GERUND OR INFINITIVE PRACTICE QUIZ 3
| level:Beginner/Intermediate (A2/B1)
✓ Useful for TOEFL
✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1
This third and most challenging gerund or infinitive exercise also tests the bare infinitive — the base verb without to — required after modal verbs. You will also encounter verbs that change meaning depending on which form follows them. Start with exercise 1 if you are new to this topic.
Need a refresher? Jump to the grammar review ↓
Need a refresher? Jump to the grammar review ↓
Fill in each space with the gerund ("knowing"), the infinitive ("to know"), or the infinitive without "to" ("know") of the verb in parentheses.
Example: "Brushing (to brush) your teeth is fun!" OR "Don't forget to brush (to brush) your teeth." OR "You must brush (to brush) your teeth twice a day."
GRAMMAR REVIEW: Gerund, Infinitive & Bare Infinitive — The Full Picture
This exercise introduces a third form: the bare infinitive (base verb without to). Here's when each form is used:
Gerund (-ing): after certain verbs, after prepositions, as subject of a sentence
I enjoy swimming. / She's good at cooking. / Learning is fun.
Infinitive (to + verb): after want, need, hope, plan, decide, agree, etc.
I want to learn. / They decided to stay.
Bare infinitive (base verb, no "to"): after modal verbs
Modal verbs — can, could, will, would, should, must, may, might, shall — are always followed by the bare infinitive, never to.
Can you call my brother? ✅ Can you to call my brother? ❌
They should stop to rest. ✅ They should to stop to rest. ❌
The "hear/want/enjoy" trio in this exercise shows all three forms from the same verb:
No one wants to hear that. → infinitive after want
No one enjoys hearing that. → gerund after enjoy
No one should hear that. → bare infinitive after modal should
start, begin, continue, like, love, hate, prefer
They all started laughing. = They all started to laugh.
DID YOU KNOW? Gerunds and infinitives in English proficiency exams
The gerund/infinitive distinction is one of the most frequently tested grammar areas across all major English proficiency exams — precisely because it's one of the clearest indicators of whether a learner has moved beyond intermediate level.
In Cambridge B2 First, Use of English Part 1 (multiple choice cloze) regularly tests gerund/infinitive choices in context. Part 4 (sentence transformations) often requires converting between structures — for example: "I regret telling him" → "I wish I hadn't told him" — where knowing that regret + gerund refers to a past action is essential.
At C1 Advanced level, the bare infinitive after modal-like expressions becomes more important: structures like "He was made to apologize" (causative with make + object + infinitive) vs. "He made her apologize" (bare infinitive in active) are classic C1 transformation targets. Exercise 3 here — with its modal + bare infinitive focus — is directly relevant preparation for this level.
This exercise introduces a third form: the bare infinitive (base verb without to). Here's when each form is used:
Gerund (-ing): after certain verbs, after prepositions, as subject of a sentence
I enjoy swimming. / She's good at cooking. / Learning is fun.
Infinitive (to + verb): after want, need, hope, plan, decide, agree, etc.
I want to learn. / They decided to stay.
Bare infinitive (base verb, no "to"): after modal verbs
Modal verbs — can, could, will, would, should, must, may, might, shall — are always followed by the bare infinitive, never to.
Can you call my brother? ✅ Can you to call my brother? ❌
They should stop to rest. ✅ They should to stop to rest. ❌
The "hear/want/enjoy" trio in this exercise shows all three forms from the same verb:
No one wants to hear that. → infinitive after want
No one enjoys hearing that. → gerund after enjoy
No one should hear that. → bare infinitive after modal should
start, begin, continue, like, love, hate, prefer
They all started laughing. = They all started to laugh.
DID YOU KNOW? Gerunds and infinitives in English proficiency exams
The gerund/infinitive distinction is one of the most frequently tested grammar areas across all major English proficiency exams — precisely because it's one of the clearest indicators of whether a learner has moved beyond intermediate level.
In Cambridge B2 First, Use of English Part 1 (multiple choice cloze) regularly tests gerund/infinitive choices in context. Part 4 (sentence transformations) often requires converting between structures — for example: "I regret telling him" → "I wish I hadn't told him" — where knowing that regret + gerund refers to a past action is essential.
At C1 Advanced level, the bare infinitive after modal-like expressions becomes more important: structures like "He was made to apologize" (causative with make + object + infinitive) vs. "He made her apologize" (bare infinitive in active) are classic C1 transformation targets. Exercise 3 here — with its modal + bare infinitive focus — is directly relevant preparation for this level.
KEEP PRACTICING — MORE EXERCISES FOR YOU:
More gerund/infinitive exercises:
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 1 (A2/B1)
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 2 (A2/B1)
Related passive voice exercises:
Passive Voice Exercise 1 (A1/A2)
English Passive Voice Exercise 2 (Mixed tenses) (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Gerund) - Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Infinitive) - Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Simple Past) Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Simple Present) Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Gerund) - Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Browse all gerund/infinitive exercises →
More gerund/infinitive exercises:
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 1 (A2/B1)
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 2 (A2/B1)
Related passive voice exercises:
Passive Voice Exercise 1 (A1/A2)
English Passive Voice Exercise 2 (Mixed tenses) (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Gerund) - Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Infinitive) - Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Simple Past) Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Simple Present) Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Passive Voice (Gerund) - Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Browse all gerund/infinitive exercises →
