Let’s learn when we use gerund and infinitive

Some verbs are followed by the Gerund and some by the Infinitive. Read and remember when Gerund and Infinitive are used in English.

Exam in Mind Level B1

Verb + infinitive

  1. to express purpose: She went to meet her mother.
  2. after would love / like / prefer: I’d like to watch this film. I’d love to spend the weekend in the country. I’d prefer to go there by train.
  3. after adjectives (glad, happy, angry, sorry, pleased, etc.): We’re happy to see you.
  4. after certain verbs (to advise, to agree, to appear, to decide, to hope, to manage, to offer, to promise, to refuse, to want, etc.): They decided to go for a walk.
  5. after question words (where, what, how, who, which): I don’t understand how to do it.
  6. with too or enough: He is too young to drive a car.

Verb + -ing form 

  1. after to go for physical activities: They often go skating in winter.
  2. after to love, to like, to dislike, to hate, to enjoy, to start, to begin, to stop, to finish: I hate washing the car.
  3. after to see, to hear, to feel to express an action in progress: She heard him entering the room.
  4. after certain verbs (to avoid, to admit, to deny, to look forward to, to mind, to object to, to prefer, to regret, to spend, etc.): I’m looking forward to seeing you.
  5. after some expressions: I’m busy, it’s no use, it’s worth, it’s (no) good, what’s the use of, etc.: What’s the use of buying a computer?
  6. after prepositions: They are interested in coming here.

Have Practice using Gerund and Infinitive

Task 1. Circle the correct item.

  1. She doesn’t feel good enough to sing / singing at the concert.
  2. Den was sorry to tell / telling me about the accident.
  3. I don’t mind to lend / lending you my car.
  4. To learn / learning foreign languages takes a lot of time and efforts.
  5. My cousin is good at to paint / painting.

Task 2. Make up sentences using a to-infinitive or an –ing form.

Example: I/ be busy/ pack/ things/ at the moment – I’m busy packing things at the moment.

  1. I/ just/ see/ her/ speak/ with somebody
  2. She/ be pleased/ meet/ her old friend/ yesterday
  3. We / prefer/ have dinner / in a café

Task 3. Use the verbs in brackets in the correct form (Gerund and Infinitive)

Dear Amanda,

I was so happy ___________ (to receive) your letter! I’m glad ____________(to know) you enjoyed ___________(to go) to the mountains on your Christmas holidays. I like ___________ (to ski) too, but my parents decided ___________ (to spend) Christmas holidays in the village this year. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time there. My grandparents were so pleased __________ (to celebrate) Christmas with us! They prepared so many presents for us that we didn’t know which one _____________(to open) first. The weather was frosty and there was a lot of snow, so Tim and I preferred ___________(to spend) most of the days outdoors ____________ (to sledge) and ______________ (to play) snowballs with our village friends. There is no need __________ (to say) that we had a lot of fun in the village.

Now I’m busy _____________ (to prepare) for my exams. My mother has promised ___________ (to buy) me a new computer if I pass them successfully. So I have to work hard.

What are your plans for the summer holidays?

I’m looking forward to _____________ (to hear) from you.

Love,
Sally