> Other English exercises on the same topics: Infinitive | -ing [Change theme]
	> Similar tests: - Adjectives-ing and ed - Infinitive clause - FOR and its use - Gerund - Infinitive phrase - Infinitive in sentences - TO + verb base or TO + V + ing - Look forward to/be used to
	> Double-click on words you don't understand

Gerund or Infinitive - English lesson

Gerund or infinitive

A few verbs in English  can be followed by an infinitive and/or a gerund, sometimes changing meaning. Here are the most important ones , but there are many others……..!

A few rules to start with . 

 Prepositions ( including TO)  are always followed  by the gerund .

 Verbs of sensation ( hear, listen to, watch, see), are followed by a gerund if the action is not perceived in its entirety, by an infinitive if the action is short, or,conversely, is  perceived in its  entirety, however long it may be .

Verbs like stop, remember, forget  have different meanings:

To stop + gerund  means to cease, to stop + infinitive means  not to move .

To remember / to forget + gerund  mean to remember/forget  something already done.

To remember  + infinitive means  to remember to do  something  in the future .

To forget  + infinitive means  to forget   to do something  one had to do .

To mind  is always followed by the gerund.

To begin, to start, can be followed by both with slight differences in meaning.

Twitter Share
English exercise "Gerund or Infinitive" created by carlabice47 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from carlabice47]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Please log in to save your progress.

1. I don't mind queueto queuequeuingI don't know up in London. I am used to it !

2. After being arrestedis arrestedbe arrestedI don't know the man tried to escape from jail.

3. At night, when all is silent, I can hear mice to runrunningranI don't know in the attic.

4. Please Mum, watch me diddoingdoI don't know my homework !

5. As the girl was jogging along the river, she saw an old man to jumpingjumpedjumpI don't know into the water.

6. I forgot to introduceintroducingintroduceI don't know Marion to my friends; she was very cross with me.

7. On New Year's Day, I always promise to stop smokesmokingto smokeI don't know.

8. We forgot letto lettingto letI don't know the cat in; the poor thing almost froze to death.

9. She left the room in a hurry, without sayingsayto sayI don't know goodbye.

10. After driving for hours on the A3, we stopped havinghaveto haveI don't know a rest.

11. I remember to meetmeetmeetingI don't know the President when I was five.

12. Would you mind not smokingnot to smokenot smokeI don't know in my bedroom, please?