25/2/2016 Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice (www.vivquarry.com) Gerunds and infinitives Student's name _ Date _ The gerund (verb in the present form + 'ing') is used: 1. After prepositions and adverbs 2. After certain verbs 3. As subject or object of a sentence 4. After some expressions and verbs which are followed by the preposition 'to' The infinitive ('to' + the present form of the verb) is used: 1. After certain verbs 2. After some verbs followed by an object (sb/sth) 3. After some certain adjectives 4. To express purpose 5. After questions words (how, where etc.) and compounds of 'some' and 'any' (somebody, nothing etc.) Infinitive without 'to' (present form of the verb) is used: 1. After modal and auxiliary verbs 2. After 'make' and 'let' Gerunds and infinitives Special Cases * Begin, continue and start These verbs can be followed by both gerund and infinitive except in the present continuous form, where the infinitive must be used It started raining. or It started to rain Look! It's starting to rain! ** Stop Stop + Gerund = Finish one action She's angry with me and has stopped talking to me Stop + Infinitive = Stop one action and start another I saw Jane and she stopped to talk to me. (she stopped walking and we started chatting) http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/gerinfint.html 1/5 25/2/2016 Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice *** Try Try + Gerund = What you do to get what you want I wanted to improve my English so I tried having private classes Try + Infinitive = Your objective, what you want to do I tried to learn English but I didn't have enough time to study properly In the continuous tenses, the infinitive is used He's been trying to learn the piano **** Help (sb) and ask (sb) Help + sb. can be followed by infinitive or infinitive without 'to' He helped me tidy up the room. or He helped me to tidy up the room If there is no direct object (sb) then infinitive without 'to' is more natural He helped tidy up the room *5 Remember & forget Remember / forget + Gerund = Sth which happened before or in the past I remember having to wake up very early when I was at school I'll never forget arriving at work for the first time Remember / forget + Infinitive = Sth which happened after or will happen in the future Please remember to buy some more sugar when you go to the supermarket Don't forget to pay the electricity bill tomorrow *6 Need If a person is the subject of the sentence, the infinitive is used: John needs to take his cat to the vet's If a thing is the subject of the sentence, the gerund is more common http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/gerinfint.html 2/5 25/2/2016 Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice The grass needs cutting Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice Gerunds and infinitives Student's name _ Date _ Verb patterns Here is a list of the verbs and expressions and the form which any verb which follows them should take: Here are examples of the three forms using the verb 'to do' Gerund = doing Infinitive = to do Infinitive without 'to' = do GERUND INFINITIVE INFINITIVE WITHOUT 'TO' Prepositions and Verbs Adjectives Modal and auxiliary adverbs verbs after agree be easy sth./sb. doesn't before decide be hard Does sth./sb? forget*5 be important Doesn't sth./sb.? Verbs hope be impossible sth./sb. didn't begin* learn be lovely Did sth./sb.? continue* manage be pleased Didn't sth./sb.? hate promise be surprised enjoy refuse be unusual can / can't finish remember *4 could / couldn't like stop** Question words will /won't love try*** how would / wouldn't prefer ask (sb.)**** what should / shouldn't remember *5 need (sb) *6 when must / mustn't start* want (sb) where may / may not stop** would like (sb) who might / might not try*** would love (sb) Expressions and Verb + object Compounds of some Verbs Verb + 'to' and any can't stand allow sb anybody help sb.**** don't/doesn't mind expect sb everywhere let sb look forward to help sb.**** nothing make sb would sb mind invite sb something tell sb Verb as subject or object of a sentence Swimming is healthy I like swimming http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/gerinfint.html 3/5 25/2/2016 Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice Gerunds and infinitives exercises Answer these questions using the verbs given: Example: Why does Tom go to the cinema so often? He likes watching films on a big screen Why does Ann watch tv so often? (enjoy) She _ Why does Jack take so many photos? (like) _ Why don't you work in the evenings? (hate) _ Put the verb into the correct form using a gerund or infinitive Example: I enjoy being (be) alone Would you like to come (come) to a party? It shouldn't be difficult to talk to John. Have you tried (phone) him at home? I wouldn't like (live) here. There's nothing (do) at night! My boss always expects me (arrive) at work early Would you mind (open) the window? It's very hot in here Ann began (wash) up after she'd finished (cook) I can't stand people (tell) me what to do when I'm driving Did you forget (post) my letter? I'm looking forward to (go) to Bahia When (work) at home, I need (have) complete silence We tried (put) the fire out but we weren't successful That's strange! I don't remember (lend) you my notebook Make your own sentences using one of the verbs below in each sentence be surprised can't stand let sb (don't) like make sb I I I My mother http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/gerinfint.html 4/5 25/2/2016 Viv Quarry's intermediate grammar practice My teacher Back to grammar worksheets Home http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/gerinfint.html 5/5