[
{
"title": "Gerund vs. Infinitive: The Challenge",
"questions": [
{
"category": "Verb + Gerund",
"question": "I really enjoy ____ books on the weekend.",
"options": ["reading", "to read", "Either"],
"answer": "reading",
"explanation": "The verb **enjoy** is always followed by the gerund (-ing)."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Infinitive",
"question": "We decided ____ to Spain for our holiday.",
"options": ["going", "to go", "Either"],
"answer": "to go",
"explanation": "**Decide** points to a future intent, so it takes the infinitive (to + verb)."
},
{
"category": "Flexible Verb",
"question": "It started ____, so we went inside.",
"options": ["raining", "to rain", "Either"],
"answer": "Either",
"explanation": "**Start** is flexible. 'It started raining' and 'It started to rain' are both correct."
},
{
"category": "Preposition + Gerund",
"question": "She is very good at ____ pictures.",
"options": ["painting", "to paint", "Either"],
"answer": "painting",
"explanation": "After a preposition (like **at**), we always use the -ing form."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "I stopped ____ junk food to get healthy.",
"options": ["eating", "to eat", "Either"],
"answer": "eating",
"explanation": "**Stop + -ing** means you quit a habit completely. 'To eat' would mean you paused to eat."
},
{
"category": "Flexible Verb",
"question": "I love ____ to music while I work.",
"options": ["listening", "to listen", "Either"],
"answer": "Either",
"explanation": "**Love** is a flexible verb. Both forms are acceptable with no major change in meaning."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Infinitive",
"question": "They promised ____ me with my homework.",
"options": ["helping", "to help", "Either"],
"answer": "to help",
"explanation": "**Promise** relates to a future action, so it is followed by the infinitive."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Gerund",
"question": "Please avoid ____ loud noises in the library.",
"options": ["making", "to make", "Either"],
"answer": "making",
"explanation": "**Avoid** is always followed by the gerund (-ing)."
},
{
"category": "Flexible Verb",
"question": "They continued ____ despite the noise.",
"options": ["working", "to work", "Either"],
"answer": "Either",
"explanation": "**Continue** is flexible. You can use either form."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "We stopped ____ some coffee on our way home.",
"options": ["buying", "to buy", "Either"],
"answer": "to buy",
"explanation": "Here, **Stop + Infinitive** means you paused one action in order to do another."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Gerund",
"question": "Have you finished ____ your room yet?",
"options": ["cleaning", "to clean", "Either"],
"answer": "cleaning",
"explanation": "**Finish** indicates completing an action, so it always takes the gerund."
},
{
"category": "Adjective + Infinitive",
"question": "It is difficult ____ this math problem.",
"options": ["solving", "to solve", "Either"],
"answer": "to solve",
"explanation": "After adjectives (like **difficult**), we usually use the infinitive."
},
{
"category": "Subject as Gerund",
"question": "____ is a great way to stay fit.",
"options": ["Swimming", "To swim", "Either"],
"answer": "Swimming",
"explanation": "When the verb is the subject of the sentence (the activity itself), we generally use the -ing form."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "I remember ____ the lights before I left.",
"options": ["turning off", "to turn off", "Either"],
"answer": "turning off",
"explanation": "**Remember + -ing** refers to a memory of a past event."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "Please remember ____ your homework.",
"options": ["doing", "to do", "Either"],
"answer": "to do",
"explanation": "**Remember + Infinitive** is a reminder to perform a future task."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Infinitive",
"question": "I want ____ a new car next year.",
"options": ["buying", "to buy", "Either"],
"answer": "to buy",
"explanation": "**Want** expresses a desire for the future, so it takes the infinitive."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Gerund",
"question": "Would you mind ____ the window?",
"options": ["opening", "to open", "Either"],
"answer": "opening",
"explanation": "**Mind** (in requests) requires the gerund form."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Infinitive",
"question": "He plans ____ to college in the fall.",
"options": ["going", "to go", "Either"],
"answer": "to go",
"explanation": "**Plan** talks about the future, so it uses the infinitive."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Gerund",
"question": "My brother keeps ____ my clothes!",
"options": ["taking", "to take", "Either"],
"answer": "taking",
"explanation": "**Keep** (meaning continue) is always followed by the -ing form."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "I'll never forget ____ the ocean for the first time.",
"options": ["seeing", "to see", "Either"],
"answer": "seeing",
"explanation": "**Forget + -ing** is used for memories of the past."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "Don't forget ____ your mother.",
"options": ["calling", "to call", "Either"],
"answer": "to call",
"explanation": "**Forget + Infinitive** is used for necessary tasks or duties you must not skip."
},
{
"category": "Verb + Infinitive",
"question": "I hope ____ you again soon.",
"options": ["seeing", "to see", "Either"],
"answer": "to see",
"explanation": "**Hope** is about the future, so it uses the infinitive."
},
{
"category": "Preposition + Gerund",
"question": "He left the party without ____ goodbye.",
"options": ["saying", "to say", "Either"],
"answer": "saying",
"explanation": "**Without** is a preposition, so the verb following it must be -ing."
},
{
"category": "Flexible Verb",
"question": "I prefer ____ tea over coffee.",
"options": ["drinking", "to drink", "Either"],
"answer": "Either",
"explanation": "**Prefer** is flexible. You can prefer 'drinking' or prefer 'to drink'."
},
{
"category": "Meaning Shifter",
"question": "The soup has no flavor. Try ____ some salt.",
"options": ["adding", "to add", "Either"],
"answer": "adding",
"explanation": "**Try + -ing** means to experiment. 'To add' would mean making a difficult effort to put it in."
}
]
}
]
1. Verbs Followed by the Gerund (-ing)
We typically use the -ing form when the action is viewed as a general experience, a habit, or something that has already started/happened.
- Common verbs: Enjoy, dislike, finish, quit, mind, suggest, avoid, keep.
- The Pattern: Verb + -ing.
- I enjoy running. (The act of running in general)
- She finished writing the report. (The task was already in progress)
2. Verbs Followed by the Infinitive (to + verb)
The infinitive often points toward future events, intentions, or goals. It suggests an action that hasn't happened yet at the moment of the first verb.
- Common verbs: Plan, hope, want, decide, promise, agree, offer, refuse.
- The Pattern: Verb + to + base form.
- I plan to eat out tonight. (The eating hasn't happened yet)
- They decided to move. (A future intent)
3. The "Meaning Shifters"
Some verbs can take both forms, but the meaning changes significantly. This is where English gets a bit tricky.
| Verb | Followed by -ing (Past/Process) | Followed by Infinitive (Future/Intent) |
| Stop | I stopped smoking. (I quit the habit) | I stopped to smoke. (I paused my walk in order to smoke) |
| Remember | I remember locking the door. (I have a memory of doing it) | Remember to lock the door. (Don't forget to do it in the future) |
| Forget | I'll never forget meeting him. (A memory of a past event) | I forgot to meet him. (I didn't show up) |
| Try | Try adding salt. (Experiment to see if it works) | Try to reach the shelf. (Make an effort to do something difficult) |
4. Other Reliable Patterns
Beyond specific verbs, there are structural rules you can rely on:
- After Prepositions: Always use -ing.
- I’m good at cooking. / She left without saying goodbye.
- As the Subject: Use -ing when the verb is the "thing" you are talking about.
- Swimming is great exercise.
- After Adjectives: Usually use the infinitive.
- It is difficult to breathe. / I'm happy to help.
5. Verbs with No Change in Meaning
A few verbs are flexible and don't care which one you use. The meaning remains the same.
- Begin, start, continue, hate, love, prefer, like.
- "It started to rain" and "It started raining" are both perfectly correct.
Would you like me to create a short practice quiz or a list of the most common "tricky" verbs to help you internalize these?
