Gerunds and Infinitives Practice Exercises with Answers

Choosing between -ing and to forms affects how natural your English sounds, so these practice tasks on gerunds and infinitives will help you build better instincts. You will learn common patterns from real conversation, such as enjoying, avoiding, deciding, and promising, and see which verbs take each structure. Clear answers let you check your work, spot mistakes, and improve quickly.

How to test your understanding of gerunds and infinitives

Test yourself by focusing on the decision points that actually change the form: which verb comes first, whether there is an object after it, and what meaning you intend (purpose, result, preference, or completed action). Good practice mixes recognition (spotting the correct pattern) with production (writing your own sentences), because many errors come from relying on “what sounds right” instead of a repeatable rule.

Step-by-step checks to use while practicing

• Identify the controlling word: find the main verb/adjective/noun that determines the next form (for example: enjoy, decide, good at, a plan).
• Look for an object: some verbs change pattern when an object is added (for example, “ask to do” vs. “ask someone to do”).
• Decide the meaning: is the second action a goal (often “to + verb”) or an activity/experience (often “-ing”)?
• Check time relationship: does the first verb refer to a past action already completed (common with “-ing” after certain verbs), or to a future intention (common with infinitives)?
• Watch for “verb + preposition”: after a preposition, use “-ing” (for example, “interested in learning,” “good at explaining”).
• Separate “stop/remember/try” meanings: these can take both forms but the meaning changes; confirm which meaning fits the context.
• Confirm fixed expressions: patterns like “can’t help + -ing,” “it’s worth + -ing,” and “make/let + base verb” are best treated as chunks.
• Use substitution: replace the second action with a noun to see if “-ing” behaves like a noun phrase (for example, “I enjoy music” → “I enjoy listening”).
• Check sentence structure: after “too/enough,” “to + verb” is common (“too tired to study,” “enough money to buy”).
• Verify parallel forms: in lists, keep the same structure (“I like reading, cooking, and hiking” or “I want to read, cook, and hike”).

Common patterns worth drilling (quick recall list)

• Verb + -ing: enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest, finish, miss, keep
• Verb + to + verb: decide, plan, hope, refuse, agree, manage, promise
• Verb + object + to + verb: want, need, ask, tell, advise, encourage, remind
• Preposition + -ing: interested in, worried about, good at, tired of, before/after
• “It’s + adjective + to + verb”: important to, hard to, easy to, safe to
• “Spend time/money + -ing”: spend an hour reading, waste time scrolling
• “Too/enough + to + verb”: too busy to call, old enough to drive
• “Make/let + base verb”: make me laugh, let her go
• “Help (to) + base verb”: help (to) carry, help (to) fix
• Meaning-change verbs: stop, remember, forget, try, regret

Mini diagnostic quiz (mixed recognition and production)

1. Choose the correct form: “I can’t stand (to wait / waiting) in long lines.”
2. Choose the correct form: “We decided (to leave / leaving) early.”
3. Choose the correct form: “She apologized for (to be / being) late.”
4. Choose the correct form: “They encouraged him (to apply / applying) for the job.”
5. Choose the correct form: “I’m interested in (to learn / learning) more about this topic.”
6. Choose the correct form: “He stopped (to smoke / smoking) last year.”
7. Meaning check: Explain the difference between “I remembered to lock the door” and “I remembered locking the door.”
8. Rewrite using a gerund: “It’s important to practice every day.”
9. Rewrite using an infinitive of purpose: “She went to the store. She bought batteries.”
10. Error correction: Fix the sentence: “He suggested to take a taxi.”

How to score your results and target weak spots

• 0–2 mistakes: focus on speed and consistency; add longer sentences with objects and prepositional phrases.
• 3–5 mistakes: group your errors by trigger (prepositions, object + infinitive, meaning-change verbs) and redo 10 similar items for each group.
• 6+ mistakes: return to pattern drills first, then retake a mixed quiz; most frequent issues are preposition + -ing and verbs that require an object before an infinitive.
• Any meaning-change confusion: practice minimal pairs (stop/remember/try/regret) by writing two short contexts for each form.

Exercises for verbs followed by gerunds

Some verbs are typically followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) rather than an infinitive. The key pattern is verb + gerund: “avoid driving,” “enjoy reading,” “consider moving.” The exercises below focus on choosing the correct form and using common verb + -ing combinations naturally in sentences.

Common verb + gerund patterns to remember

• Enjoy + -ing: enjoy cooking, enjoy meeting new people
• Avoid + -ing: avoid wasting time, avoid talking too loudly
• Consider + -ing: consider taking a course, consider changing jobs
• Finish + -ing: finish writing the report, finish cleaning the kitchen
• Keep + -ing: keep trying, keep working on it
• Suggest + -ing: suggest leaving early, suggest calling a taxi
• Recommend + -ing: recommend visiting in spring, recommend checking the details
• Mind + -ing: mind waiting a moment, mind opening the window
• Miss + -ing: miss seeing friends, miss traveling
• Practice + -ing: practice speaking daily, practice using new vocabulary
• Risk + -ing: risk losing money, risk missing the train
• Postpone / put off + -ing: postpone meeting them, put off doing homework
• Quit / give up + -ing: quit smoking, give up eating junk food
• Admit + -ing: admit making a mistake, admit forgetting the appointment
• Deny + -ing: deny taking the file, deny breaking the rule
• Discuss + -ing: discuss improving results, discuss reducing costs

Practice 1: Choose gerund or infinitive

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Use either the gerund (-ing) or the infinitive (to + base verb).

1. I enjoy (cook) for my family on weekends.
2. She decided (take) a short break, but she avoided (check) her phone.
3. They suggested (leave) early to miss traffic.
4. Do you mind (wait) here for a minute?
5. He promised (help), but he kept (forget) to reply.
6. We considered (move) closer to the office.
7. My doctor recommended (drink) more water.
8. He refused (apologize), but he admitted (say) something rude.
9. I can’t imagine (live) without music.
10. She agreed (meet) us at 6, then postponed (come) until 7.

Practice 2: Fix the error (gerund required)

Each sentence has one mistake related to verb patterns. Rewrite it using the correct form.

1. ❌ She enjoys to read before bed.
2. ❌ He suggested to take the earlier train.
3. ❌ We discussed to change the schedule.
4. ❌ I don’t mind to help, but I’m busy today.
5. ❌ They avoided to answer the question.
6. ❌ I finished to write the email and sent it.
7. ❌ She kept to ask the same thing.
8. ❌ He admitted to break the rules.
9. ❌ Do you recommend to visit the museum?
10. ❌ We put off to buy tickets until the last minute.

Practice 3: Make your own sentences (controlled prompts)

Write one complete sentence for each prompt. Use the verb given and a gerund phrase that fits the meaning.

1. avoid + (something you try not to do at work or school)
2. enjoy + (a hobby)
3. consider + (a possible future plan)
4. recommend + (an activity for visitors to your city)
5. mind + (a polite request)
6. finish + (a task you completed recently)
7. give up + (a habit you want to stop)
8. practice + (a skill you want to improve)

Exercises for verbs followed by infinitives

Some verbs are typically followed by to + base verb (the infinitive). This pattern is common after verbs that express plans, decisions, promises, requests, and willingness. The focus is on what someone intends, agrees, or refuses to do: ✅ “She decided to leave.” ❌ “She decided leaving.”

Common verb patterns (quick reference)

• decide + to + verb: decide to move, decide to call
• plan + to + verb: plan to travel, plan to study
• hope + to + verb: hope to win, hope to see
• agree + to + verb: agree to help, agree to wait
• refuse + to + verb: refuse to pay, refuse to answer
• promise + to + verb: promise to return, promise to be
• offer + to + verb: offer to drive, offer to explain
• manage + to + verb: manage to finish, manage to find
• learn + to + verb: learn to swim, learn to use
• need + to + verb: need to leave, need to fix
• want + to + verb: want to buy, want to know
• expect + to + verb: expect to arrive, expect to hear
• pretend + to + verb: pretend to understand, pretend to sleep
• fail + to + verb: fail to notice, fail to respond
• appear / seem + to + verb: seem to work, appear to be
• choose + to + verb: choose to stay, choose to invest

Practice 1: Choose the correct form (infinitive vs. gerund)

1. We decided (to take / taking) the earlier train.
2. He refused (to sign / signing) the document.
3. I hope (to hear / hearing) from you soon.
4. They offered (to help / helping) us carry the boxes.
5. She managed (to solve / solving) the problem in time.
6. Do you expect (to finish / finishing) today?
7. My parents agreed (to lend / lending) me the car.
8. He promised (to call / calling) after the meeting.
9. We learned (to use / using) the new software quickly.
10. The team failed (to score / scoring) in the second half.

Practice 2: Complete the sentence with the correct infinitive

Write to + verb using the verb in parentheses. Pay attention to meaning and tense in the rest of the sentence.

1. She decided ________ (change) her major after the first semester.
2. I can’t afford ________ (buy) a new laptop right now.
3. They promised ________ (not tell) anyone about the surprise.
4. We need ________ (leave) by 6 a.m. to avoid traffic.
5. He pretended ________ (not notice) the mistake.
6. The manager agreed ________ (meet) us on Friday.
7. I forgot ________ (bring) my ID. Can I still enter?
8. She learned ________ (drive) when she was 30.
9. He seems ________ (be) tired today.
10. They chose ________ (stay) home because of the weather.

Practice 3: Error correction (fix the verb form)

Each sentence has a mistake with an infinitive/gerund choice. Rewrite mentally, then select the corrected version.

1. ❌ She agreed helping us. → ________
2. ❌ I decided going alone. → ________
3. ❌ He promised calling later. → ________
4. ❌ They refused paying the fee. → ________
5. ❌ We hope seeing you soon. → ________
6. ❌ She offered giving me a ride. → ________
7. ❌ He failed arriving on time. → ________
8. ❌ Do you expect finishing by noon? → ________

Usage notes to watch for

• Negatives: place not before the infinitive: “He decided not to go.”
• Object + infinitive is common with some verbs (ask, tell, want, need): “She asked me to wait.”
• Seem/appear often describe impressions: “It seems to be working.”
• Manage to suggests difficulty or effort: “They managed to find a solution.”
• Fail to means “did not”: “He failed to reply.”

Practice with verbs that allow both forms

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund (-ing) or an infinitive (to + base verb). The key is noticing whether the meaning stays the same or changes depending on the form. The exercises below focus on common patterns and the most frequent meaning shifts.

Quick usage patterns to remember

• Same meaning (often): begin, start, continue (gerund and infinitive are usually interchangeable).
• Meaning changes: remember, forget, stop, try, regret (the choice signals a different time relationship or intention).
• Like/love/hate/prefer: both forms are possible; the gerund often sounds more general, and the infinitive can sound more specific or “in this situation.”
• Need/require/want: in some contexts, “needs cleaning” (gerund) is common; “needs to be cleaned” (infinitive passive) is also correct.
• Help: “help do” and “help to do” are both used; “help doing” is different and usually refers to an unintentional reaction (“can’t help doing”).

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form (gerund or infinitive)

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Use either the gerund or the infinitive, depending on meaning.

1. I stopped (smoke) when I started training for a marathon.
2. I stopped (buy) coffee on my way to work to save time.
3. Don’t forget (lock) the door before you leave.
4. I’ll never forget (meet) her for the first time.
5. He remembered (send) the email, so the client got it on time.
6. She remembered (call) her teacher, but it was too late.
7. Try (restart) the computer if the screen freezes.
8. I tried (learn) Japanese last year, but I didn’t practice enough.
9. We regret (tell) you that your application was unsuccessful.
10. He regrets (say) that during the meeting; it sounded rude.
11. She began (work) here in 2022.
12. They started (argue) about something small and it escalated.

Exercise 2: Match form to meaning (focus: stop, remember, forget, try)

Choose the option (A or B) that matches the meaning in parentheses.

1. I stopped ___ (I quit the activity completely).
   A) to eat meat    B) eating meat
2. I stopped ___ (I paused another action in order to do this).
   A) to eat    B) eating
3. Remember ___ (Don’t fail to do it in the future).
   A) to submit the form    B) submitting the form
4. Remember ___ (I have a memory of a past event).
   A) to see him at the station    B) seeing him at the station
5. Try ___ (Experiment: see if it works).
   A) to press this button    B) pressing this button
6. Try ___ (Make an effort: attempt a difficult goal).
   A) to finish tonight    B) finishing tonight
7. Forget ___ (Fail to do it).
   A) to reply    B) replying
8. Forget ___ (Not remember a past action).
   A) to lock the door    B) locking the door

Exercise 3: Rewrite without changing the meaning

Rewrite each sentence using the other form where possible. If both forms are acceptable, keep the meaning the same. If changing the form changes the meaning, write “meaning changes” and do not rewrite.

1. It started to rain during the match.
2. She began working at six.
3. I like to read before bed.
4. I stopped to talk to my neighbor.
5. He remembered to pay the bill.
6. We continued to discuss the plan after lunch.
7. They love watching documentaries.
8. She tried pressing the reset button.
9. I regret to inform you that the flight is canceled.
10. He can’t help laughing when he’s nervous.

Common verb set to practice (use both forms correctly)

• begin: begin to study / begin studying
• start: start to drive / start driving
• continue: continue to speak / continue speaking
• like: like to cook / like cooking
• love: love to travel / love traveling
• hate: hate to wait / hate waiting
• prefer: prefer to walk / prefer walking
• remember: remember to call / remember calling
• forget: forget to bring / forget bringing
• stop: stop to rest / stop resting
• try: try to improve / try improving
• regret: regret to say / regret saying
• need: needs cleaning / needs to be cleaned
• want: wants repairing / wants to be repaired
• help: help (to) carry / can’t help carrying

Exercises testing meaning changes in verb patterns

Some verbs can take either a gerund or an infinitive, but the choice changes the meaning. These exercises focus on common “meaning-shift” pairs (for example, remembering an action vs. remembering to do an action). Read each sentence and choose the form that matches the intended meaning.

1) Choose the correct form (gerund or infinitive)

1. I’ll never forget (meeting / to meet) you for the first time.
2. Don’t forget (locking / to lock) the door when you leave.
3. I remember (seeing / to see) that painting in the museum years ago.
4. Please remember (to call / calling) me when you arrive.
5. She stopped (smoking / to smoke) because of her health.
6. On the way home, he stopped (to buy / buying) some milk.
7. I regret (telling / to tell) you the news so late; you deserved to know earlier.
8. We regret (to inform / informing) you that your application was unsuccessful.
9. Try (restarting / to restart) your phone; it often fixes the problem.
10. If the password doesn’t work, try (to reset / resetting) it.
11. They went on (talking / to talk) even after the meeting ended.
12. After finishing the intro, the lecturer went on (to explain / explaining) the main theory.
13. I meant (to email / emailing) you yesterday, but I got busy.
14. This new policy will mean (to work / working) longer hours for the team.
15. I can’t help (laughing / to laugh) when he tells that story.
16. He couldn’t help (to notice / noticing) the mistake in the report.

2) Match the pattern to the meaning

For each verb pair, choose A or B based on the meaning in brackets.

1. forget + gerund / forget + infinitive: (A = “not remember a past event”; B = “fail to do something”) → Choose A or B: ______
2. remember + gerund / remember + infinitive: (A = “recall a past action”; B = “remember to do a future action”) → Choose A or B: ______
3. stop + gerund / stop + infinitive: (A = “quit an activity”; B = “pause in order to do something else”) → Choose A or B: ______
4. regret + gerund / regret + infinitive: (A = “feel sorry about a past action”; B = “formal bad news announcement”) → Choose A or B: ______
5. try + gerund / try + infinitive: (A = “experiment as a possible solution”; B = “make an effort to do something difficult”) → Choose A or B: ______
6. go on + gerund / go on + infinitive: (A = “continue the same activity”; B = “move to the next activity”) → Choose A or B: ______
7. mean + gerund / mean + infinitive: (A = “involve/require”; B = “intend”) → Choose A or B: ______

3) Rewrite to change the meaning

Rewrite each sentence using the same verb but switching to the other pattern (gerund ↔ infinitive). Keep the sentence natural and make sure the meaning changes.

1. I stopped to talk to my neighbor.
2. She remembered to submit the form.
3. They forgot locking the window.
4. We went on to discuss the budget.
5. I regret telling him the secret.
6. Try restarting the router.
7. He meant to call you.
8. I’ll never forget meeting your parents.

When checking your answers, focus on time reference: gerunds often point backward to an experienced or completed action, while infinitives often point forward to an intention, purpose, or next step. If the sentence sounds illogical, the verb pattern is usually the reason.

Mixed grammar tasks combining multiple structures

When gerunds and infinitives appear in the same exercise, the key is to notice the trigger: a verb pattern (like avoid + -ing or decide + to), a preposition (usually + -ing), or a meaning change (like stop, remember, try). The tasks below combine these cues so you practice choosing forms based on usage, not guesswork.

Quick pattern reminders (useful while you work)

• Verb + to-infinitive: decide, hope, plan, refuse, promise, afford, manage, learn, agree.
• Verb + gerund (-ing): avoid, enjoy, consider, suggest, mind, finish, admit, deny, keep.
• Verb + object + to-infinitive: want, need, expect, ask, tell, allow, invite, encourage.
• Preposition + gerund: good at, interested in, tired of, before, after, without, instead of, by.
• Meaning-change verbs: stop, remember, forget, regret, try (choose based on meaning, not habit).

Task 1: Choose the correct form (gerund or infinitive)

1. I can’t afford (buy / to buy / buying) a new laptop right now.
2. She apologized for (be / to be / being) late.
3. We discussed (move / to move / moving) closer to the office.
4. They promised (help / to help / helping) us with the project.
5. He’s interested in (learn / to learn / learning) Korean.
6. Please remember (lock / to lock / locking) the door when you leave.
7. I remember (meet / to meet / meeting) her at a conference years ago.
8. Would you mind (wait / to wait / waiting) a few minutes?
9. She agreed (join / to join / joining) the meeting.
10. He insisted on (pay / to pay / paying) for dinner.
11. They decided (take / to take / taking) the earlier train.
12. He avoided (answer / to answer / answering) my question.

Task 2: Complete the sentence (watch for prepositions and objects)

1. Thanks for ________ (call) me back so quickly.
2. My manager expects me ________ (finish) the report today.
3. She’s not used to ________ (work) nights.
4. We’re thinking about ________ (rent) a car instead of taking the bus.
5. They encouraged him ________ (apply) for the scholarship.
6. I’m looking forward to ________ (see) you this weekend.
7. He refused ________ (sign) the contract without reading it.
8. By ________ (take) notes, you’ll remember more.
9. She offered ________ (drive) us to the airport.
10. He succeeded in ________ (solve) the problem.

Task 3: Meaning check (choose the option that matches the meaning)

1. He stopped ________ (smoking / to smoke) because of his health. (He quit the habit.)
2. He stopped ________ (smoking / to smoke) to answer the phone. (He paused another action.)
3. I’ll never forget ________ (meeting / to meet) you for the first time. (A past memory.)
4. Don’t forget ________ (meeting / to meet) Sara at 3 p.m. (A future task.)
5. She tried ________ (calling / to call) him, but there was no answer. (She made an effort.)
6. She tried ________ (calling / to call) him earlier, and it worked. (Experiment: see what happens.)

Common error patterns to watch for

• After a preposition, use -ing: ❌ “interested in to learn” → ✅ “interested in learning”.
• After want/need/expect + object, use to-infinitive: “expect him to arrive”.
• Don’t mix patterns after fixed verbs: “avoid doing” (not “avoid to do”); “decide to do” (not “decide doing”).
• With meaning-change verbs, choose based on time/meaning: “remember to lock” (future duty) vs. “remember locking” (past memory).

Answer key with explanations for each exercise

Use these explanations to check not only which form is correct, but also why it’s used. Focus on the verb pattern (verb + gerund, verb + infinitive, or both with a meaning change), plus common structures like “it’s worth,” “look forward to,” and “too/enough.”

Exercise 1: Verb + gerund (V + -ing)

1. Answer: I enjoy reading before bed.
   Explanation: Enjoy is followed by a gerund (enjoy doing), not an infinitive.
2. Answer: She avoided talking about the problem.
   Explanation: Avoid takes a gerund (avoid doing). “Avoid to talk” is not standard.
3. Answer: They suggested taking the earlier train.
   Explanation: Suggest is followed by a gerund or a noun clause (suggest doing / suggest that…).
4. Answer: We finished cleaning the kitchen.
   Explanation: Finish is followed by a gerund (finish doing).
5. Answer: He admitted making a mistake.
   Explanation: Admit takes a gerund (admit doing).
6. Answer: I can’t help laughing at that video.
   Explanation: Can’t help is followed by a gerund (can’t help doing).

Exercise 2: Verb + infinitive (V + to + base verb)

1. Answer: She decided to move to a new city.
   Explanation: Decide is followed by the infinitive (decide to do).
2. Answer: I hope to see you soon.
   Explanation: Hope normally takes the infinitive (hope to do).
3. Answer: They agreed to meet at 6.
   Explanation: Agree is followed by the infinitive (agree to do).
4. Answer: He refused to answer the question.
   Explanation: Refuse takes the infinitive (refuse to do).
5. Answer: We managed to find a solution.
   Explanation: Manage is followed by the infinitive (manage to do), often implying difficulty.
6. Answer: She offered to help me carry the bags.
   Explanation: Offer takes the infinitive (offer to do).

Exercise 3: Verbs that can take gerund or infinitive (meaning matters)

1. Answer: I stopped smoking last year.
   Explanation: Stop doing means to quit an activity (quit smoking).
2. Answer: I stopped to buy some water.
   Explanation: Stop to do means to pause one action in order to do another (stopped walking/driving in order to buy water).
3. Answer: I remembered to lock the door.
   Explanation: Remember to do = not forget to perform an action (you locked it).
4. Answer: I remember meeting her at a conference.
   Explanation: Remember doing = recall a past event (the meeting happened before).
5. Answer: He tried to restart the computer.
   Explanation: Try to do = attempt, make an effort (success is not guaranteed).
6. Answer: He tried restarting the computer.
   Explanation: Try doing = experiment with a method to see if it helps (a suggestion/strategy).

Exercise 4: “to” as a preposition (gerund after prepositions)

1. Answer: I’m looking forward to seeing you.
   Explanation: In look forward to, “to” is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun/gerund (to seeing).
2. Answer: She’s interested in learning Spanish.
   Explanation: After a preposition (in), use a gerund (in learning).
3. Answer: They apologized for being late.
   Explanation: After for, use a gerund (for being).
4. Answer: He succeeded in passing the exam.
   Explanation: After succeed in, use a gerund (in passing).
5. Answer: Before leaving, turn off the lights.
   Explanation: After before (as a preposition), a gerund is common (before leaving).
6. Answer: She’s good at explaining things clearly.
   Explanation: After at, use a gerund (at explaining).

Exercise 5: Common structures (it’s worth, too/enough, adjectives)

1. Answer: This book is worth reading.
   Explanation: Worth is followed by a noun or gerund (worth reading), not “worth to read.”
2. Answer: The coffee is too hot to drink.
   Explanation: Too + adjective + to + verb expresses an excessive degree that prevents the action.
3. Answer: He’s old enough to drive.
   Explanation: Enough + to + verb shows sufficient degree/ability for an action.
4. Answer: I’m happy to help.
   Explanation: Many adjectives take the infinitive to describe a reaction or attitude (happy to…, glad to…, surprised to…).
5. Answer: It’s important to be on time.
   Explanation: It + be + adjective + to + verb is a standard pattern (important to be, easy to understand, etc.).
6. Answer: She’s afraid of flying.
   Explanation: Afraid of ends with a preposition (of), so it’s followed by a gerund (of flying).

Quick pattern reminders (useful when you’re stuck)

• Gerund after certain verbs: enjoy, avoid, finish, admit, consider, suggest, keep, mind.
• Infinitive after certain verbs: decide, hope, plan, agree, refuse, manage, offer, promise.
• Gerund after prepositions: interested in, good at, apologize for, before/after + -ing, look forward to + -ing.
• Meaning change pairs: stop doing (quit) vs stop to do (pause in order to); remember doing (recall) vs remember to do (not forget); try doing (experiment) vs try to do (attempt).
• Fixed structures: worth + -ing; too + adj + to do; adj + enough + to do; it’s + adj + to do.
• If “to” is part of a phrasal expression (look forward to, be used to, object to), treat it as a preposition → use -ing.