Gerund or Infinitive Quiz

In this gerund or infinitive quiz you have to choose between the bare infinitive, to + infinitive, or gerund for each gap in the sentence.

It's common for learners of English to be confused about which of these to use. We usually have to make the choice of which form it will be when placing another verb after the main verb. For example:

  • He considered go
  • He considered to go
  • He considered going

'Considered' is the main verb, and you need to know whether it's the bare infinitive, to + infinitive, or gerund that comes after it.

See what you know in this test and teach gerund or infinitive quiz.

Gerund or Infinitive Quiz

Multiple Choice

Instructions

In this gerund versus infinitive quiz you have to decide if the bare infinitive, to + infinitive, or gerund goes in the gap.

1. We agreed ________ at the café at 6 PM.
meet
to meet
meeting
Correct!
Wrong!

'agree' is a verb followed only by the 'to infinitive'.

2. He admitted ________ the money from the cash register.
steal
to steal
stealing
Correct!
Wrong!

'admit' is a verb followed only by a gerund.

3. She forgot ________ the door when she left and the house got burgled.
lock
to lock
locking
Correct!
Wrong!

'forget' can be following by gerund or 'to infinitive'. However, when 'forget' is followed by the gerund it means you forget something you HAVE done e.g. I'll never forget meeting Harry Styles. When 'forget' is followed by the 'to infinitive', it's something you need to do and you forget to do it - so you have NOT done it. She didn't lock the door as the house was then burgled. So it's 'to infinitive'.

4. I saw the car ________ suddenly. It nearly hit the car in front.
stop
to stop
stopping
Correct!
Wrong!

It is bare infinitive because verbs of perception (see, hear, feel, etc.) are followed by a bare infinitive when they indicate a complete action. We only use 'ing' if we are indicating the ongoing nature of an event we are perceiving.

5. Let them ________ outside for a while.
play
to play
playing
Correct!
Wrong!

The causative 'let' is followed by object + bare infinitive and cannot be followed by verb+ing or to + infinitive

6. We watched Djokovic ________ Alcaraz in the Olympics tennis final.
play
to play
playing
Correct!
Wrong!

Verbs of perception are followed by object + bare infinitive when it's a completed action. You might use 'playing' if you want to emphasise the ongoing nature of it but 'play' would be more common if it's a finished action.

7. She made him ________ with her jokes.
laugh
to laugh
laughing
Correct!
Wrong!

The causative verb 'make' is followed by object + bare infinitive. It cannot be followed by object + verb-ing.

8. They plan ________ their grandparents next weekend.
visit
to visit
visiting
Correct!
Wrong!

'plan' is a verb followed only by 'to + infinitive'.

9. I need ________ my homework before dinner.
finish
to finish
finishing
Correct!
Wrong!

'need' is a verb followed only by 'to + infinitive'.

10. She suggested ________ to the park for a picnic.
go
to go
going
Correct!
Wrong!

If 'suggest' is followed by a verb, it's the gerund form. If we put in an object we can use the bare infinitive e.g. 'I suggest (that) you arrive early'.

11. They helped her ________ to the new apartment.
move
to move
moving
Correct!
Wrong!

The verb 'help' is followed by the bare infinitive.

12. He was made ________ his homework again.
do
to do
doing
Correct!
Wrong!

Though the rule is 'make + object + bare infinitive', we can use 'to + infinitive' after 'make' when it's passive and with no object.

13. He decided ________ the gym to get fit.
join
to join
joining
Correct!
Wrong!

'decide' is a verb followed by 'to + infinitive'

14. You should ________ this book; it's very interesting.
read
to read
reading
Correct!
Wrong!

Modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive.

15. It's important ________ plenty of water every day.
drink
to drink
drinking
Correct!
Wrong!

The phrase 'It is important...' is followed by 'to + infinitive' though if we put in an object we can use the bare infinitive e.g. 'It's important you arrive early'.

16. She enjoys ________ books in her free time.
read
to read
reading
Correct!
Wrong!

The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund.

17. I would rather ________ fish and meat.
eat
to eat
eating
Correct!
Wrong!

Expressions like "had better" and "would rather" take the bare infinitive.

18. He heard the door ________ open.
creak
to creak
creaking
Correct!
Wrong!

Verbs of perception are followed by object + bare infinitive when it's a completed action.

19. We can't help ________ excited about the trip.
feel
to feel
feeling
Correct!
Wrong!

Though 'help' alone is followed by the bare infinitive, we use a gerund here because the phrase "can't help" is always followed by a gerund to express an involuntary reaction.

20. She wants ________ how to play the guitar.
learn
to learn
learning
Correct!
Wrong!

The verb 'want' is followed by 'to + infinitive'.

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