Gerunds and Infinitives

Rule 1: Gerunds can be used as a subject of a sentence.

100

______ (Walk) is good for your health.

Walking is good for your health.

200

She avoided _______ (look) me in the eye.

She avoided looking me in the eye.

300

I expect ______ (know) my exam grade by tomorrow.

I expect to know my exam grade by tomorrow.

400

This dress is too big ____ (wear).

This dress is too big to wear.

500

Please remind me ______ (wash) the dishes.  

Please remind me to wash the dishes.  

Rule 2: Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as objects of a sentence.

100

They admitted _______ (change) the schedule.

They admitted chaging the schedule.

200

We were hoping _____ (avoid) traffic by leaving early.

We were hoping to avoid traffic by leaving early.

300

I considered ______ (stay) silent, but I had to tell her.

I considered staying silent, but I had to tell her.

400

It is not easy ______ (graduate) from university.

It is not easy to graduate from university.

500

Novels about ______ (grow up) are popular among teenagers.

Novels about growing up are popular among teenagers.

Rule 3: Infinitives should be used after many adjectives.

100

_______ (Make) friends has become more difficult since I moved to a new city.

Making friends has become more difficult since I moved to a new city.

200

I denied ______ (know) about his secret.

I denied knowing about his secret.

300

He learned not ______ (trust) anyone.

He learned not to trust anyone.

400

This car is too expensive _____ (buy).

This car is too expensive to buy.

500

She ordered the child _______ (stay) at home.

She ordered the child to stay at home.

Rule 4: Only infinitives are used after certain verbs followed by nouns.

100

I advise _______ (proceed) (moving forward) with caution.

I advise proceeding (moving forward) with caution.

200

She needs _____ (learn) how to cook.

She needs to learn how to cook.

300

The course involved ______ (write) three tests.

The course involved writing three tests.

400

It is necessary ______ (speak) English to work in a hotel.

t is necessary to speak English to work in a hotel.

500

I forgive you for _____ (not/tell) the truth.

I forgive you for not telling the truth.

Rule 5: Only gerunds are used after prepositions (with one exception).

100

Everyone deserves ______ (be) respected.

Everyone deserves to be respected.

200

I recommend ______ (practice) gerunds and infinitives.

I recommend practicing gerunds and infinitives.

300

 I offered _____ (help) my brother with homework.

 I offered to help my brother with homework.

400

My child is not tall enough____  (ride) this rollercoaster.

My child is not tall enough to ride this rollercoaster.

500

She is thinking about ______ (try) martial arts.

She is thinking about trying martial arts.