Gerunds and infinitives

Rules

1. After enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, practise, suggest, look forward to: use verb + -ing.
2. After want, decide, hope, agree, plan, refuse, promise: use to + verb.
3. After a preposition, use the -ing form: interested in learning, good at singing.
4. After let, make, help (often), use the base verb without 'to': Let him go.

Examples

• She enjoys reading novels.
• He decided to leave early.
• I look forward to meeting you.

Practice MCQs

1. I enjoy ___ in the rain.

   1. walk
   2. to walk
   3. walking
   4. walked
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) walking. 'Enjoy' is followed by -ing.

2. She decided ___ a new phone.

   1. buying
   2. to buy
   3. buy
   4. bought
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) to buy. 'Decide' is followed by to + verb.

3. I look forward to ___ you.

   1. meet
   2. meeting
   3. met
   4. be meeting
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) meeting. Here 'to' is a preposition, so -ing follows.

4. Please let me ___.

   1. to go
   2. going
   3. go
   4. gone
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) go. 'Let' takes the base verb without 'to'.

5. He is good at ___.

   1. sing
   2. to sing
   3. singing
   4. sung
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) singing. After a preposition, use -ing.

6. Would you mind ___ the door?

   1. to close
   2. close
   3. closing
   4. closed
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) closing. 'Mind' is followed by -ing.