Infinitive or -ing form | Grammar exercises

Some words can be followed by either gerunds (-ing forms) or infinitives, but some can only be followed by infinitives. There are also some words which require a preposition followed by a gerund.

As it is impossible to give the exact rules, you have to learn these combinations by heart.

Complete the following sentences using an infinitive or a prepositional phrase.

1. He succeeded …………………….. his critics.

a) to convince

b) in convincing

2. I am tired ………………………. to her.

a) to write

b) of writing

3. He thought …………………. his pursuers.

a) to elude

b) of eluding

4. They were prohibited …………………….. the town.

a) to enter

b) from entering

5. I insisted …………………… my say.

a) to have

b) on having

6. She is very sensitive. You must refrain …………………… her sentiments.

a) to hurt

b) to hurting

c) from hurting

7. He had no scruples …………………… his country.

a) to betray

b) about betraying

8. One of the privileges ………………….. for an airline is cheap air travel.

a) to work

b) of working

9. It was only a pretext ……………………. the matter.

a) to delay

b) for delaying

10. Nobody can prevent him ……………………. what he wants.

a) to do

b) from doing

11. I get a lot of satisfaction ……………………

a) to write

b) with writing

c) from writing

12. She was a great hostess who had a knack ……………………. people feel special.

a) to make

b) of making

Answers

1. He succeeded in convincing his critics.

2. I am tired of writing to her.

3. He thought of eluding his pursuers.

4. They were prohibited from entering the town.

5. I insisted on having my say.

6. She is very sensitive. You must refrain from hurting her sentiments.

7. He had no scruples about betraying his country.

8. One of the privileges of working for an airline is cheap air travel.

9. It was only a pretext for delaying the matter.

10. Nobody can prevent him from doing what he wants.

11. I get a lot of satisfaction from writing.

12. She was a great hostess who had a knack of making people feel special.