Verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives
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Verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives
PDF worksheets with keys:
PDF exercises to download for free.
He enjoyed swimming. I can't stand waiting in queues.
He demanded to talk to me.
He made her do it.
She seems to be crying.
He pretended to have been studying.
Gerunds vs. infinitives exercises PDF
She likes skiing. - She would like to ski.
I'll try to call her. - I'll try using your phone.
Online exercises with answers:
Gerund and infinitive exercise 1 Correct mistakes.
Gerund and infinitive exercise 2 A multiple choice test.
Gerund and infinitive exercise 3 Complete a conversation.
Gerund and infinitive exercise 4 Complete sentences with verbs in brackets.
Gerund and infinitive exercise 5 Find verbs followed by infinitives and gerunds.
Gerund and infinitive exercise 6 Find verbs followed by gerunds only.
Grammar rules PDF:
Gerund and infinitive rules PDF Grammar rules with examples to download for free.
English grammar PDF All PDF rules on e-grammar.org.
Gerund and infinitive
In English there are expressions followed by infinitive only, gerunds only or both gerund and infinitive. In some cases the gerund and infinitive have the same meaning, in other cases they have different meanings.
Full and bare infinitive
1. Full infinitive (with 'to')
There are many expressions in English which can be followed by the full infinitive only: agree, ask, choose, decide, encourage, fail, forbid, force, hope, instruct, invite, learn, manage, offer, order, permit, plan, prepare, promise, refuse, remind, seem, warn, be about, turn out, would like.
I agreed to pay for it.
She turned out to be a liar.
2. Bare infinitive (without 'to')
Some expressions are used with the bare infinitive only: can, may, must, needn't, let, would rather, had better
I must be off now.
We'd rather sleep at home.
Other expressions can be followed by both the bare and full infinitive (dare, help) or by the bare infinitive and gerund (feel, hear, see, watch).
I helped her carry/to carry the bag.
We saw the lion kill/killing the goat.
Read more: Infinitive
Gerund only
In English there are verbs, phrasal verbs, prespositional phrases and other expressions followed only by gerunds:
Verbs: admit, consider, dislike, enjoy, escape, excuse, finish, imagine, insist, keep, mind, miss, recall, risk, suggest, tolerate...
Phrasal verbs: care for, call off, end up, get over, give up...
Prepositional phrases: care for, call off, end up, get over, give up...
Other expressions: can't stand, can't help, it's no use/good, it's worth, have a good time, have no problem...
I wanted to be fit and I kept exercising.
My husband gave up smoking when he was thirty.
I can't help laughing when I see you new haircut.
Read more: Gerund
Gerund and infinitive with the same meaning
The meaning remains the same after expressions such as:
begin, advise, allow, can't bear, continue, intend, it needs, it wants, recommend, start
Examples:
When did you start learning/to learn German?
The window needs cleaning/to be cleaned.
Gerund and infinitive with different meanings
Some expressions can be followed by both gerund and infinitive, but these forms have different meanings: remember, try, stop, love, like, hate, prefer, go on, mean, be afraid, be sorry.
I remember buying the batteries in the supermarket. (I know where I bought the batteries.)
I remembered to buy the batteries. (I didn't forget to buy the batteries.)
I like doing homework. (I enjoy it.)
I like to do my homework as soon as I come home. (It's good for me.)
Read more: Gerund and infinitive