Gerund or Infinitive? Exercises in English (All Levels)
Welcome to our complete collection of gerund and infinitive exercises for ESL learners. Knowing whether to use a gerund (swimming, eating, working) or an infinitive (to swim, to eat, to work) after certain verbs is one of the most commonly tested grammar points in English. You'll find free, interactive exercises with a full grammar review to help you master this topic at every level.
All exercises are free and interactive, with instant answer checking. Levels range from A1/A2 (Beginner) to B1/B2 (Intermediate).
Quick Grammar Review: Gerunds and Infinitives
What is a gerund?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. It can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.
- Subject: Swimming is good exercise.
- Object of verb: I enjoy reading.
- Object of preposition: She's good at cooking.
What is an infinitive?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by to. It can follow certain verbs, adjectives, or nouns, and also expresses purpose.
- After a verb: She wants to leave.
- After an adjective: It's easy to forget.
- To express purpose: I went to the store to buy milk.
Verbs followed by a gerund
These verbs are always followed by the -ing form:
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| enjoy | I enjoy hiking on weekends. |
| avoid | Try to avoid eating late at night. |
| finish | Have you finished writing the report? |
| mind | Do you mind waiting a moment? |
| suggest | She suggested taking a taxi. |
| consider | Have you considered moving abroad? |
| keep | He keeps interrupting me. |
| practise | Practise speaking every day. |
Verbs followed by an infinitive
These verbs are always followed by to + base verb:
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| want | I want to leave early. |
| hope | She hopes to visit Paris. |
| decide | He decided to quit. |
| promise | They promised to help. |
| need | You need to study more. |
| agree | We agreed to meet at noon. |
| refuse | She refused to answer. |
| plan | Are you planning to come? |
Verbs that take both — with a difference in meaning
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning changes:
| Verb | + Gerund | + Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember | I remember locking the door. (= I have a memory of doing it) | Remember to lock the door. (= Don't forget to do it) |
| forget | I'll never forget meeting her. (= a memory of a past event) | Don't forget to call me. (= a future task) |
| stop | He stopped smoking. (= he quit the habit) | He stopped to smoke. (= he paused in order to smoke) |
| try | Try adding more salt. (= experiment with it) | Try to be on time. (= make an effort) |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an infinitive after prepositions: ✗ She's interested in to learn English. → ✓ She's interested in learning English. (After a preposition, always use a gerund.)
- Using a gerund after modal verbs: ✗ You should going now. → ✓ You should go now. (Modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive.)
- Confusing stop + gerund and stop + infinitive: ✗ She stopped to smoke means she quit. → Remember: stop smoking = quit; stop to smoke = pause in order to smoke.
🟢 Not sure where to start?
All three exercises progress nicely in difficulty. Start with Gerund or Infinitive? 1 for a solid foundation, then move to exercise 2 and 3 as your confidence grows. Exercise 3 includes the trickiest cases — verbs that can take both forms with different meanings.
All three exercises progress nicely in difficulty. Start with Gerund or Infinitive? 1 for a solid foundation, then move to exercise 2 and 3 as your confidence grows. Exercise 3 includes the trickiest cases — verbs that can take both forms with different meanings.
All Gerund and Infinitive Exercises — Free & Interactive
(B) = Beginner (A1/A2) | (I) = Intermediate (B1/B2) | (A) = Advanced (C1/C2)
Gerund or Infinitive?
- Gerund or infinitive? 1 B — Introduction to the gerund vs. infinitive choice. Covers the most common verbs followed by each form with clear, accessible sentences.
- Gerund or infinitive? 2 B — More practice choosing between the gerund and infinitive after common verbs.
- Gerund or infinitive? 3 B/I — A slightly more challenging exercise that includes verbs which can take both forms. Tests whether you know the difference in meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gerunds and Infinitives
- What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?
- A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun: I enjoy swimming. An infinitive is the base form of the verb, usually with to: I want to swim. Both can follow certain verbs, but the choice depends on the specific verb — some always take a gerund, some always take an infinitive, and some can take either with a change in meaning.
- How do I know whether to use a gerund or an infinitive?
- The most reliable approach is to learn which verbs take which form. Verbs expressing emotions, habits, or completed actions (enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, suggest, practise) tend to take gerunds. Verbs expressing intentions, decisions, or future-oriented actions (want, decide, hope, plan, promise, refuse) tend to take infinitives. Over time, regular reading and practice will make these patterns feel natural. Our exercises above are a great way to build that instinct.
- Why does the meaning change with "remember," "forget," "stop," and "try"?
- With these verbs, the gerund refers to an action that is real, ongoing, or in the past — something that happened or is happening. The infinitive refers to an action that is intended, potential, or yet to happen. For example, remember doing = I have a memory of the action; remember to do = I need to make sure I do it in the future. Understanding this distinction is a key B1/B2 grammar skill.
- Can a gerund come after a preposition?
- Yes — after a preposition, you must always use a gerund, never an infinitive. This applies to prepositional phrases like interested in, good at, worried about, instead of, before, after, and many others: ✓ She's good at playing chess. ✓ He left without saying goodbye. ✗ She's good at to play chess.
- Are gerunds and infinitives tested in English proficiency exams?
- Yes — this is one of the most frequently tested grammar points in Cambridge B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), and other major English exams. It appears in multiple choice, gap fill, and sentence transformation tasks. Verbs that take both forms with a change in meaning (remember, forget, stop, try) are especially popular in transformation exercises at B2 and above.
