Pariksha SaathiInfinitives and Gerunds Questions with Solutions
Some verbs are always followed by "to + verb," others always by the "-ing" form, and a few change meaning depending on which one follows — this is a short, fixed list to learn, not a rule to derive. Here’s the approach, four fully worked examples, and a few to try yourself.
The approach, quickly
- Verbs that always take a gerund (-ing): enjoy, avoid, suggest, finish, mind, consider, admit, deny, risk, practise — "She enjoys reading," never "enjoys to read."
- Verbs that always take a to-infinitive: decide, hope, plan, promise, agree, refuse, manage, afford, offer, want — "He decided to accept," never "decided accepting."
- A few verbs change meaning depending on the choice: "stop to do" (pause in order to do something) vs. "stop doing" (quit a habit); "remember to do" (not forget a future duty) vs. "remember doing" (recall a past action).
- When a verb isn’t on either fixed list and doesn’t change meaning either way (start, begin, like, love, continue, prefer), either form is usually acceptable — these aren’t typically what exam questions target.
Worked examples
1. Choose the correct form: She enjoys ___ novels in her free time. (A) to read (B) reading
Solution
- "Enjoy" is always followed by a gerund, never a to-infinitive.
Answer: reading
2. Choose the correct form: He decided ___ the offer. (A) to accept (B) accepting
Solution
- "Decide" is always followed by a to-infinitive, never a gerund.
Answer: to accept
3. Choose the correct form: I remember ___ the door before leaving, so I’m sure it’s locked. (A) to lock (B) locking
Solution
- "Remember doing" means recalling a past action that already happened — the sentence describes recalling the act of locking, confirmed by "I’m sure it’s locked."
Answer: locking
4. Choose the correct form: Please remember ___ the door when you leave. (A) to lock (B) locking
Solution
- "Remember to do" means not forgetting a future duty — this is an instruction about something to do later, not a memory of something already done.
Answer: to lock
Try these yourself
Check whether the verb is on a fixed list, or whether the meaning depends on the choice, then check against the answer.
1. Choose the correct form: They avoided ___ about the accident. (A) to talk (B) talking
Answer: talking
2. Choose the correct form: She promised ___ early tomorrow. (A) to arrive (B) arriving
Answer: to arrive
3. Choose the correct form: He stopped ___ a cigarette during the meeting break. (A) to smoke (B) smoking
Answer: to smoke
Where this comes up
Infinitives and Gerunds is tested directly in the English Language section of every exam Pariksha Saathi covers — SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk.
Practice more Infinitives and Gerunds questions
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