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Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives are both verbal forms that act as nouns. Gerunds end in -ing, such as swimming, walking, or laughing. Infinitives are the basic verb form with the particle to, as in to swim, to walk, or to laugh.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to know whether it's best to use a gerund or an infinitive in a sentence. Here are a few rules:

Both gerunds and infinitives can follow a verb, as in, "I don’t like losing," or, "I don’t like to lose." They can also both be the subject of a sentence, as in, "Catching a chicken is difficult," or, "To catch a chicken is difficult."

But only gerunds follow prepositions. For example, it’s correct to say, "I can’t leave a painting without finishing it," but it’s not correct to say, "I can’t leave a painting without to finish it."

Gerunds vs. Infinitives Grammar Quiz

  1. I cannot collect Easter eggs without them.

  2. movies is very expensive.

  3. Actors don't like time while they are on the set.

  4. into a good school can be difficult and expensive.

  5. My friend Charles doesn't like eating meat; he thinks animals deserve .

  6. Working the onion fields left him of onion juice.

  7. Are we talking about basketball on Saturday?

  8. She thought about moving, however she doesn't like in big cities.

  9. Michelle considered for more time to finish her book.

  10. I stopped cigarettes last year.

Go Super to see the answers! Go Super!

Gerunds vs. Infinitives Lessons:

Cabin Fever

Outer Space

Face Swapping

Picky Eaters

Ali Krieger - Sink or Swim

Scientology

Not_Hunting

Bar Games

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Comments

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JohnBrooke

Australia

Very intelligent post with great to the point examples… such a very basic things should be known in English to develop the skill..

05:27 AM May 29 2019 |

lizaolamaribel@yahoo.comSuper Member!

United States

I really want to say thank you it’s a great wetside for pool who are learning English.

10:31 AM Mar 26 2018 |

1 person likes this

marshajonnes

United States

Thank you for giving the opportunity to test yourself. It is very convenient for me to learn English with you. I have a blog and it’s very important for me not to allow grammatical errors.

10:00 AM Aug 10 2017 |

meerindolent

Netherlands

I think it’s easy.

01:35 PM May 28 2017 |

muckta

United States

I had my lessons on that topic.Now, I’ve learnt.


08:46 AM Dec 28 2015 |

1 person likes this

StephenDacre

United Kingdom

This is truly great,unique and extremely enlightening post, i like it. Much obliged.

11:03 AM Jun 12 2015 |

isabel1989

Taiwan

Hi I’m Isabel .nice to meet you

05:31 AM Mar 10 2014 |

jein

jein

Indonesia

thank you. It really helps me.

02:51 PM Nov 11 2013 |

Phenny

Phenny

Thailand

This lesson is  to improve my english and to understanding .

08:01 AM Aug 02 2013 |

padmarai96

India

i love walking in the morning.

09:47 AM Jun 18 2013 |