Gerunds and Infinitives – Grammar| Exercise, Examples, Practice Test

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Easy – Class 6 & Class 7 – Intermediate – Class 7 & Class 8 & Class 9 – HARD – Class 10 , CLASS 11- 12

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🔍 What Are Gerunds and Infinitives?

✅ Gerund

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun in a sentence.

Example:
🔹 Swimming is a great exercise.
🔹 She enjoys reading novels.

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✅ Infinitive

An infinitive is the base form of a verb usually preceded by “to”, and it can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Example:
🔹 He wants to swim.
🔹 They decided to leave early.

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🧠 Key Differences Between Gerunds and Infinitives

Feature	Gerund (-ing form)	Infinitive (to + base verb)
Acts as	Noun	Noun, Adjective, or Adverb
Used after	Some verbs, prepositions	Some verbs, adjectives, pronouns
Example	I enjoy painting.	I want to paint.

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📌 Usage Rules with Examples

🔸 1. Gerunds as Subjects or Objects

Structure	Example
Subject = Gerund	Reading is fun.
Object = Gerund	I enjoy playing chess.

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🔸 2. Infinitives After Certain Verbs

Verbs followed by infinitives: want, decide, hope, promise, need, agree, plan, refuse

Examples:
🔹 She wants to learn French.
🔹 They agreed to help us.

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🔸 3. Verbs Followed Only by Gerunds

Common verbs that take only gerunds:
enjoy, avoid, admit, suggest, consider, miss, finish, deny, risk

Examples:
🔹 He avoided answering the question.
🔹 She enjoys dancing.

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🔸 4. Verbs Followed by Gerund OR Infinitive (with a change in meaning)

Verb	Gerund Meaning	Infinitive Meaning
remember	Recall a past action	Not forget to do in the future
stop	Quit doing something	Pause to do something else
try	Do as an experiment	Attempt to do something hard

Examples:
🔹 I remember locking the door. (past memory)
🔹 Remember to lock the door. (future action)

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🛑 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incorrect	Correct	Reason
I enjoy to swim.	I enjoy swimming.	“enjoy” takes a gerund
She suggested me to join.	She suggested joining.	“suggest” is not followed by “to”
He wants going there.	He wants to go there.	“want” takes an infinitive

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🧪 Practice Exercises (Mixed Types)

🔹 A. Fill in the Blanks (Gerund or Infinitive)

1. She promised _______ (help) me with the work.
2. I can’t imagine _______ (live) in a noisy city.
3. We decided _______ (leave) early.
4. He avoided _______ (talk) to them.
5. The teacher expects us _______ (submit) the assignment on time.

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🔹 B. Identify the Error and Correct It

6. He suggested to meet at 5 p.m. → __________
7. I look forward to meet you. → __________
8. She agreed helping me. → __________

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🔹 C. Multiple Choice (Choose the Correct Option)

9. I want _______ the guitar.
   (a) playing (b) play (c) to play (d) played
10. _______ a second language takes time.
    (a) Learn (b) To learn (c) Learning (d) Learns

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✅ Answer Key

1. to help
2. living
3. to leave
4. talking
5. to submit
6. Error: to meet → Correct: meeting
7. meet → meeting
8. helping → to help
9. (c) to play
10. (c) Learning

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🧱 Gerunds vs Infinitives: Quick Reference Table

Verb	Gerund Only	Infinitive Only	Both (Different Meaning)
enjoy, avoid	✅	❌	❌
want, hope, decide	❌	✅	❌
stop, remember	✅	✅	✅

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🧠 Extra Challenge – Convert the Sentences

Original: She stopped to talk to him.
Change to gerund: ________________________
Answer: She stopped talking to him.

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📚 Final Tip

• Use gerunds when the verb is the subject/object of the sentence, or after prepositions.
• Use infinitives to express purpose, future actions, or after specific verbs like want, need, hope.