Gerunds and Infinitives Quiz

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Dive into our Gerunds and Infinitives Quiz! It’s crafted for learners aiming to master these essential verb forms in English.

Gerunds and infinitives are crucial for expressing actions or states of being, but they can be tricky. Gerunds are verbs ending in -ing that function as nouns, perfect for talking about activities or preferences. Infinitives are the “to” form of the verb, used to express purposes and intentions or as subjects and objects in sentences. Knowing when and how to use each can polish your English skills.

This quiz offers a hands-on way to practice distinguishing between gerunds and infinitives and using them correctly in various contexts. Whether you’re studying English as a second language or brushing up on grammar, this quiz will guide you through the nuances of gerunds and infinitives. Let’s jump in and get comfortable with these versatile verb forms!

1. What is a gerund?

a) A verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun
b) A base form of a verb following 'to'
c) A verb form used to indicate the future
d) A past tense form of a verb

Answer:

a) A verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun

Explanation:

A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun in a sentence. For example, in "Swimming is fun," 'swimming' is a gerund.

2. What is an infinitive?

a) A verb form that functions as an adjective
b) The basic form of a verb without any endings
c) A verb form ending in -ed
d) The base form of a verb following 'to'

Answer:

d) The base form of a verb following 'to'

Explanation:

An infinitive is the base form of a verb often preceded by 'to.' For example, 'to eat', 'to sleep', and 'to think' are infinitives.

3. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a gerund.

a) She enjoys running in the park.
b) She enjoys to run in the park.
c) She enjoys runs in the park.
d) She enjoys run in the park.

Answer:

a) She enjoys running in the park.

Explanation:

'Running' is a gerund in this sentence. Gerunds are used after certain verbs like 'enjoy' to indicate an action or a state.

4. Identify the infinitive in this sentence: "He wants to learn Spanish."

a) He
b) Wants
c) To learn
d) Spanish

Answer:

c) To learn

Explanation:

'To learn' is the infinitive in this sentence. It follows the verb 'wants' and expresses what he wants to do.

5. What is the role of a gerund in a sentence?

a) To show future actions
b) To function as the main verb
c) To act as a noun
d) To provide additional information about a verb

Answer:

c) To act as a noun

Explanation:

Gerunds act as nouns in a sentence. They can be the subject, object, or complement, like in "Swimming is my hobby," where 'swimming' is the subject.

6. Choose the sentence that correctly uses an infinitive.

a) She decided to start a new project.
b) She decided starting a new project.
c) She decided starts a new project.
d) She decided started a new project.

Answer:

a) She decided to start a new project.

Explanation:

'To start' is an infinitive in this sentence. Infinitives often follow verbs like 'decide' to express the action that is decided upon.

7. Identify the gerund in this sentence: "Reading helps you learn."

a) Reading
b) Helps
c) You
d) Learn

Answer:

a) Reading

Explanation:

'Reading' is a gerund in this sentence. It functions as the subject of the verb 'helps'.

8. What is the difference between a gerund and a present participle?

a) A gerund acts as a verb, while a present participle acts as a noun
b) A gerund and a present participle are the same
c) A gerund acts as a noun, while a present participle acts as an adjective
d) A present participle is always followed by 'to'

Answer:

c) A gerund acts as a noun, while a present participle acts as an adjective

Explanation:

Although both gerunds and present participles end in -ing, gerunds function as nouns, while present participles act as adjectives or part of verb tenses. For example, in "Swimming is fun" (gerund) versus "The swimming boy was fast" (present participle).

9. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a gerund phrase.

a) Eating healthy foods is important for your health.
b) Eating healthy foods to important for your health.
c) To eat healthy foods is important for your health.
d) Eat healthy foods is important for your health.

Answer:

a) Eating healthy foods is important for your health.

Explanation:

'Eating healthy foods' is a gerund phrase in this sentence, functioning as the subject. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus any modifiers or objects.

10. Identify the infinitive phrase in this sentence: "To win the race, he trained every day."

a) To win the race
b) He trained
c) Every day
d) The race

Answer:

a) To win the race

Explanation:

'To win the race' is an infinitive phrase in this sentence. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus any modifiers or complements.

11. What is the function of an infinitive phrase in a sentence?

a) To indicate the past action
b) To function as a noun, adjective, or adverb
c) To act solely as a verb
d) To describe the subject

Answer:

b) To function as a noun, adjective, or adverb

Explanation:

Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. For example, "To win the race" (subject), "He had a desire to succeed" (adjective), "He trained hard to improve" (adverb).

12. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a split infinitive.

a) She decided to quickly leave the party.
b) She decided to leave quickly the party.
c) She decided to leave the party quickly.
d) She decided quickly to leave the party.

Answer:

a) She decided to quickly leave the party.

Explanation:

A split infinitive occurs when an adverb is placed between 'to' and the verb. "To quickly leave" is an example of a split infinitive.

13. Identify the gerund used as a subject complement in this sentence: "My favorite activity is swimming."

a) My favorite activity
b) Is
c) Swimming
d) Activity

Answer:

c) Swimming

Explanation:

'Swimming' is a gerund used as a subject complement in this sentence. It complements the subject 'My favorite activity'.

14. What is the role of a gerund as an object of a preposition?

a) To function as the subject of a sentence
b) To describe the subject
c) To follow a preposition and act as a noun
d) To express a future action

Answer:

c) To follow a preposition and act as a noun

Explanation:

Gerunds can be used as objects of prepositions. For example, "He is interested in learning French," where 'learning' is the gerund following the preposition 'in'.

15. Choose the sentence that correctly uses an infinitive as an adjective.

a) I have a book to read.
b) I have a book reading.
c) To read a book I have.
d) A book to read I have.

Answer:

a) I have a book to read.

Explanation:

'To read' is an infinitive used as an adjective modifying the noun 'book', indicating the purpose or intended use of the book.

16. Identify the gerund in this sentence: "I enjoy cooking for my family."

a) I
b) Enjoy
c) Cooking
d) For my family

Answer:

c) Cooking

Explanation:

'Cooking' is a gerund in this sentence, functioning as the object of the verb 'enjoy'.

17. What is the function of an infinitive as a direct object?

a) To modify a noun
b) To act as the main verb of the sentence
c) To follow a verb and express the action to be performed
d) To introduce a dependent clause

Answer:

c) To follow a verb and express the action to be performed

Explanation:

Infinitives can function as direct objects of verbs. For example, "She likes to swim," where 'to swim' is the direct object of the verb 'likes'.

18. Choose the sentence that correctly uses an infinitive as an adverb.

a) She went to the store to buy groceries.
b) She to buy groceries went to the store.
c) To buy groceries, she went to the store.
d) She went the store to buy groceries.

Answer:

a) She went to the store to buy groceries.

Explanation:

'To buy groceries' is an infinitive phrase functioning as an adverb, explaining why she went to the store.

19. Identify the gerund used as an object in this sentence: "They discussed selling the house."

a) They
b) Discussed
c) Selling
d) The house

Answer:

c) Selling

Explanation:

'Selling' is a gerund in this sentence, functioning as the object of the verb 'discussed'.

20. What is the role of a gerund in a compound noun?

a) To function as an adjective
b) To serve as the main verb
c) To form part of the noun, often indicating an activity
d) To indicate a future action

Answer:

c) To form part of the noun, often indicating an activity

Explanation:

In compound nouns, gerunds can be used to indicate activities or processes, such as 'swimming pool' or 'driving lesson'.

21. Choose the sentence that correctly avoids a gerund.

a) I avoid going to crowded places.
b) I avoid to go to crowded places.
c) To go I avoid crowded places.
d) I avoid crowded places going.

Answer:

a) I avoid going to crowded places.

Explanation:

'Going' is correctly used as a gerund after the verb 'avoid'. Some verbs are followed by gerunds rather than infinitives.

22. Identify the infinitive used as a subject in this sentence: "To learn a new language is exciting."

a) To learn
b) A new language
c) Is
d) Exciting

Answer:

a) To learn

Explanation:

'To learn' is an infinitive used as the subject of the sentence. It introduces the subject matter of the sentence, which is the action of learning a new language.

23. What is the function of a gerund in a sentence's subject position?

a) To act as the main verb
b) To modify the verb
c) To serve as the subject of the sentence
d) To provide additional information about the object

Answer:

c) To serve as the subject of the sentence

Explanation:

Gerunds can function as the subject of a sentence, representing the action or activity. For example, in "Swimming is my favorite sport," 'Swimming' is the subject and is a gerund.

24. Choose the sentence that correctly uses an infinitive to express purpose.

a) She went to the library for reading books.
b) She went to the library to read books.
c) She went to the library read books.
d) To read books, she went to the library.

Answer:

b) She went to the library to read books.

Explanation:

'To read books' is an infinitive phrase used to express the purpose of her going to the library. It explains why she went there.

25. Identify the gerund phrase used as an object complement in this sentence: "Her favorite hobby is painting landscapes."

a) Her favorite hobby
b) Is
c) Painting landscapes
d) Landscapes

Answer:

c) Painting landscapes

Explanation:

'Painting landscapes' is a gerund phrase in this sentence, functioning as an object complement. It complements and provides more information about the subject 'Her favorite hobby'.

Related MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) :

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