Gerund or Infinitive Exercises 2

Gerund or Infinitive – More Exercises

To + verb, -ing, or both possible

Choose the correct form in each sentence.

Explanation

Some verbs are followed by to + verb.

Example: She refused to answer.
[*Sie weigerte sich zu antworten.*]

Some verbs are followed by verb + -ing.

Example: He admitted cheating.
[*Er gab zu, geschummelt zu haben.*]

Some verbs can take both forms.

Example: She continued to talk / talking.
[*Sie sprach weiter.*]

Verb List Used in These Exercises

Usually + to

  • learn
  • manage
  • offer
  • prepare
  • pretend
  • refuse
  • seem
  • teach
  • tend

Usually + -ing

  • consider
  • delay
  • deny
  • discuss
  • imagine
  • miss
  • practice
  • quit

Both Are Possible

  • continue
  • prefer
  • hate
  • love
  • start
  • begin
  • like
  • continue

Simple Rule

  • learn, manage, offer, prepare, pretend, refuse, seem, teach, tend → usually to + verb
  • consider, delay, deny, discuss, imagine, miss, practice, quit → usually -ing
  • continue, prefer, hate, love, start, begin, like → often both are possible
[*Die Verben sind hier geordnet nach der Form, die normalerweise folgt: to + Verb, -ing oder beide Formen.*]
Score: 0 / 25
1. She refused ______ the door.
a) opening b) to open c) both possible
[*Sie weigerte sich, die Tür zu öffnen.*]
2. We considered ______ a new car.
a) buying b) to buy c) both possible
[*Wir zogen in Betracht, ein neues Auto zu kaufen.*]
3. He continued ______ after midnight.
a) both possible b) to work / working c) working
[*Er arbeitete nach Mitternacht weiter.*]
4. They managed ______ on time.
a) arriving b) to arrive c) both possible
[*Sie schafften es, pünktlich anzukommen.*]
5. She denied ______ the message.
a) sending b) to send c) both possible
[*Sie bestritt, die Nachricht geschickt zu haben.*]
6. I prefer ______ by train.
a) to travel / travelling b) both possible c) travelling
[*Ich reise lieber mit dem Zug.*]
7. We prepared ______ early.
a) leaving b) both possible c) to leave
[*Wir bereiteten uns darauf vor, früh zu gehen.*]
8. He practices ______ every day.
a) speaking b) to speak c) both possible
[*Er übt jeden Tag das Sprechen.*]
9. She seemed ______ the answer.
a) knowing b) to know c) both possible
[*Sie schien die Antwort zu kennen.*]
10. They discussed ______ to Spain.
a) moving b) to move c) both possible
[*Sie besprachen, nach Spanien umzuziehen.*]
11. I hate ______ in traffic.
a) both possible b) to wait / waiting c) waiting
[*Ich hasse es, im Verkehr zu warten.*]
12. She imagined ______ in Paris.
a) living b) to live c) both possible
[*Sie stellte sich vor, in Paris zu leben.*]
13. He offered ______ us.
a) helping b) to help c) both possible
[*Er bot an, uns zu helfen.*]
14. We missed ______ the train by two minutes.
a) catching b) to catch c) both possible
[*Wir verpassten es, den Zug zu erwischen, um zwei Minuten.*]
15. They started ______ at nine.
a) both possible b) to study / studying c) studying
[*Sie begannen um neun zu lernen.*]
16. She pretended ______ asleep.
a) being b) to be c) both possible
[*Sie tat so, als ob sie schlafen würde.*]
17. He quit ______ last year.
a) to smoke b) smoking c) both possible
[*Er hörte letztes Jahr mit dem Rauchen auf.*]
18. We began ______ the project in June.
a) to plan / planning b) planning c) both possible
[*Wir begannen im Juni, das Projekt zu planen.*]
19. She learned ______ very quickly.
a) to swim b) swimming c) both possible
[*Sie lernte sehr schnell zu schwimmen.*]
20. They delayed ______ the meeting.
a) starting b) to start c) both possible
[*Sie verzögerten den Beginn des Meetings.*]
21. I like ______ early in the morning.
a) to run / running b) both possible c) running
[*Ich laufe gern früh am Morgen.*]
22. He tends ______ too fast.
a) to speak b) speaking c) both possible
[*Er neigt dazu, zu schnell zu sprechen.*]
23. She loves ______ by the window.
a) both possible b) to sit / sitting c) sitting
[*Sie sitzt gern am Fenster.*]
24. We taught the children ______ safely.
a) crossing b) to cross c) both possible
[*Wir brachten den Kindern bei, sicher über die Straße zu gehen.*]
25. Can you imagine ______ on a small island?
a) to live b) both possible c) living
[*Kannst du dir vorstellen, auf einer kleinen Insel zu leben?*]