Gerund or Infinitive Exercises

Gerund or Infinitive

To + verb, -ing, or both possible

Choose the correct form in each sentence.

Explanation

Some verbs are followed by to + verb.

Example: I want to go.
[*Ich möchte gehen.*]

Some verbs are followed by verb + -ing.

Example: I enjoy reading.
[*Ich lese gern.*]

Some verbs can take both forms.

Example: I like to swim / I like swimming.
[*Ich schwimme gern.*]

Simple Rule

  • want, decide, hope, need, plan, promise, would like, agree → usually to + verb
  • enjoy, avoid, finish, don’t mind, keep, suggest, admit → usually -ing
  • like, love, start, begin → often both are possible
[*Manche Verben stehen mit to + Verb, manche mit -ing, und bei manchen sind beide Formen möglich.*]

Verb List Used in These Exercises

The verbs are grouped by the form they usually take.

Usually + to

  • want
  • decide
  • hope
  • need
  • plan
  • promise
  • would like
  • agree

Usually + -ing

  • enjoy
  • avoid
  • finish
  • don’t mind
  • keep
  • suggest
  • admit

Both Are Possible

  • like
  • love
  • start
  • begin
[*Die Verben sind hier danach geordnet, welche Form normalerweise folgt: to + Verb, -ing oder beide Formen.*]
Score: 0 / 20
1. I want ______ home now.
a) to go b) going c) both possible
[*Ich möchte jetzt nach Hause gehen.*]
2. She enjoys ______ in the park.
a) to walk b) walking c) both possible
[*Sie geht gern im Park spazieren.*]
3. We like ______ English.
a) to study / studying b) studying c) both possible
[*Wir lernen gern Englisch.*]
4. He decided ______ early.
a) leaving b) to leave c) both possible
[*Er entschied sich, früh zu gehen.*]
5. They avoided ______ about the problem.
a) talking b) to talk c) both possible
[*Sie vermieden es, über das Problem zu sprechen.*]
6. I hope ______ you again soon.
a) seeing b) to see c) both possible
[*Ich hoffe, dich bald wiederzusehen.*]
7. She finished ______ at 8 o’clock.
a) to work b) working c) both possible
[*Sie hörte um 8 Uhr auf zu arbeiten / beendete das Arbeiten um 8 Uhr.*]
8. We started ______ dinner at six.
a) to cook / cooking b) both possible c) cooking
[*Wir begannen um sechs, das Abendessen zu kochen.*]
9. He needs ______ more carefully.
a) to drive b) driving c) both possible
[*Er muss vorsichtiger fahren.*]
10. I don’t mind ______ late.
a) staying b) to stay c) both possible
[*Es macht mir nichts aus, lange zu bleiben.*]
11. They plan ______ next year.
a) moving b) both possible c) to move
[*Sie planen, nächstes Jahr umzuziehen.*]
12. She keeps ______ the same question.
a) to ask b) asking c) both possible
[*Sie stellt immer wieder dieselbe Frage.*]
13. We love ______ by the sea.
a) both possible b) living c) to live / living
[*Wir leben gern am Meer.*]
14. He promised ______ on time.
a) to arrive b) arriving c) both possible
[*Er versprach, pünktlich anzukommen.*]
15. She suggested ______ a break.
a) taking b) to take c) both possible
[*Sie schlug vor, eine Pause zu machen.*]
16. I would like ______ more slowly.
a) speaking b) to speak c) both possible
[*Ich würde gern langsamer sprechen.*]
17. They enjoy ______ together.
a) both possible b) to cook c) cooking
[*Sie kochen gern zusammen.*]
18. She began ______ when she was six.
a) both possible b) to learn / learning c) learning
[*Sie begann mit sechs Jahren zu lernen.*]
19. We agreed ______ later.
a) meeting b) to meet c) both possible
[*Wir vereinbarten, uns später zu treffen.*]
20. He admitted ______ the window.
a) breaking b) to break c) both possible
[*Er gab zu, das Fenster kaputtgemacht zu haben.*]
Gerund or Infinitive Exercises

Gerund or Infinitive

To + verb, -ing, or both possible

Choose the correct form in each sentence.

Explanation

Some verbs are followed by to + verb.

Example: I want to go.
[Ich möchte gehen.]

Some verbs are followed by verb + -ing.

Example: I enjoy reading.
[Ich lese gern.]

Some verbs can take both forms.

Example: I like to swim / I like swimming.
[Ich schwimme gern.]

Simple rule

  • want, need, decide, hope → usually to + verb
  • enjoy, avoid, finish, keep → usually -ing
  • like, love, hate, start, begin → often both are possible
[Manche Verben stehen mit to + Verb, manche mit -ing, und bei manchen sind beide Formen möglich.]
Score: 0 / 20
1. I want ______ home now.
a) to go b) going c) both possible
[Ich möchte jetzt nach Hause gehen.]
2. She enjoys ______ in the park.
a) to walk b) walking c) both possible
[Sie geht gern im Park spazieren.]
3. We like ______ English.
a) to study / studying b) studying c) both possible
[Wir lernen gern Englisch.]
4. He decided ______ early.
a) leaving b) to leave c) both possible
[Er entschied sich, früh zu gehen.]
5. They avoided ______ about the problem.
a) talking b) to talk c) both possible
[Sie vermieden es, über das Problem zu sprechen.]
6. I hope ______ you again soon.
a) seeing b) to see c) both possible
[Ich hoffe, dich bald wiederzusehen.]
7. She finished ______ at 8 o’clock.
a) to work b) working c) both possible
[Sie hörte um 8 Uhr auf zu arbeiten / beendete das Arbeiten um 8 Uhr.]
8. We started ______ dinner at six.
a) to cook / cooking b) both possible c) cooking
[Wir begannen um sechs, das Abendessen zu kochen.]
9. He needs ______ more carefully.
a) to drive b) driving c) both possible
[Er muss vorsichtiger fahren.]
10. I don’t mind ______ late.
a) staying b) to stay c) both possible
[Es macht mir nichts aus, lange zu bleiben.]
11. They plan ______ next year.
a) moving b) both possible c) to move
[Sie planen, nächstes Jahr umzuziehen.]
12. She keeps ______ the same question.
a) to ask b) asking c) both possible
[Sie stellt immer wieder dieselbe Frage.]
13. We love ______ by the sea.
a) both possible b) living c) to live / living
[Wir leben gern am Meer.]
14. He promised ______ on time.
a) to arrive b) arriving c) both possible
[Er versprach, pünktlich anzukommen.]
15. She suggested ______ a break.
a) taking b) to take c) both possible
[Sie schlug vor, eine Pause zu machen.]
16. I would like ______ more slowly.
a) speaking b) to speak c) both possible
[Ich würde gern langsamer sprechen.]
17. They enjoy ______ together.
a) both possible b) to cook c) cooking
[Sie kochen gern zusammen.]
18. She began ______ when she was six.
a) both possible b) to learn / learning c) learning
[Sie begann mit sechs Jahren zu lernen.]
19. We agreed ______ later.
a) meeting b) to meet c) both possible
[Wir vereinbarten, uns später zu treffen.]
20. He admitted ______ the window.
a) breaking b) to break c) both possible
[Er gab zu, das Fenster kaputtgemacht zu haben.]