Gerunds and Infinitives

Unscramble

100

Profe C ______ for the exam. 

              (us/reminded/to study)

Profe C reminded us to study for the exam. 

200

My parents _______ to The University of Texas at Austin. 

                    (to go/me/persuaded)

My parents persuaded me to go to The University of Texas at Austin. 

300

The Red Cross ________ shelter after the storm. 

      (them/find/helped) 

The Red Cross helped them (to) find shelter after the storm. 

After help + object, either the infinitive or base form can be used. The base form is more common. 

400

This ticket will _______ the concert. 

     (permit/to enter/you)

This ticket will permit you to enter the concert. 

Permit and allow are followed by an object +  infinitive. 

Let is followed by an object + base form.

500

What is your favorite food to eat in San Antonio?

Answers will vary.

Used to, was used to, get used to

100

I _____ play golf. 

I used to play golf. 

Used to + base form shows that an activity was repeated or habitual in the past. This activity has been discontinued. 

200

Some people _____ living in colder climates.

Some people are used to living in colder climates. 

Be used to + Gerund or noun means to be accustomed to. This phrase describes a person's habits. It shows what is normal or comfortable. 

For the negative, we use be + not + used to. We don't omit the -d in the negative.

Some people are not used to living in a big city. 

Some people are not used to the heat in San Anto. 

300

She _______ waking up at 5:00 AM, so she asked her boss for a different shift. 

She couldn't get used to waking up at 5:00 AM, so she asked her boss for a different shift. 

Get used to + Gerund or Noun means "become accustomed to."

For the negative, we often use can't or couldn't before get used to. We don't omit the -d in the negative. 

400

Before the time change, I _____ getting up at 5:00am. 

Before the time change, I was used to getting up at 5:00am. 

Was --> past tense form of be. 

500

After a lot of practice, the students ______ speaking English with native speakers. 

After a lot of practice, the students got used to speaking English with native speakers.

Got --> Past tense of get. 

Gerund or Infinitive

100

He stopped _____ (work), so he could go to school full-time. 

He stopped working at 5:00. 

Stop + Gerund = quit or discontinue an activity.

Stop + (noun) + Infinitive = quit one activity in order to start another activity. 

I stopped the dog to keep it from running into traffic. 

200

Remember _______ (bring) a pen to class. 

Remember to bring a pen to class. 

Remember + Infinitive = remember something and then do it. 

Remember + Gerund = remember that something happened earlier. 

 I remember hiking the Sierra Norte last summer.  

300

I tried _______ (watch) the movie without subtitles. I couldn't understand what the actors were saying, so I turned on the subtitles. 

I tried watching the movie without subtitles. I couldn't understand what the actors were saying, so I turned on the subtitles. 

Try + Gerund = experiment with something new. You try one method, and if that doesn't work, you try a different method. 

Try + Infinitive = make an effort or an attempt. 

I tried to climb Mount Everest. 

400

I tried _____ (run) a 10K. 

I tried to run a 10K. 

500

What is your favorite food to eat in San Antonio?

Answers will vary. 

Prepositions

100

What is the name of the singer in the photo?

200 point bonus: What is the name of the band he sang in? 

Kurt Cobain

Nirvana

200

I can't forget _____ falling in love for the first time. 

I can't forget about falling in love for the first time. 

300

No one can stop her _____ achieving her goals. 

No one can stop her from achieving her goals. 

400

The Grammar students believe ___ working hard because they insist ____ making good grades. 

The Grammar students believe in working hard because they insist on making good grades.

500

Thanking your waiter _____ providing good service is a nice thing to do. 

Thanking your waiter for providing good service is a nice thing to do.

Infinitive or Base Form

100

She helped the old lady _____ (cross) the street. 

She helped the old lady cross the street. 

She helped the old lady to cross the street. 

After help + object, either the infinitive or the base form can be used. The base form is more common.

200

I allowed the class _____ (leave) 5 minutes early. 

I allowed the class to leave 5 minutes early. 

Let, permit, and allow have the same meaning. 

Permit and allow are followed by an object + infinitive. 

Let is followed by an object + base form.

300

I can't make them _____ (drive) faster. 

I can't make them drive faster. 

Make is followed by an object + base form.

Make can mean force (as in this example)

Make can also mean cause something to happen. 

Example: Practicing yoga makes me feel good. 

400

I convinced the class _____ (behave) during the exam. 

I convinced the class to behave during the exam. 

Get, persuade, and convince are followed by object + infinitive.

Get, in this case, means persuade.

I persuaded the class to behave during the exam.

I got the class to behave during the exam. 

500

I want _____ (win) the lottery and _____ (buy) a Porsche. 

I want to win the lottery and buy a Porsche. 

In a sentence with two infinitives connected by and  or or, the second to is usually omitted.