English grammar quiz
Quiz: gerund or infinitive
Enjoy to read or enjoy reading? Stop smoking or stop to smoke? Check which verbs take -ing and which take to: 12 questions with explanations.
- 12 questions
- Level B1–B2
- Every answer explained
- No sign-up
Quiz: Gerund or infinitive
Choose the right option — you’ll instantly see if you got it and why. Your score comes after the last question.
Question 1.
I enjoy (blank) in the morning.
Choose the right option
Enjoy is always followed by a gerund: enjoy running.
Question 2.
We decided (blank) at home.
Choose the right option
Decide takes to + infinitive: decided to stay.
Question 3.
She’s good at (blank).
Choose the right option
After a preposition (at) the verb takes -ing: good at drawing.
Question 4.
I’m looking forward to (blank) you.
Choose the right option
In look forward to, to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so -ing follows: looking forward to seeing.
Question 5.
Would you mind (blank) the window?
Choose the right option
Mind takes a gerund: Would you mind closing…? is a polite request.
Question 6.
I went to the shop (blank) some bread.
Choose the right option
Purpose (in order to) is to + infinitive: to buy. For buy is a common mistake.
Question 7.
He promised (blank) late again.
Choose the right option
Promise takes an infinitive; not goes before to: promised not to be.
Question 8.
I’d like (blank) a coffee, please.
Choose the right option
Like can take -ing or to, but would like only takes to: I’d like to have.
Question 9.
I stopped (blank) two years ago. Now I don’t smoke at all.
Choose the right option
Stop + -ing means quit. Stop to smoke would mean pausing in order to smoke.
Question 10.
Remember (blank) the lights before you leave!
Choose the right option
Remember to do is about a task you mustn’t forget. Remember doing is a memory of the past.
Question 11.
My parents let me (blank) late on Saturdays.
Choose the right option
Let and make take the infinitive without to: let me stay.
Question 12.
I can’t afford (blank) a new car.
Choose the right option
Afford takes to + infinitive: can’t afford to buy.
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Take the level testGerund or infinitive: the rule
The form depends on the verb before it, so learn the verbs in groups.
Gerund (-ing)
After enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, keep, give up and after any preposition.
I’ve finished writing the report.
finish + -ing
Thanks for helping me.
preposition + -ing
Infinitive (to + verb)
After want, decide, hope, plan, agree, promise, afford, would like, and for purpose.
She agreed to help us.
agree + to
I came here to learn English.
purpose
The meaning changes
Stop, remember, forget and try mean different things with -ing and with to.
I stopped eating sugar.
I quit
I stopped to buy water.
in order to buy
Typical mistakes
Things learners of English often say. On the left — what to avoid, on the right — the correct version.
Not this:
I enjoy to read.This: I enjoy reading.
Enjoy takes -ing.
Not this:
I look forward to see you.This: I look forward to seeing you.
To is a preposition here.
Not this:
I came here for learn English.This: I came here to learn English.
Purpose: to + verb.
Not this:
He made me to wait.This: He made me wait.
No to after make and let.
FAQ
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.
How do I know when to use -ing or to?
It depends on the verb: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind + -ing; want, decide, hope, plan + to. After prepositions always -ing; for purpose, to.
Like doing or like to do?
Both are correct. But would like only takes to: I’d like to go.
What level is this quiz?
B1–B2. Verb lists and the stop / remember / forget / try table are in our English grammar reference.
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There is or there are: singular, plural, questions and the past.
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Articles a, an, the
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Much, many, a lot of
Much or many, a few or a little: countable and uncountable nouns.
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Prepositions in, on, at
In May, on Monday, at 5 o’clock: prepositions of time and place.
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Comparatives and superlatives
Bigger, the biggest, more interesting: rules and exceptions.
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Question forms
Do / does / did, word order, subject questions and question tags.
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Present Perfect vs Past Simple
I have seen or I saw: experience and results vs the finished past.
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Will vs going to
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Modal verbs
Can, must, should, might: obligation, advice, possibility, deduction.
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Passive voice
Be + past participle in every tense: is made, was built, has been sold.
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Conditionals
Zero, first, second, third and mixed: if I have, if I had, if I had had.
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I wish and if only
I wish I knew, I wish I had known, I wish you would stop.
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Reported speech
She said she was tired: tense changes, said or told, questions.
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