GERUNDS and INFINITIVES

Common verbs and phrases that are followed by a gerund

Admit / Advise / Avoid / Be used to / Can’t help / Can’t stand / Consider / Deny /
Discuss / Dislike / End up / Enjoy / Feel like / Finish / Forget / Get used to / keep /
Give up / Go on / Have difficulty / Have problems / Have trouble / Imagine / stop /
It’s no use / It’s worthwhile / Look forward to / Mention / Mind / Miss / Quit /
Recommend / Remember / Spend time / Suggest / Understand / work at / Waste time /

Common verbs that can be followed by either a gerund or an

infinitive without causing a change in meaning
Begin / Continue / Hate / Intend / Like / Love / Prefer / Start /

Common verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but

with a change in meaning
Forget / Stop / Remember /

Common verbs that are followed by an infinitive

Afford / Wish / Want / Wait / Agree / Appear / Arrange Ask / Care / Decide / Stop /
Demand / Expect / Fail / Forget / Hope / Learn / Manage / Mean / Offer / Plan /
Prepare / Pretend / Promise / Refuse / Remember / Seem / Volunteer /

Common v erbs that are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and

then by an infinitive
Advise / Warn / Want / Allow / Ask / Pay / Instruct / Hire / Force / Remind / Urge /
Cause / Challenge / Command / Convince / Expect / Invite / Order / Permit / Tell /
Forbid / Teach / Program /
 Choose the correct gerund or infinitive from the parenthesis at the end of
the sentence.
“She likes to get up early in the morning. (likes / dislikes)”

1. Alan can’t stand _________ on trains. (riding/ to ride)

2. Mr. Harris enjoys _________ people out to dinner. (inviting / to invite)

3. In the old days, gentlemen challenged their rivals _______. (fighting / to fight)

4. As the famous saying goes, there’s no use ______ over spilt milk. (crying / to cry)

5. Jim stopped _________ his shoelace. Wait for him. (tying / to tie)

6. My wife always volunteers ___________ cakes PTA meetings. (baking / to bake)

7. Don’t waste my time ___________ about your salary. (complaining/ to complain)

8. Eva is having trouble _________ on the exam. (concentrating / to concentrate)

9. Please allow me ____________ your Facebook page. (joining / to join)

10. You won’t forget _________milk on your way home, will you? (picking up /to pick up)

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Answer Key:

1. riding

2. inviting

3. to fight

4. crying

5. to tie

6. to bake

7. complaining

8. concentrating

9. to join

10. to pick up
Identify the gerund phrase in each of the following sentences:
1. Eating strawberries without washing them might make you sick.

A – might make you sick,

B – eating strawberries,

C – Eating strawberries without washing them

2. They were painting their house when it started to rain.

A – painting their house,

B – they were painting,

C – when it started to rain

3. I’ve been thinking about going shopping on Saturday.

A – I’ve been thinking,

B – about going shopping,

C- going shopping on Saturday

4. Jennifer is always baking something in the kitchen.

A – baking something,

B – Baking something in the kitchen,

C – Jennifer is always baking something

5. Thanks for taking off your shoes before coming in the house.

A – taking off your shoes,

B – coming in the house,

C- Both A and B

6. Jill is playing the violin with the bow Jerry bought her when they went to Italy.

A – playing the violin,

B – playing the violin with the bow Jerry bought her,

C – Jill is playing the violin

7. The kids were excited about eating birthday cake.

A – the kids were excited,

B – about eating,

C – eating birthday cake

8. He was taking a picture when lightning struck.

A – he was taking a picture,

B – lightning struck,

C – taking a picture

9. Please stop texting; you’re going to cause an accident.

A – you’re going to cause,

B – please stop texting,

C – going to cause an accident

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Answer Key:

1: C,

2: A,

3: C,

4: B,

5: C,

6: B,

7: C,

8: C,

9: C,

10: A