Gerund or Infinitive Exercises 3

Gerund or Infinitive Exercises 3

To + verb, -ing, or both possible

Choose the correct form in each sentence.

Explanation of Gerund and Infinitive

Some verbs are followed by to + verb.

Example: They expect to win.
[Sie erwarten zu gewinnen.]

Some verbs are followed by verb + -ing.

Example: She risked losing everything.
[Sie riskierte, alles zu verlieren.]

Some verbs can take both forms.

Example: I prefer to stay / staying at home.
[Ich bleibe lieber zu Hause.]

Verb List Used in These Exercises

Usually + to

  • ask
  • choose
  • expect
  • forget
  • help
  • invite
  • need
  • wait
  • wish

Usually + -ing

  • appreciate
  • escape
  • involve
  • mention
  • postpone
  • recommend
  • risk
  • stand

Both Are Possible

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

Simple Rule

  • ask, choose, expect, forget, help, invite, need, wait, wish → usually to + verb
  • appreciate, escape, involve, mention, postpone, recommend, risk, stand → usually -ing
  • love, like, prefer, continue, begin, start, hate, attempt → 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 asked me ______ the window.
a) to close b) closing c) both possible
[Sie bat mich, das Fenster zu schließen.]
2. I appreciate ______ with the bags.
a) helping b) to help c) both possible
[Ich weiß es zu schätzen, beim Tragen der Taschen zu helfen.]
3. We prefer ______ early.
a) both possible b) to leave / leaving c) leaving
[Wir gehen lieber früh.]
4. He chose ______ at home.
a) to stay b) staying c) both possible
[Er entschied sich, zu Hause zu bleiben.]
5. They escaped ______ by the police.
a) to catch b) being caught c) both possible
[Sie entkamen, ohne von der Polizei gefasst zu werden.]
6. She continued ______ despite the noise.
a) studying b) both possible c) to study / studying
[Sie lernte trotz des Lärms weiter.]
7. We expect ______ the results tomorrow.
a) receiving b) to receive c) both possible
[Wir erwarten, die Ergebnisse morgen zu bekommen.]
8. This job involves ______ with customers every day.
a) to speak b) speaking c) both possible
[Diese Arbeit beinhaltet, jeden Tag mit Kunden zu sprechen.]
9. I forgot ______ her yesterday.
a) calling b) to call c) both possible
[Ich habe vergessen, sie gestern anzurufen.]
10. He mentioned ______ to Berlin next year.
a) moving b) to move c) both possible
[Er erwähnte, nächstes Jahr nach Berlin umzuziehen.]
11. We like ______ outside in summer.
a) to eat / eating b) both possible c) eating
[Wir essen im Sommer gern draußen.]
12. She helped me ______ the boxes upstairs.
a) to carry b) carrying c) both possible
[Sie half mir, die Kisten nach oben zu tragen.]
13. They postponed ______ the trip.
a) to start b) starting c) both possible
[Sie verschoben den Beginn der Reise.]
14. She began ______ as soon as she came in.
a) to speak / speaking b) speaking c) both possible
[Sie begann zu sprechen, sobald sie hereinkam.]
15. I invited him ______ with us.
a) joining b) both possible c) to join
[Ich lud ihn ein, mit uns mitzukommen.]
16. The guide recommended ______ there early.
a) arriving b) to arrive c) both possible
[Der Reiseführer empfahl, früh dort anzukommen.]
17. He loves ______ old books.
a) both possible b) to collect / collecting c) collecting
[Er sammelt gern alte Bücher.]
18. We need ______ now.
a) to leave b) leaving c) both possible
[Wir müssen jetzt gehen.]
19. She risked ______ the competition.
a) to lose b) losing c) both possible
[Sie riskierte, den Wettbewerb zu verlieren.]
20. They hate ______ in long lines.
a) to stand / standing b) both possible c) standing
[Sie hassen es, in langen Schlangen zu stehen.]
21. I can’t stand ______ in a hot room.
a) sitting b) to sit c) both possible
[Ich kann es nicht ertragen, in einem heißen Raum zu sitzen.]
22. He waited ______ until everyone was ready.
a) to speak b) speaking c) both possible
[Er wartete mit dem Sprechen, bis alle bereit waren.]
23. We attempted ______ the hill before dark.
a) climbing b) both possible c) to climb / climbing
[Wir versuchten, vor Einbruch der Dunkelheit den Hügel zu besteigen.]
24. She wished ______ more time.
a) having b) to have c) both possible
[Sie wünschte sich, mehr Zeit zu haben.]
25. He started ______ French last year.
a) both possible b) to learn / learning c) learning
[Er begann letztes Jahr, Französisch zu lernen.]