best word: Too or Very? This textbook is __________ expensive. I can’t buy it.

Answer 21

too This textbook is __________ expensive. I can’t buy it.

Question 22

Which is the best word: Too or Very? Your grade is __________ low. You won’t pass.

Answer 22

too

Question 23

Which is the best word: Too or Very? Your grade is ___________ low, so you’ll have to study hard to pass the class.

Answer 23

very

Question 24

Which is the best answer: Too much, Very, or Enough? I have _____________ money to buy the book.

Answer 24

enough

Question 25

Passive Infinitive: Fill in the blank. I didn’t expect __________ (ask) to his party.

Answer 25

to be asked NOTE: passive infinitive are “to be” plus the past participle

Question 26

Passive Infinitive: Fill in the blank. Sam would like ______________ (invite) to the grand opening of the store.

Answer 26

to be invited

Question 27

Passive Infinitive: Fill in the blank. Janice is going to fill out an application. She wants _________________(consider) for hte job.

Answer 27

to be considered

Question 28

Passive Infinitive: Fill in the blank. I would like ______________ (give) a scholarship.

Answer 28

to be given

Question 29

Passive gerunds: Fill in the blank. I don’t enjoy ______________ (laugh) at by other people.

Answer 29

being laughed NOTE: Passive gerunds are “being” plus the past participle

Question 30

Passive gerunds: Fill in the blank. Sometimes teens complain about not ______________________ (understand) by their parents.

Answer 30

being understood

Question 31

Passive gerunds: Fill in the blank. Despite his name, Jim Shrek has a good chance of ____________ (elected) to the school board.

Answer 31

being elected

Question 32

__________________(play) soccer is a lot of fun.

Answer 32

Playing

Question 33

____________________ (play) soccer, you need a special ball.

Answer 33

To play

Question 34

_________________ (eat) is one of my family’s favorite things to do.

Answer 34

Eating