24022 gerunds and infinitives

1. Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund.
a) He lost no time in ..........................(get) down to work.
b) You can’t make an omelette without .......................(break) eggs.
c) We are looking forward to .......................(read) your new book.
d) They escaped by ........................(slide) down ropes made of blankets.
e) They don’t allow .........................(smoke) here.
f) He is thinking of ........................(leave) his job and ...................(go) to
America.
g) After .....................(read) this article you will give up .......................(smoke).
h) Imagine ........................(live) with someone who never stops .................
(talk).
i) I don’t enjoy ............................(go) to the dentist.
j) Would you mind ............................(put) your pet snake somewhere?
2. Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive (some of them don’t need to)
a) How you dare ........................(open) my letters!
b) I used ......................(smoke) forty cigarettes a day.
c) Will you help me ......................(move) the bookcase?
d) He wouldn’t let my baby ........................(play) with his gold watch.
e) He is expected .........................(arrive) in two days.
f) He made us ......................(wait) for hours.
g) Could you .......................(tell) me the time, please?
h) He will be able .........................(swim) very soon.
i) It’s easy .....................(be) wise after the event.
j) We don’t want anybody ......................(know) that we are here.
3. Complete these sentences with a gerund or an infinitive.
a) “Why are you going out? “ “....................(post) this letter”
b) I really like ......................(play) video games.
c) We were desperate .......................(win) the match.
d) Are you frightened of .......................(be) on your own.
e) What do you want .......................(do) tonight?
f) .............................(get) up early is horrible.

g) My favourite sport is ........................(ski)
h) Would you prefer .........................(stay) at home?
i) We saw a man ............................(run) away.
j) I studied hard in order ...........................(pass) my exams.
k) Tony told me ......................(call) tonight.
l) I can’t persuade Susie ........................(change) her mind.
4. Complete this story with the infinitive or gerund form of the verbs in brackets.
A trip to Madrid
Celia was really looking forward to .....................(go) to Madrid .................(see)
the concert. Somehow, she managed .......................(persuade) her parents that it
would be an educational experience. She had, of course, forgotten .................
( mention) that she was not going to the Prado.
Marta and Irene had succeeded in ............................(get) their parents to allow
them .......................(go). “Where are they” asked Celia, who was
beginning ............................(feel) worried. “They promised ....................(be)
here by 10 o’clock. Maybe we should go home”
“take it easy” said Irene. “Roman told us ........................(not worry) if they were
late. Are you sure you want......................(come)?” Just then they saw an ancient
Seat 600, and Roman and tony were in it. Irene was amazed, “You were


supposed .....................(bring) a car not an antique!”. Roman tried
unsuccessfully .......................(open) the passenger door. “It’ll take us
ages .......................(get) to Madrid in that thing!” complained Irene. “I’d
rather ..........................(go) in the bus” “Don’t let me ........................(stop) you!”
said Roman, who felt like .......................(hit) her. “Come on! It’s
time ....................(go)” said Marta, who was impatient .........................(leave).
Roman invited her .......................(sit) in the front, and Tony
offered ...............................(sit) in the back between Celia and Irene. On the way,
they all accused Roman of ....................(be) a terrible driver. He

denied ...................(make) any mistakes, claimed ......................(be) in complete
control of the car and threatened ....................(stop) the car and make them
all .....................(walk) if they didn’t stop .......................(complain).
When they finally got to Madrid, the girls were delighted ........................(get)
out of the car, but Tony seemed ........................(be) upset that they had arrived.
He had enjoyed ..........................(sit) in the back seat with the girls.