Gerund – Infinitive (Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate) Test 6

After a verb of position such as lay, we use an -ing form to show what the person was doing at the same time: lay in bed listening. After listen to + object, use the -ing form for an action in progress: listen to the rain beating. Not beaten, because that is a past participle with a passive meaning.

Was leaning is the past continuous, so we need the -ing form after was. A second -ing form, talking to himself, shows what he was doing at the same time. Not leaned, because was leaned would be passive.

Expect is followed by a to-infinitive. Here the meaning is passive (he invites me), so we use the passive infinitive to be invited. Not being invited, because expect does not take an -ing form.

Adjectives such as fortunate, lucky and glad are followed by a to-infinitive. The scholarship was given earlier and someone else gave it, so we use the perfect passive infinitive to have been given. Not having been given, because the adjective needs a to-infinitive (without a preposition).

After a preposition (for) we use an -ing form, not an infinitive. The action happened before the anger and she did it, so the perfect active gerund not having told fits. Not not having been told, because that is passive and the object me follows.

Admit is followed by an -ing form. The stealing happened before the admitting, so the perfect gerund having stolen is used (stealing would also be possible). Not to have stolen, because admit does not take a to-infinitive in the active.

Can't help (= can't stop myself) is always followed by an -ing form: I can't help worrying. Not to worry, because help in this meaning does not take an infinitive.

Deserve is normally followed by a to-infinitive: She deserves to win. Not winning, because deserve + -ing has a passive meaning (The car deserves washing = it should be washed).

Urge follows the pattern verb + object + to-infinitive: urge someone to do something. So I urged her to apply.

Lucky is followed by a to-infinitive: He is lucky to be alive. He is alive now, so the simple infinitive to be is correct. Not being, because the adjective needs a to-infinitive.

After do nothing but we use the bare infinitive (no to): He did nothing but yawn. Not yawning or to yawn, because the verb do before but makes the bare form necessary.

When except or but follows the verb do (do everything except), we use the bare infinitive: She can do everything except cook. Not to cook, because the bare form matches do.

Had better is followed by the bare infinitive, also in questions: Hadn't you better stay in? Not to stay, because had better works like a modal verb.

Would rather is followed by a bare infinitive. For a past action we regret, we use the perfect bare infinitive: would rather not have gone (the clue is last night). Not not to have gone, because would rather never takes to.

A participle clause with Being can give a reason: Being ill = Because he was ill. Not To be ill, because a to-infinitive at the start would show purpose, not reason.

Avoid is always followed by an -ing form: avoid traveling (British spelling: travelling). Not to travel, because avoid does not take an infinitive.

Regret + -ing means being sorry about something in the past. The perfect gerund not having bought stresses that the action (not buying) came earlier. Not not to have bought: regret + to-infinitive is used for giving bad news (I regret to tell you…).

In be used to (= be accustomed to), to is a preposition, so it is followed by an -ing form: I am not used to wearing a suit. Not to wear, which would mean used to for past habits, a different structure.

Remember + to-infinitive means remembering a duty before doing it: Did you remember to post the letter? Not posting: remember + -ing means having a memory of something you already did.

The pattern is prefer + -ing + to + -ing: I prefer traveling by bus to traveling by train. Here to is a preposition, so an -ing form follows it. With a to-infinitive, we say prefer to travel by bus rather than travel by train.