PRACTICE EXERCISE 1                                                                                    Name  

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases as Subjects

Make gerunds out of the base forms in the following list and put them in the appropriate blanks.

 

1. Because he doesn't like to take orders, __________in the army was a terrible experience for him.

2. ______________in this lake is forbidden.

3. Her ________________________on the final examination made the teacher angry.

4. _______________in elevators is against the law.

5. ________________to the beach is relaxing and fun.

6. _______________to speak a second language well takes a long time.

7. According to the doctor, John's _______________is the cause of his coughing constantly.

8. ________________out in the rain without an umbrella is a good way to catch a cold.

9. ________________around the park two or three times a day is a good way to keep in shape.

10. ____________________good health is the most important thing in life.

11.______________care of little children is a full-time job.

12.Their ______________married surprised all of their friends.

13. _______________in the sun at the beach for long periods of time is not good for the skin.

14. this blouse in hot water will ruin it.

15._______________the newspaper every day keeps you informed .

16. _________________as a teacher can be a rewarding job .

17. ____________________a party can be very expensive.

18. __________________a car without a license is against the law.

19. _____________lots of fresh fruit  is very good for you .

20. _________________between the cars of a subway train is forbidden.

21. ____________________is very bad for the health.

22. _________________into a good university is his goal.

23. ________________on a good mattress is necessary for a good night's sleep.

24. The dog's ___________________kept me awake last night.

25. ___________________at this school has been a new experience for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICE EXERCISE 2                                                            Name  

Gerund Phrases as Objects of Prepositions

Make gerunds out of the base forms in the following list and put them                                                                         in the appropriate blanks. Study the prepositions carefully.

do  get  have  put  start  take  fall  give  kill  reach  steal                                                                                                                walk  find  go  make  run  study  work

 

1. I'm not looking forward to ________________the final examination.

2. She's very interested in _______________chemistry.

3. We're all very tired of ________________so hard for so little money.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

4. That customer always insists on ____________________fast service.

5. I don't want to say anything; I'm a little afraid of ______________my foot in my mouth.

6. My boss is responsible for an office of fifty people. He is capable of ___________a very good job.

7. The paper says the man is guilty of ___________________his wife.

8. Don't worry about __________________a mistake in the next test.

9. We are planning on __________________to Spain next summer.

10.Because of the storm, they didn't succeed in ______________the top of the mountain.

11.She is incapable of ____________________because of her arthritis.

12.The bad weather prevented us from __________________on the picnic.

13.The police have accused the woman of ________________the jewels.

14.I suspect my neighbor of _____________vegetables out of my garden.

Now supply a preposition as well as a gerund in the blanks.

15. I don't like mountain climbing because I'm afraid ________  ___________.

16. Most of the students are interested _________  ___________another course.

17. I certainly am looking forward _________  ___________my vacation.

18. Our little boy is responsible ______  _________care of the chickens.

19. Unfortunately, he hasn't succeeded ________  ___________a good job.

20. Do you ever get tired ___________  ____________homework?

21 Selfish people insist _______  __________everything for themselves.

22. The government says that man is responsible ________  _________the revolution.

23. She plans _______  __________graduate work next year.

24 We are thinking __________  ___________to Italy next spring.

25 The rain prevented me __________  _____________shopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICE EXERCISE 3                                                         Name 

Infinitives after Verbs

Fill in the blanks with appropriate infinitives.

1. I like ______________physical exercises every morning.

2. We plan __________to Europe on our next summer vacation.

3. Jack and Jane prefer _________in the country; they don't like city life.                                                                                             They don't want ___________in an apartment.

4. I promise ____________my homework.

5. My father expects  ___________a lot of money in his new business. 

6. The patient needs ____________medicine three times a day.

7. We all hope ____________a lot in this course.

8. A friend of mine doesn't like ___________on the phone.

9. Many children don't like _____________to school.

10. Does your wife like ____________? Does she like _____________clothes?

11. My mother loves _____________in the garden.

12. I want  ___________a small house up in the mountains.

13. Cats don't like __________in water. Birds don't like __________in a cold place.                                                                              My dog doesn't like _________________in the same room with my cat.

14. I love ______________in mountain rivers.

15. We prefer ____________________our dinner in the garden in the summertime.

16. Most people don't like _______________alone.

17. I plan _______________another course after this one.

18. Children love _______________candy. They love _____________with animals.

Now complete the sentences with your own words.

 

19. I love _____________________________________________________.

20. I like/don't like ______________________________________________.

21. I plan _____________________________________________________.

22. I want/don't want ____________________________________________.

23. I need/don't need ____________________________________________.

24. My mother/father likes _______________________________________.

25. [             ] likes/ doesn't like ____________________________________.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICE EXERCISE 4                                                 Name

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Infinitives after Adjectives and Nouns

 

Fill in the blanks with appropriate infinitives.

1. It's not good for you _________________a lot of butter.

2. It's easy for us ______________about other people's mistakes.

3. It's difficult for a two-year-old child ______________________.

4. It's impossible for me ______________________cruel to animals.

5. It's foolish  ______________about our past mistakes.

6. It's necessary _____________________money for the future.

7. It's necessary for me ____________eight hours of sleep every night.

8. I have a good book _________________________.

9. It's not good for you  _________________a lot of coffee.

10. It's difficult for me  ________________English on the phone.

11. It isn't easy ________________an interesting job with good pay.

12. It's a lot of fun __________________the tango.

13. It's exciting ____________________a bullfight.

14. She has a lot of things _________________today.

15. It's good for you __________________a lot of fresh vegetables.

16. It's important for children __________________milk every day.

17. It isn't smart _______________cigarettes.

18. It's not good for you __________________a lot of alcohol.

19. It's impossible for me __________________that terrible person.

20. It's difficult _____________________a taxi on a rainy day.

21. It's foolish  _______________about things that may never happen.

22. Is it necessary ________________a lot of homework for your class?

23. August is a good month _______________a vacation in Sweden.

24. It isn't much fun ________________income taxes.

25. It's difficult for me __________________thread through the eye of a needle.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICE EXERCISE 5                                                                        Name  

Gerund or Infinitive

Put an appropriate infinitive or gerund in the blanks.

 

1. When the weather is nice, we like _____________our breakfast in the garden.

2. I prefer _________________in a warm climate rather than a cold one.

3. We started _________________to the top of the mountain shortly after the sun had risen.

4. Your children really like __________________to the movies, don't they?

5. Their 16-year-old daughter has just recently started _______________out with boys.

6. Our little boy has recently begun _________________with a fork.                                                                                                     Also, he has started ______________________longer words when he speaks.

7.  I don't like ___________________to the dentist.

8.  I hesitate _________________him this news because he might spread it around town.

9.  They attempted __________________the top of the mountain but they failed because of a

     sudden storm.

10. Bobby, please try ___________________quiet for a minute.

11. Many people prefer _____________________by themselves.

12. Few people like ___________________taxes.

13. Never neglect _____________________care of your health.

14. Shall we continue ______________this exercise, or would you prefer _____________a

      break?

15. Everyone in the class has begun __________________a lot of progress.

16. I'm afraid that it's started _________________again.

17. Even though she works during the day, she's continued _______________at the university at

      night.

18. I can't stand ________________in a crowded room.

19. I plan _______________my studies after this course.

20. A lot of students dread ________________________examinations.