This first gap fill test contains 25 multiple choice questions on the topic of gerunds and infinitives of English grammar. Both English learners and ESL teachers can use this online exercise as a revision to check the knowledge of gerunds and infinitives.
Question 1
By _____ 1,500,000 tons of insects a year, birds greatly help American farming.
After a preposition such as by, we use the -ing form (gerund): by eating. By + -ing shows how something is done. Not having eaten: the perfect gerund stresses an action finished earlier, but this sentence describes a regular habit (a year).
Question 2
Betty’s favourite rainy-day pastime is _____ pictures from old newspapers and magazines.
After be, an infinitive (or a gerund) can name what the subject is: Her pastime is to clip pictures. The active form is needed because Betty does the clipping herself. Not to be clipped: that passive would mean someone clips her.
Question 3
President Roosevelt asked Archibald MacLeish _____ as the Librarian of Congress.
The pattern is ask + object + to-infinitive: asked Archibald MacLeish to serve. MacLeish does the serving, so the active form is correct. Not to be served, which is passive and changes the meaning.
Question 4
I’m sorry for _____ your new watch. Will you forgive me?
After a preposition such as for, use the gerund: sorry for breaking. Not to break: a to-infinitive cannot follow a preposition.
Question 5
The company needs someone _____ a programming supervisor.
Need + object + to-infinitive says what we want someone to do: needs someone to be a supervisor. Not being: someone being a supervisor would describe a person who already holds the job, not the job the company wants filled.
Question 6
If you happen _____ the prize, what will you do?
Happen is followed by a to-infinitive: happen to win. It means 'by chance'. Not win: happen needs to before the next verb.
Question 7
I know why you can't read that sign; it is because of your eyes. I think they need _____.
Need + -ing has a passive meaning: they need testing = they need to be tested. Not to test: that would mean the eyes have to test something. Not to have them tested: them repeats they (the eyes), so it makes no sense.
Question 8
The Nusret used _____ a warship in the First World War.
Used to + base form describes a past state that is no longer true: The Nusret used to be a warship. Not to being: that form belongs to be used to + -ing ('be accustomed to'), which needs was and has a different meaning.
Question 9
It can be difficult _____ a jogging partner.
After It is + adjective, we normally use a to-infinitive: It can be difficult to find a partner. It stands for the infinitive phrase that comes later. Not to finding: to is not a preposition here, so it cannot take -ing.
Question 10
He enjoys _____ tennis and keeps on _____ sensibly; that’s why he is fit.
Both enjoy and keep on are followed by the gerund: enjoys playing, keeps on eating. Not playing / to eat: keep on never takes a to-infinitive.
Question 11
He is learning _____ football these days.
Learn is followed by a to-infinitive when it means gaining a skill: learning to play football. Not playing: learn doesn't take a gerund in this pattern.
Question 12
The turtle, at last, gave up by _____ his feet under his shell.
After the preposition by, use the gerund: by pulling. It shows how the turtle gave up. Not to pull: an infinitive cannot follow a preposition.
Question 13
I did not plan _____ so much money on my vacation.
Plan is followed by a to-infinitive: plan to spend. Not spending: plan does not take a gerund here.
Question 14
He advised me _____ for the interview at home.
The pattern is advise + object + to-infinitive: advised me to practise. Advise takes a gerund only when there is no object (He advised practising). Not practising, because there is an object, me.
Question 15
I am going to explain why I decided _____ to college.
Decide is followed by a to-infinitive: decided to go. Not going: decide doesn't take a gerund.
Question 16
After a while, we began _____ _____ the ball back and forth.
Begin can take a to-infinitive, but enjoy always takes a gerund: began to enjoy hitting. Writers also avoid two -ing forms side by side, so to enjoy is preferred after began. Not enjoying / to hit: enjoy is never followed by a to-infinitive.
Question 17
I have just quit _____ to the bookstore entirely because he made me _____ so angry and embarrassed.
Quit (meaning 'stop') takes a gerund: quit going. Make + object takes the base form without to: made me feel. Not going / to feel: in the active voice make is never followed by to.
Question 18
It’s difficult to live with them without _____.
After the preposition without, use a gerund. Here the meaning is passive (they might hurt you), so we need the passive gerund being hurt. Not to be hurt: an infinitive cannot follow a preposition.
Question 19
She was very upset _____ that all the places in the restaurant _____.
Adjectives of feeling such as upset are followed by a to-infinitive: upset to hear. The places receive the action, so we need the passive were booked, which matches the past was. Not to hear / were booking: that is active and would mean the places were booking something.
Question 20
A child who is unhappy about _____ badly will normally get over that in a couple of days.
After the preposition about, use a gerund. The child receives the action, so we need the passive gerund being treated. Not treating: that would mean the child treats others badly.
Question 21
Following the 1990 census, the districts needed _____ due to the population shift in the country.
Need takes a to-infinitive. When the subject receives the action, we use the passive infinitive: the districts needed to be redrawn. (needed redrawing would also work, but it isn't an option.) Not being redrawn: need does not take a passive gerund.
Question 22
He asked me _____ my eyes on the ball at all times.
The pattern is ask + object + to-infinitive: asked me to keep. Not keep: ask needs to before the verb.
Question 23
It is necessary in every case _____ in a specific way the essence of what is going on, and that is a philosophical act.
In the pattern It is + adjective (+ phrase) + to-infinitive, it stands for the infinitive clause: It is necessary... to understand. The simple infinitive is used for a general requirement. Not to have understood: the perfect infinitive would refer to an earlier, completed action, which doesn't fit a general statement.
Question 24
One of the best places _____ the costumed, guitar-playing bands there is Plaza Garibaldi.
After a noun such as places, a to-infinitive can show purpose: the best places to hear the bands. Visitors do the hearing, so the active form is correct. Not to be heard: the bands are the object, so a passive infinitive doesn't fit.
Question 25
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is an interactive children's museum that takes a whole day _____.
The pattern is It takes + time + to-infinitive: takes a whole day to explore. Here that (the museum) is the object of explore, but the active infinitive is still used. Not to have been explored: this pattern doesn't use a perfect passive form.
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