Gerunds and infinitives
We use gerunds after prepositions (e.g. without,
before) and after certain verbs (e.g. enjoy, can’t
stand, afraid of).
She left without saying goodbye.
He enjoys going rollerblading at the weekend.
We use infinitives after certain verbs (e.g. want,
hope, offer).
Paul offered to repair Sue’s bike.
After some verbs (e.g. like, love, hate, prefer,
start, continue) we can use either the gerund or
infinitive with no change in meaning.
I like playing tennis.
I like to play tennis.
1. Rewrite the sentences using gerunds.
Tim cycled into town. He didn’t stop.
Tim cycled into town without stopping.
1. Rachel lost the race. She was very angry.
Rachel was angry about……………………
2. We didn’t go to the cinema, we watched a
video at home.
Instead of………………………………….
3. Ivan passed his driving test because he
practised every weekend.
By …………………………………………
4. Gillian read the newspaper then she phoned
her friend.
Before……………………………………
5. They left the disco and went for a coffee.
After ………………………………………
6. Jake has split up with his girlfriend.
He’s upset.
Jake is upset about…………………………
2. Choose the correct forms.
1. Tony wants to go / going travelling before he
goes to university.
2. He promised to buy / buying her a diamond ring
for their anniversary.
3. Have you ever considered studying / to study
abroad?
4. He agreed to buy / buying the motorbike
for £2,000.
5. John has been a farmer for twenty years. He’s
used to getting up / get up early.
6. It’s cold today. You shouldn’t go out without
wearing / to wear your coat.
3. Complete the story with gerunds or infinitives.
A haunted house
When I was a child I used to spend my holidays at
my aunt and uncle’s old country house. One summer
I remember having (have) a strange experience.
It was a hot afternoon, and my cousins suggested
1……………… (play) hide-and-seek. But instead of
2……………… (go) outside, we decided 3……………… (play)
in the attic. After 4……………… (turn off) all the
lights, we all hid in different places. I managed
5……………… (hide) behind an old sofa.
Then something odd happened. In the darkness we
heard footsteps come into the room.
The footsteps seemed 6……………… (walk) towards the
sofa. I wanted 7……………… (move), but I couldn’t. I
expected something terrible 8……………… (happen).
Then suddenly the footsteps stopped and the door
slammed shut. After 9……………… (wait) for a few
seconds, we jumped up and ran downstairs without
10……………… (stop).
We told my aunt and uncle, but they refused
11……………… (believe) us. Mysteriously the house
burned down a year later. The fire started in the
attic.