Decide whether to use 'was' or 'were'.

1. Boris learning English.

2. They swimming in the lake.

3. Your father repairing the car.

4. I reading a magazine.

5. You packing your bag.

6. My friends watching the match on TV.

7. It raining.

8. The dog barking.

9. The children brushing their teeth.

10. Anne and Maureen singing a song

Somebody believes that yesterday at 3 pm the following people were in the middle of an action. That
cannot be, however, as yesterday at 3 pm these people were not doing those things.
Write negative sentences in past progressive.

1. Sarah and Luke / not / work

2. Mister Miller / not / teach / chemistry

3. Barry / not / drive / a lorry

4. Mandy / not / have / lunch

5. Albert / not / play / tennis

6. Taylor and Bob / not / cycle / home

7. Annie / not / clean / the table

8. Benjamin / not / write / an e-mail

9. Jane / not / exercise / in the gym

10. Robert / not / buy / flowers

There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund. If you are not
sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.

Infinitive

Use
Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause To know you is to love you.

after certain expressions (without ‘to’) Why not go to the cinema?

after certain verbs (without ‘to’) I can swim.

after certain verbs (with ‘to’) He wants to swim.

after certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive They don’t know how to swim.
constructions)

after certain verbs with objects (without ‘to’) He made her swim.

after certain verbs with objects (with ‘to’) They wanted him to swim.

after certain adjectives and their comparisons It’s easier to swim downstream.

after nouns deriving from the verbs mentioned We made a promise to swim. (derived from the verb
above ‘to promise’)

Gerund

Form
ing form of the verb

Exceptions in Spelling
See → Present Progressive – Exceptions

Use
Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause Cycling is good for your health.

after certain adjectives He’s afraid of going by plane.

after certain prepositions Before going to bed he turned off the lights.

after certain verbs I enjoy cooking.

after certain verbs with prepositions I am looking forward to seeing you again.

after certain nouns We had problems finding our way back home.

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Use and Word Lists Example

same meaning I started to read. / I started reading.

same meaning but different use She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking.

different meaning He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking.

infinitive or present participle I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs.

Imagine you work in a tourist information. Tell your colleague what the tourists asked you. Transform
the direct speech into infinitive constructions.
1. Two women asked, "How do we get to the castle?" → Two women asked how to get to the
how to get to the

castle.Replace 'do we' by 'to'.

2. A man asked, "Where can I catch the bus?" → One man did not know
3. An old lady asked, "Why should I go to the zoo by bus?" → An old lady did not understand

4. Some teenagers asked, "Shall we buy a map?" → Some teenagers wanted to know

5. Two teenage girls asked, "Where can we go shopping?" → Two teenage girls asked
6. A family asked, "Which film could we watch?" → A family wanted to go to the cinema but they did not

know

7. A couple asked, "Where can we buy tickets for the opera?" → A couple wanted to know

8. A young woman asked, "When can I go on a sight-seeing tour?" → A young woman asked

9. A businessman asked, "What bar can I go to?" → A businessman did not know

10. A drunk asked, "How do I get home?" → A drunk could not remember

Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses.

dancing

1. She is good at (dance) .

2. He is crazy about (sing) .

3. I don't like (play) cards.

4. They are afraid of (swim) in the sea.

5. You should give up (smoke) .

6. Sam dreams of (be) a popstar.

7. He is interested in (make) friends.

8. My uncle is afraid of (go) by plane.

 9. We insist on (cook) the dinner ourselves.

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

1. We go every week.

2. Let it .

3. He dreams of an actor.

4. They enjoy .

5. It is not easy good friends.

6. My friend is afraid of

7. Jane is good at .

8. He wanted a new computer game.

9. I am crazy about .

10. You must to my party.

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

1. We can him.

2. I am glad you.

3. Give up .

4. It is difficult the question.

5. I enjoy with you.

6. John is fond of ice-cream.

7. We will famous one day.

8. I am interested in karate.

9. We cannot our car here.

10. Gareth is bad at compliments.