Gerunds & Infinitives

What is a gerund?

• A verb in the past tense

• A verb + -ing used as a noun

• A shortened form of a verb

• A command

Answer explanation

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun.

What is an infinitive?

• A verb ending in -ed

• To + base form of a verb

• A verb + -ing

• A command

Answer explanation

An infinitive is “to” + base verb (e.g., to play, to read).

Which form do we use after prepositions?

(e.g., in, on, at, about, for, without, before, after)

• Bare infinitive

• Gerund

• Infinitive

• Verb in past

Answer explanation

After prepositions like in, on, about, without, always use a gerund.

Examples:

• interested in reading

• good at drawing

• before leaving

Which sentence uses an infinitive correctly after an adjective?

• It is fun learn.

• It is fun learning.

• It is fun to learning.

• It is fun to learn.

Answer explanation

Adjectives like fun, easy, hard, exciting are followed by a to-infinitive.

Examples:

• It’s easy to start.

• He’s happy to help.

Which sentence pair has the same meaning?

• I stopped to read. / I stopped reading.

• I like to cook. / I like cooking.

• He tried opening the window. / He tried to open the window.

• She remembered locking the door. / She remembered to lock the door.

Answer explanation

• Some verbs (like, love, hate, prefer) can be followed by both gerunds and to-infinitives with no real change in meaning.

• 
  ✅ I like to cook = I like cooking

• 
  ⚠️ Not true for stop, remember, or try, which change meaning.

Which sentence is correct using “make” and a bare infinitive?

• My parents made me to sleep early.

• My parents make me sleeping early.

• My parents made me sleep early.

• My parents made me to sleeping early.

Answer explanation

Make + object + bare verb (no “to”)

Example: made me sleep

She enjoys ___ novels.

Answer explanation

Enjoy is always followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).

Example: She enjoys reading books.
Never use to read after enjoy.

She decided ___ a painting class after school.

• take

• to take

• taking

Answer explanation

Decide is always followed by a to-infinitive.

Example: decided to take a class

They talked about ___ a sports club.

• to join

• joining

• join

Answer explanation

After about (a preposition), use a gerund.

Example: talked about joining

I want to get better, so I practice ___ football every day.

• to play

• to playing

• playing

Answer explanation

Practice is followed by a gerund.

Example: practice playing, not “to play”