1

GERUND OR INFINITIVE?
EXERCISES

Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes more than one alternative is possible.

1. I feel like ____________ for a swim. It’s so relaxing. (go)

2. When the phone rang, Allie was having lunch. She didn’t answer the phone, she
carried on__________ (eat)
3. I don’t know how many times he put off __________ her about that. (tell)
4. I don’t want __________ out tonight. I have to study for an exam. (go)
5. I never remember __________ the light when I go out at night. (turn off)
6. He promised __________ me as soon as he arrived home, but he forgot. (call)
7. Would you mind ____________in a questionnaire about what you watch on television?
(fill)
8. He pretended __________ sick, but he wasn’t really. He just didn’t want to go to school.
(be)
9. I would like to leave now. I don’t need __________ for you, do I? (wait)
10. My mother doesn’t mind __________ every day. In fact, she loves it.(cook)
11. If you told her that in a proper way, she wouldn’t mind __________ us. (join)
12. I spent an hour at the station ___________for the train. (wait)
13. I would love __________ you next summer, but I don’t think I will be possible.
(visit)
14. He says he prefers __________ to nightclubs at weekends; he enjoys __________ in
crowded places. (go / be)
15. Tonight I don’t feel well somehow. I’d prefer __________ at home on my own. (stay)
16. I don’t feel like __________ out. Let’s cook something here. (eat)
17. She stopped ____________ for a moment and looked out of the window. (speak)
18. We called the restaurant early ____________ a table for tonight. (book)
19. When are you planning to start __________ on this project? (work)
20. Look! The rain is about to stop. The weather seems __________ better. (get)
21. My youngest child is learning __________a bike. (ride)
22. I dislike ___________and I hate the countryside. (walk)
23. Sorry, but I need ______________ to the toilet. I’ll be back in a minute. (go)
24. Remember ___________ the report before you leave today. (finish)
25. His written English is very good but he needs to practise ___________it.(speak)
26. It will be very difficult _________ that they are guilty. (prove)
27. I really don’t know what ____________. Can you help me make a decision? (do)
28. Thanks for ___________ me when I was sick. It was very kind of you. (call)
29. I’m trying ____________ to speak Japanese, but it’s so hard! (learn)
30. I'm not planning __________ in this city much longer. It’s too crowded and dirty. (stay)
31. ______________ by train is usually cheaper than by plane. (travel)
32. I’m not very good at _____________any instruments. When I was at school I tried
hard, but I couldn’t. (play)
33. They started ____________the house in January, and they are still finishing some
details. (build)
34. I like _________out to parties with friends or _______ TV on weekends. (go / watch)
35. My father offered _____________us to the airport this morning. (take)

Adapted by Mónica Lipari – 2019

 2

36. I hate ______________ up early in the morning! (get)

II. Rewrite the following sentences using a negative gerund or infinitive.

Example:
I hate ___________to the airport early. (get)
I hate not getting to the airport early.

1. Try ______________ asleep during the movie. (not fall)

2. I’ll tell you what he said, but promise _____________ anybody. (not tell)
3. The best thing about taking the bus is _____________ (not drive) in busy traffic.
4. He hates ______________ lunch early. (have)
5. My idea of happiness is getting up late and ____________ (not go) to work.
6. It’s important _____________ late when you have a job interview. (not arrive)
7. I decided ______________ to the party. I was too tired. (not go)
8. The best thing for your health is ______________. (not smoke)
9. I tried ____________ the same mistake again. (not make)
10. ___________________ much alcohol is good for your health. (not drink)

ANSWER KEY
Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes more than one alternative is
possible.
1. I feel like GOING for a swim. It’s so relaxing. (go)
2. When the phone rang, Allie was having lunch. She didn’t answer the phone; she
carried on EATING (eat)
3. I don’t know how many times he put off TELLING her about that. (tell)
4. I don’t want TO GO out tonight. I have to study for an exam. (go)
5. I never remember TO TURN OFF the light when I go out at night. (turn off)
6. He promised TO CALL me as soon as he arrived home, but he forgot. (call)
7. Would you mind FILLING in a questionnaire about what you watch on television? (fill)
8. He pretended TO BE sick, but he wasn’t really. He just didn’t want to go to school. (be)
9. I would like to leave now. I don’t need TO WAIT for you, do I? (wait)

Adapted by Mónica Lipari – 2019

 3

10. My mother doesn’t mind COOKING every day. In fact, she loves it. (cook)
11. If you told her that in a proper way, she wouldn’t mind JOINING us. (join)
12. I spent an hour at the station WAITING for the train. (wait)
13. I would love TO VISIT you next summer, but I don’t think I will be possible. (visit)
14. He says he prefers GOING to nightclubs at weekends; he enjoys BEING in crowded
places. (go / be)
15. Tonight I don’t feel well somehow. I’d prefer STAYING / TO STAY at home on
my own. (stay)
16. I don’t feel like EATING out. Let’s cook something here. (eat)
17. She stopped SPEAKING for a moment and looked out of the window. (speak)
18. We called the restaurant early TO BOOK a table for tonight. (book)
19. When are you planning to start TO WORK / WORKING on this project? (work)
20. Look! The rain is about to stop. The weather seems TO GET better. (get)
21. My youngest child is learning TO RIDE a bike. (ride)
22. I dislike WALKING and I hate the countryside. (walk)
23. Sorry, but I need TO GO to the toilet. I’ll be back in a minute. (go)
24. Remember TO FINISH the report before you leave today. (finish)
25. His written English is very good but he needs to practise SPEAKING it. (speak)
26. It will be very difficult TO PROVE that they are guilty. (prove)
27. I really don’t know what TO DO. Can you help me make a decision? (do)
28. Thanks for CALLING me when I was sick. It was very kind of you. (call)
29. I’m trying TO LEARN to speak Japanese, but it’s so hard! (learn)
30. I'm not planning TO STAY in this city much longer. It’s too crowded and dirty. (stay)
31. TRAVELING by train is usually cheaper than by plane. (travel)
32. I’m not very good at PLAYING any instruments. When I was at school I tried
hard, but I couldn’t. (play)
33. They started TO BUILD / BUILDING the house in January, and they are still
finishing some details. (build)
34. I like GOING / TO GO out to parties with friends or WATCHING / TO WATCH TV
on weekends. (go / watch)
35. My father offered TO TAKE us to the airport this morning. (take)
36. I hate GETTING up early in the morning! (get)

II. Rewrite the following sentences using a negative gerund or infinitive.

Example:
I hate ___________to the airport early. (get)
I hate not getting to the airport early.

1. Try NOT TO FALL asleep during the movie. (not fall)

2. I’ll tell you what he said, but promise NOT TO TELL anybody. (not tell)
3. The best thing about taking the bus is NOT DRIVING (not drive) in busy traffic.
4. He hates HAVING lunch late. (have)
5. My idea of happiness is getting up late and NOT GOING (not go) to work.
6. It’s important NOT TO ARRIVE late when you have a job interview. (not arrive)
7. I decided NOT TO GO to the party. I was too tired. (not go)
8. The best thing for your health is NOT SMOKING. (not smoke)
9. I tried NOT TO MAKE the same mistake again. (not make)

Adapted by Mónica Lipari – 2019

 4

10. NOT DRINKING much alcohol is good for your health. (not drink)

Adapted by Mónica Lipari – 2019