GERUNDS (-ING FORM) AND INFINITIVES (TO)

-ING FORM THE INFINITIVE

 We use the –ing form as a noun.  We use to infinitive to express purpose.

I like swimming. Why did you go to the baker’s? To buy
bread.
 We use the –ing form after the verbs:
enjoy, love, hate, like, dislike, look  We use to infinitive after want and would
forward to, stop. love/like.
He enjoys reading. I would like to visit Madrid.

 We use the –ing form after go for physical
activities.
He goes fishing every Sunday.
 We use the –ing form after prepositions.
She’s tired of working long hours.
 We use to infinitive after verbs like know,
remember, ask, etc. when they’re followed
by question words: who, what, where and
how.
I know how to make an omelette.
 We use infinitive without to after modal
verbs (can, must, will, etc.)
He can dance but he can’t sing.

1) Circle the correct item.

a) I love play / playing football.

b) The children want go / to go to the park.
c) You can’t have / to have any sweets now.
d) I don’t remember how to get / getting here.
e) My brother enjoys watch / watching TV.
f) Please stop to make / making that noise.
g) You must do / doing your homework.
h) We went to the supermarket to buy / buying some food.
i) Patrick goes to walk / walking every day after work.
j) I’d like to order / ordering a pizza, please.

2) Choose the correct item.

a) Lisa hates ______________________________ horror films

1. watch 2. to watch 3. watching
b) I can’t ____________________________ the guitar.
1. play 2. to play 3. Playing

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 c) We don’t want ______________________________ breakfast.
1. eat 2. to eat 3. eating
d) Gary would like _________________________ to the cinema tonight.
1. go 2. to go 3. going
e) Do you enjoy _________________________ in the park?
1. walk 2. to walk 3. walking
f) Thank you for _______________________ me with my homework.
1. helping 2. to help 3. help
g) Mum went to the bank _______________________ some money.
1. get 2. to get 3. getting
h) We always go ____________________________ in the summer.
1. swim 2. to swim 3. swimming

3) Fill in the gaps with the (to) infinitive form or the –ing form of the verbs.

a) You must finish (finish) your dinner.

b) I would like ___________________________ (visit) London.
c) Please stop ___________________________ (talk) in class.
d) My friends love __________________________ (go) to the beach.
e) Nick can ______________________________ (sing) very well.
f) Mum will __________________________________ (take) us to the zoo soon.
g) Dad enjoys ______________________________ (work) in the garden.
h) I don’t like ___________________________ (play) tennis.

4) Read the telephone conversation between two friends. Put the verbs in the
brackets into the to infinitive or the –ing form.

Kelly: Hey, Marcellla! What do you want a) to do (do) this weekend?

Marcella: Well, I’d like b) ____________________________ (visit) the exhibition at the
National Gallery and go c) __________________________________ (shop) in
Oxford Street. What about you?
Kelly: Well, I don’t enjoy d) __________________________ (shop) as much as you do
but I want e) ___________________ (see) the exhibition, too. I might also f)
________________________ (go) to the gym.
Marcella: Oh no. I’ve just remembered I must g) ________________________ (do) the
housework. My cousins are coming over on Sunday afternoon.

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 Kelly: You must be looking forward to h) ______________________________ (see)
them.
Marcella: Oh, yes! I really like i) _______________________________ (spend) time with
them. We always have lots of fun together.

5) Read the email. Choose the right words and write them on the lines.

Hey Mike,

In my last email you asked me what I’d like a) to do in 15 years’ time. Well, I don’t think I’ve b)
_____________________ told you this but I have always wanted to become a doctor. Ever since I
can remember, I have enjoyed c) ____________________________ people. When people in my
family have got d) _______________________ flu, I usually take care of them. I enjoy making tea
and soup for them and I just love e) ________________________ them their medicine. I really
enjoy programmes like ER and Grey’s Anatomy, which are about doctors f) __________________
hospitals. What about you? What would you like to be when you grow up? Write back soon!

Your friend,
Alexis

I. A to do B do C doing
II. A never B ever C just
III. A help B to help C helping
IV. A the B a C some
V. A give B to give C giving
VI. A but B and C or

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