English Grammar Quiz: Infinitives and Gerunds
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The practice of using the infinitive and the gerund in English
English grammar has several key aspects that are important to understand for successful language learning. One of these is distinguishing between infinitives and gerunds. These constructions play a crucial role in forming correct sentences. An infinitive is formed with the base form of a verb (for example, “to go”, “to eat”). A gerund is a verb form ending in “-ing” (for example, “reading”, “swimming”). For detailed grammar on these forms, read the article: Gerunds vs Infinitives: How to Use Them Correctly in English.
In this article, we’ll briefly review the rules and practice to reinforce our knowledge by completing a quiz with 30 tasks below, so that you understand what is the difference between the infinitive and the gerund in practice.
Rules for using Infinitives and Gerunds
Infinitive (to + base form of the verb)
Infinitives are typically used after the following constructions:
After certain verbs:
- Verbs such as “want”, “need”, “plan”, “decide”, “expect”, “hope”, “intend”, “learn”, “offer”, “promise”, “refuse”, “seem”, “try”.
- Examples:
- I want to go home.
- She decided to study harder.
After adjectives:
- Infinitives are often used after adjectives to explain reason or purpose.
- Examples:
- It’s important to listen carefully.
- She was happy to see her friend.
After certain nouns:
- Infinitives can be used after nouns expressing desire, intention, or decision.
- Examples:
- I have a plan to travel around the world.
- They made a decision to leave early.
To express purpose:
- Infinitives are used to explain why or for what purpose something is done.
- Example:
- She went to the store to buy groceries.
Gerund (verb + ing)
Gerunds are used after the following constructions:
After certain verbs:
- Verbs such as “enjoy”, “admit”, “avoid”, “consider”, “deny”, “dislike”, “fancy”, “finish”, “imagine”, “keep”, “mind”, “miss”, “postpone”, “practice”, “risk”, “suggest”.
- Examples:
- She enjoys reading.
- They avoid talking about politics.
After prepositions:
- Gerunds are used after prepositions such as “about”, “after”, “before”, “by”, “in”, “on”, “without”.
- Examples:
- She is interested in learning new things.
- He left without saying goodbye.
After certain adjectives:
- Some adjectives can be used before gerunds when they are part of fixed expressions.
- Examples:
- She is busy preparing for her exams.
- They are good at playing basketball.
As a subject or object:
- Gerunds can be used as the subject of a sentence or as an object.
- Examples:
- Swimming is good for your health.
- She enjoys cooking.
Practice – quiz tasks for mastering knowledge (infinitive and gerund)
Ready to put your English grammar skills to the test? Our comprehensive quiz on infinitives and gerunds is designed to help you reinforce your understanding of these crucial language constructs. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an advanced learner aiming to fine-tune your skills, this interactive exercise is perfect for you. Don’t just memorize rules – put them into practice! This hands-on approach will help you internalize the proper usage of infinitives and gerunds, taking your English proficiency to the next level.
Are you ready to challenge yourself? Click START now and embark on your journey to mastering these essential English grammar concepts!