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.
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.
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.
Fill in each space with either the gerund ("knowing"), the infinitive form of the verb ("to know") or the infinitive without the "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."
More English grammar exercises
Gerund or infinitive 1 (A2/B1)
Gerund or infinitive 2 (A2/B1)
Gerund or infinitive 3 (B1/B2)
Gerund or infinitive 2 (A2/B1)
Gerund or infinitive 3 (B1/B2)
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.
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.
