Gerunds & Infinitives
Rosa is studying at the library late at night. She has an English test tomorrow, and she is very nervous. Her coworker Ben walks in and asks why she is still there.
Ben: Why are you still here, Rosa?
Rosa: I'm here ___(1) my homework, and I can't stop ___(2) about tomorrow's test.
A. finishing / worrying
B. to finish / worrying
C. to finish / to worry
D. finishing / to worry
B. to finish / worrying
(1) infinitive of purpose; (2) stop + gerund = can't quit doing something. "Can't stop to worry" would mean something else.
Daniel and his old college roommate, Marcus, haven't seen each other in five years. Marcus is visiting town this weekend, so they are meeting for lunch to catch up. Which sentence is true?
A. They will walk quickly so they get to the restaurant on time.
B. They will fix an old problem from their college days.
C. They will share news about what has happened in their lives.
D. They will plan a surprise for their old teacher.
C
Which sentence is true?
A. They will walk quickly so they get to the restaurant on time.
B. They will fix an old problem from their college days.
C. They will share news about what has happened in their lives.
D. They will plan a surprise for their old teacher.
Priya still lives in the city where she moved in 2019. She is introducing herself to a new classmate on the first day of class.
"I moved here ___(1) 2019, so I ___(2) in this city ___(3) seven years."
A. in / have lived / for
B. in / have lived / since
C. since / have lived / for
D. in / lived / for
A
In + a definite past year with moved; present perfect because she still lives there; for + a length of time.
Tomás calls his sister during dinner. He whispers because the house is noisy.
"Sorry, I can't talk long. We ___(1) dinner with Lena's parents right now, and they ___(2) a big family, so it's very loud."
A. have / have
B. are having / are having
C. have / are having
D. are having / have
D
Have as an action (eat) can be continuous; have meaning possess is nonaction.
Ben borrowed Nadia's laptop on Monday. It is now Friday, and Nadia needs it for work. She sends Ben a text. Which text is correct?
A. Did you gave it back yet?
B. Have you given it back yet?
C. Have you given back it yet?
D. Have you give it back already?
B
Present perfect + yet in a question; give back is separable, so the pronoun "it" goes in the middle.
SPEAK!
"Have you ever stayed awake all night?” (you never went to sleep one night or stayed awake for a long time)
Answer out loud in at least 3 sentences. Start with a present perfect answer (Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.). Then give details/explanation in the simple past.
Sample: Yes, I have. I quit drinking soda two years ago because I wanted to be healthier. At first it was hard, but I stopped buying it at the store, and that helped.
Nadia left this note for her sister Elena after babysitting. It has 2 phrasal verb mistakes. Find and fix them.
"Hi Elena! Your kids were great last night. We hung out in the living room, and I looked them after while you were at work. Mateo was sad about his test, so I cheered up him with a game. I'll give back the blanket tomorrow."
"looked them after" → "looked after them"
"cheered up him" → "cheered him up"
Look after is not separable; cheer up is separable and a pronoun goes in the middle. "Hung out" and "give back the blanket" are correct.
SPEAK! Priya's classmate asks you: "Have you ever been late for something important?"
Answer out loud in at least 3 sentences. Start with a present perfect answer. Then tell the story in the simple past: when it happened, what happened, and how you felt. Do not use the present perfect for the details.
Sample: Yes, I have. Last year, I was late for a job interview because my bus broke down. I called the manager, and she waited for me. I felt very nervous, but I got the job.
Barbara sent this message to her cousin about her new job at a hospital. It has 2 mistakes with the simple present or present continuous. Find and fix them.
"I am loving my new job! I am working at the hospital this month, and I am sit in the cafeteria right now with my coworkers."
1. am loving → love
2. am sit → am sitting
"I am working at the hospital this month" is correct (temporary).
Daniel and his coworker are talking during lunch. Daniel says: "I haven't hung out with my old friends since last year." Which sentences have the same meaning?
Select ALL that apply.
A. Daniel hung out with his old friends many times this year.
B. The last time Daniel hung out with his old friends was last year.
C. Daniel doesn't like his old friends anymore.
D. Daniel hung out with his old friends last year, but not after that.
B, D
Haven't + since last year = the last time was last year. A contradicts it; C adds a reason that was never stated.
Which of her sentences are correct?
Select ALL that apply.
A. I enjoy to cook for my family.
B. After finishing my chores, I started to cook dinner.
C. I forgot calling my mother, so she was worried.
D. It was nice to see my cousins again.
E. We decided to have a picnic instead of staying home.
B, D, E
A. I enjoy to cook for my family.
B. After finishing my chores, I started to cook dinner.
C. I forgot calling my mother, so she was worried.
D. It was nice to see my cousins again.
E. We decided to have a picnic instead of staying home.
SPEAK! Priya asks you: "Have you ever run into someone you knew in a surprising place?"
Answer out loud in at least 3 sentences. Start with a present perfect answer, tell the story in the simple past, and use "ran into" correctly (with a name, a noun, or a pronoun like him/her/them).
Sample: Yes, I have. Last summer, I ran into my old boss at a supermarket in Mexico City. I was very surprised because I thought he lived in Texas. We talked for ten minutes and caught up.
Dan and Priya are talking after class.
Dan: Have you ___(1) the new Thai restaurant on Main Street?
Priya: Yes! My sister and I ___(2) there last Friday.
Dan: Really? ___(3) did you order?
A. ever tried / have gone / What
B. ever try / went / What
C. tried ever / went / What
D. ever tried / went / What
D
ever + present perfect for experience; last Friday = simple past; What did you order?
SPEAK! Your teacher video-calls you at a random time.
Tell the class what you are doing RIGHT NOW (present continuous). Then describe what you usually do at this time on a normal day (simple present). Use at least one nonaction verb correctly (like, want, need, know, love, believe, understand). Say at least 4 sentences.
Sample: Right now, I'm sitting in my living room, and I'm talking to the class. On a normal day at this time, I usually make dinner. I like cooking, and I need to eat before seven.
SPEAK! Tomás asks a coworker: "Have you ever had to look after someone while you were also working or studying?"
Answer out loud in at least 4 sentences. Start with a present perfect answer. Tell the story in the simple past and use "look after" correctly. Include one infinitive or gerund (for example: I had to..., It was hard to..., I enjoyed...).
Sample: Yes, I have. When my mother was sick, I looked after her for three months while I was working full time. It was hard to find enough time, but my sister helped me on weekends. I learned a lot about being patient.
Tomás and his brother went on a road trip last summer. Write the correct form of each verb in parentheses.
"We decided ______ (take) a road trip to the mountains. We enjoyed ______ (drive) through small towns, but we forgot ______ (bring) a map. When we got lost, we stopped ______ (ask) a farmer for directions."
1. to take 2. driving 3. to bring 4. to ask
"We decided ______ (take) a road trip to the mountains. We enjoyed ______ (drive) through small towns, but we forgot ______ (bring) a map. When we got lost, we stopped ______ (ask) a farmer for directions."
Ben is reading sentences in his English notebook. Which of them use the phrasal verb correctly in BOTH meaning and grammar?
Select ALL that apply.
A. The company called the meeting off because of the storm.
B. My aunt is looking into my sick grandmother every day, so she doesn't feel alone.
C. We hung out at Ana's house and caught up on each other's news.
D. She let down me when she forgot my birthday.
E. My sister gets along with everyone in our family.
A, C, E
B: meaning error (should be looking after). D: grammar error (let me down).
SPEAK! Dan asks: "Have you ever helped a stranger?"
Answer out loud in at least 4 sentences. Start with a present perfect answer. Tell the story in the simple past and include at least 2 irregular past tense verbs (like went, took, saw, gave, found) and one time expression (like last winter, two years ago).
Sample: Yes, I have. Two years ago, I saw an old man who dropped his groceries at the bus stop. I picked them up, and I gave him my seat on the bus. He thanked me and gave me an orange.
Tomás calls his wife, Lena, from the airport. Which sentences from their conversation are correct?
Select ALL that apply.
A. I am not understanding the announcement.
B. I am thinking about taking a taxi because the train is late.
C. That sounds like a good plan.
D. I am wanting to go home, but my flight leaves at nine.
E. I think the flight is late, but the screen looks wrong.
B, C, E
A and D use nonaction verbs (understand, want) in the continuous. Think about is an action; think meaning believe is nonaction.
Ben notices that Rosa looks tired at work on Friday morning. Fill in the 4 blanks to complete their conversation.
Ben: You look tired, Rosa. Did you sleep well?
Rosa: Not really. I ______ (study) for my English test since eight o'clock last night, and I ______ (not finish) yet.
Ben: It's important ______ (rest), too. Tell me when you're done, and I will ______ (pick up / you) from your house tomorrow.
1. have studied 2. haven't finished 3. to rest 4. pick you up
Also accept "have been studying" for blank 1.
Tomás is writing about how he practices English. Fill in all 6 blanks with the correct form (gerund or infinitive) of the verb in parentheses.
“______ (speak) English every day is the best way to improve, Tomás says. He goes to the library after work ______ (practice) with a conversation partner. At first, he was nervous about ______ (make) mistakes, but now he thinks it is important ______ (talk) even when he isn’t sure. Last night, he saw his partner on the street and stopped ______ (say) hello. They talked for an hour, and he thanked her for ______ (help) him
“Speaking English every day is the best way to improve, Tomás says. He goes to the library after work to practice with a conversation partner. At first, he was nervous about making mistakes, but now he thinks it is important to talk even when he isn’t sure. Last night, he saw his partner on the street and stopped to say hello. They talked for an hour, and he thanked her for helping him.”
Nadia is telling a coworker about her month. Fill in all 6 blanks with the correct form of the phrasal verb or the correct time word.
"Nadia ______ (look after) her sister's kids ______ March, and they ______ (get along) with her really well. Last Saturday, her car ______ (break down) on the way to the zoo, so she had to ______ (call off) the trip. The kids were sad, so she ______ (cheer up / them) with a movie."
1. has looked after 2. since 3. get along 4. broke down 5. call off 6. cheered them up
Accept "call the trip off" only if the sentence is rewritten; as written, the answer is "call off".
Priya's friend Ana moved to Chicago and wrote her this email. It has 5 mistakes with the present perfect, the simple past, yet/already, or for/since. Find and fix all 5.
"Hi Priya! I have moved to Chicago in March, and I live here since three months. I haven't found a job already, but I have visited many museums. Have you ever came to Chicago? You should visit!"
1. have moved → moved 2. live → have lived 3. since → for 4. already → yet 5. came → come (or been)
"I have visited many museums" is correct.
Rosa is describing her Saturday morning. Fill in all 6 blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
"It's Saturday morning, and Rosa ______ (sit) in the kitchen. She usually ______ (cook) breakfast on weekends, but today her sister ______ (make) it. Rosa ______ (not have) much energy, so she ______ (want) ______ (rest) before the party tonight."
1. is sitting 2. cooks 3. is making 4. doesn't have 5. wants 6. to rest
Mixes present continuous (now), simple present (routine), nonaction verbs (have, want), and want + infinitive.
Tomás wrote this paragraph for his English class. It has 5 mistakes with gerunds/infinitives, phrasal verbs, the simple present/present continuous, or the present perfect. Find and fix all 5.
"My name is Tomás. I am working as a delivery driver since 2021, and I am liking my job a lot. At first, it was hard understanding fast English, so I practiced to speak with my neighbor. Last winter, my truck broke down it on the highway, but my boss came to help me."
1. am working → have worked 2. am liking → like 3. hard understanding → hard to understand 4. practiced to speak → practiced speaking 5. broke down it → broke down