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Joy English · Level B1 · Verb patternsjoy-english.com

Verb + -ing or to + infinitive

Name:Date:

Learn which verbs are followed by an -ing form and which are followed by to + infinitive.

Choose the correct form

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

  1. Mina enjoys ___ old films at the weekend.
    • a) to watch
    • b) watching
    • c) watch
  2. We've decided ___ a new car.
    • a) buying
    • b) buy
    • c) to buy
  3. Would you mind ___ the door, please?
    • a) closing
    • b) to close
    • c) close
  4. Jamal is interested in ___ Japanese.
    • a) learn
    • b) learning
    • c) to learn
  5. The children promised ___ quiet during the film.
    • a) to be
    • b) being
    • c) be
  6. Have you finished ___ your report?
    • a) to write
    • b) write
    • c) writing
  7. On the way home, we stopped ___ some bread.
    • a) buying
    • b) to buy
    • c) buy
  8. ___ every day is good for your health.
    • a) To walking
    • b) Walk
    • c) Walking

Write the verb

Type the -ing form or to + infinitive of the verb in brackets.

  1. I hope ___ (see) you again soon.
  2. Kofi suggested ___ (go) to the beach.
  3. She is very good at ___ (fix) bicycles.
  4. They refused ___ (pay) for the broken chair.
  5. Please keep ___ (try). You're nearly there!
  6. Aiko learned ___ (swim) when she was six.
  7. It started ___ (snow) just after midnight.
  8. Do you feel like ___ (eat) out tonight?

Answer key

Choose the correct form

  1. b) watchingEnjoy is followed by the -ing form.
  2. c) to buyDecide is followed by to + infinitive.
  3. a) closingMind is followed by the -ing form.
  4. b) learningAfter a preposition such as in, we use the -ing form.
  5. a) to bePromise is followed by to + infinitive.
  6. c) writingFinish is followed by the -ing form.
  7. b) to buyWe stopped our journey in order to buy bread, so we use stop + to + infinitive.
  8. c) WalkingWhen an activity is the subject of a sentence, we usually use the -ing form.

Write the verb

  1. to seeHope is followed by to + infinitive.
  2. goingSuggest is followed by the -ing form.
  3. fixingAfter the preposition at, we use the -ing form.
  4. to payRefuse is followed by to + infinitive.
  5. tryingKeep is followed by the -ing form.
  6. to swimLearn is followed by to + infinitive.
  7. snowing / to snowStart can be followed by the -ing form or to + infinitive with almost no change in meaning.
  8. eatingLike is a preposition in feel like, so it is followed by the -ing form.

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/grammar/gerunds-infinitives