Gerund or Infinitive Exercises - How to Use Them Correctly

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercises

These exercises focus on Gerund vs Infinitive

What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Gerund (Verb + -ing)

A gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun. It is made by adding "-ing" to the base form of a verb.

✔ Example Sentences:

Swimming is fun. (Swimming = noun)
I enjoy reading books. (reading = object of the verb "enjoy")

Infinitive (to + base verb)

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually with "to" in front of it.

✔ Example Sentences:

She wants to travel. (to travel = object of "wants")
It’s important to study every day. (to study = subject complement)

When to Use a Gerund or Infinitive

Some verbs take a gerund, some take an infinitive, and some can take both with a change in meaning.

1. Verbs Followed by a Gerund (-ing Form)

Some verbs are always followed by a gerund.

Verb	Example
enjoy	I enjoy playing football.
dislike	She dislikes waking up early.
mind	Do you mind opening the window?
avoid	He avoided answering the question.
consider	They considered moving to Canada.
keep	She keeps talking during class.
finish	We finished studying at 10 PM.
stop	He stopped smoking.

2. Verbs Followed by an Infinitive (to + base form)

Some verbs are always followed by an infinitive.

Verb	Example
want	I want to go home.
decide	She decided to study abroad.
need	We need to buy some milk.
learn	He is learning to drive.
promise	They promised to help us.
agree	She agreed to meet at 5 PM.
plan	We plan to visit Paris next year.
hope	I hope to see you soon.

3. Verbs That Can Be Followed by a Gerund or Infinitive (With a Change in Meaning)

Some verbs can take both a gerund and an infinitive, but the meaning changes.

Verb	Gerund Meaning	Infinitive Meaning
stop	He stopped smoking. (He quit smoking.)	He stopped to smoke. (He paused another action to smoke.)
try	Try calling her. (Attempt something as an experiment.)	Try to call her. (Make an effort to call her.)
remember	I remember meeting him. (I have a memory of meeting him.)	Remember to meet him. (Don’t forget to meet him.)

Gerund vs. Present Participle – What’s the Difference?

Many students confuse gerunds with the present participle (-ing form used in continuous tenses).

✔ Gerunds act as nouns:

Swimming is good for health. (Gerund = subject)

✔ Present participles are used in verb tenses:

She is swimming in the pool. (Present participle in Present Continuous)

Gerunds and Infinitives in Everyday English

✔ At Work:

I need to finish this report by Monday. (infinitive)
She enjoys working with numbers. (gerund)

✔ In Daily Life:

Do you mind helping me with this bag? (gerund)
He decided to stay at home today. (infinitive)

✔ In Conversations:

I stopped drinking coffee last year. (gerund)
I stopped to drink some coffee before work. (infinitive, different meaning!)

Common Mistakes with Gerunds and Infinitives

❌ She wants going to the party. → ✅ She wants to go to the party.
❌ I enjoy to read. → ✅ I enjoy reading.
❌ He decided going to the gym. → ✅ He decided to go to the gym.

FAQs about Gerunds and Infinitives

What is the infinitive form of a verb?

The infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually with "to" (e.g., to eat, to run, to learn).

What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

A gerund (-ing form) acts as a noun (I love swimming), while an infinitive (to + verb) expresses purpose or necessity (I want to swim).

How do I know when to use a gerund or an infinitive?

Some verbs always take a gerund (enjoy reading), some always take an infinitive (decide to go), and some change meaning (stop smoking vs. stop to smoke).

Are gerunds nouns?

Yes, gerunds act as nouns in a sentence (Swimming is my favorite sport).

Can a verb take both a gerund and an infinitive?

Yes, some verbs (e.g., stop, try, remember) take both but with a change in meaning (I stopped smoking vs. I stopped to smoke).