Learn English 100% free...Get 1 free lesson per week // Add a new lesson
Log in!

Click here to log in
New account
Millions of accounts created on our sites.
JOIN our free club and learn English now!



  • Home
  • Print
  • Guestbook
  • Report a bug




  • Get a free English lesson every week!
    Click here!





    Partners:
    - Our other sites
       


    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #118199: Gerund or Infinitive
    > 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 - Look forward to/be used to - TO + verb base or TO + V + ing
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Gerund or Infinitive


    Gerund or Infinitive?

    Some English verbs can be followed either by the gerund or the infinitive or by both, often changing their meaning .

    WHILE begin, start, finish and a few others can be usually followed by both without difference in meaning, mean, stop, try, forget, remember, regret, go on, change their meaning.

    ➡️ "mean" is followed by an infinitive when it expresses an intention.

    She meant to write her memories ( she had the intention to ..)

    BUT, it is followed by a gerund when it refers to something that has to be done to achieve a result.

    Taking a C1 level means having to study very hard.

     

    ➡️ "stop" is followed by an infinitive when you stop in order to do something else.

    BUT it is followed by a gerund when you interrupt an activity and don't do it any longer.

    She stopped smoking because her GP told her to.

     

    ➡️ "try" is followed by an infinitive when you attempt to do something. When you try to do something, you make an effort to do it.

    When you try to do something, you may succeed, or you may fail.

    The climbers tried to reach the summit before the end of the day.

    BUT it is followed by a gerund when you make an experiment or attempt something unusual. When you try doing something, you do it with the intention of finding out what will happen when you do it.

    Have you ever tried cooking pasta in wine ?

     

    ➡️ "forget" is followed by an infinitive when you have not performed an action.

    I forgot to wish my parents a happy anniversary.

    BUT it is followed by a gerund when you have performed the action but forgotten about it.

    I forgot introducing myself before and introduced myself again.

     



    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 forgot (to let) the cat in and the poor thing miaowed all night.

    2. On his way home, he stopped (to buy) a present for his wife.

    3. Sorry, I didn't mean (to hurt) your feelings with such words.

    4. Do you remember (to meet) the Queen when she was visiting our university ?

    5. Stop (to talk) nonsense.

    6. She meant (to attend) an English Uni Course to improve her knowledge of the language.

    7. Don't forget (to switch off) the lights before leaving home.

    8. On his way home, Bill forgot (to refuel) and his car ran out of petrol in the middle of nowhere.

    9. I don't remember (to let) my friends know about my health.

    10. Reaching London in one day from Inverness means (to drive) for several hours.

    11. I'll never forget (to meet) Marlon Brando in Los Angeles.










    End of the free exercise to learn English: Gerund or Infinitive
    A free English exercise to learn English.
    Other English exercises on the same topics : Infinitive | -ing | All our lessons and exercises