The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Exercises: non-finite verb forms

Non-finite verb forms - Exercise 1

Decide if the following words and expressions (1-20) are followed by a to-infinitive, bare infinitive, -ing form or past participle.

to-infinitive

bare infinitive

-ing form

past participle

should

look forward to

suggest

where

be worth

be

let somebody

apologise for

can't help

too + adjective

afford

needn't

used

be used to

be believed

make somebody

be made

would rather

in order

what about

Non-finite verb forms - Exercise 2

Choose the best answer for each of the following sentences.

Why don't you try ... honey instead of sugar?

using

to use

Remember ... your name on the paper before you submit it.

putting

to put

It could be dangerous ... after you eat.

swimming

to swim

Your shoes are dirty. They need ... .

cleaning

to clean

It's no use ... for this book if you are not going to read it.

paying

to pay

I watched her ... on the tram, and then I went home.

getting

get

I can't help ... when I look at him. He's so funny!

laughing

to laugh

I'm really looking forward to ... to New York next week.

going

go

The fireman warned us not ... any closer.

coming

to come

When you finish vacuuming, go on ... the floor.

scrubbing

to scrub

I'll never forget ... her for the first time. It was love at first sight!

meeting

to meet

We regret ... you that your application has been rejected.

informing

to inform

He went on ... without noticing the teacher behind him.

talking

to talk

After ... for an hour, I got quite hungry.

jogging

jog

A photographer may sometimes spend hours ... for the right moment.

waiting

to wait

Non-finite verb forms - Exercise 3

Fill in each gap in the following sentences with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.

Allen is trying ... ... . (GIVE UP) (SMOKE)

They had their dog ... . (VACCINATE)

Some students are said ... the test more than once. (FAIL)

Dominik had problems ... the complaint letter. (COMPOSE)

I have got used to ... tea without sugar. (DRINK)

My sister hates ... Pam. (CALL)

We are thinking about ... the flat ... . (HAVE) (REDECORATE)

Markus goes ... every winter. (SKI)

I must ... back. I forgot ... the electricity. (GO) (TURN OFF)

She finds it difficult ... new friends. (MAKE)

Non-finite verb forms - Exercise 4

Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

I wish I hadn't taken this job.

I regret ...

It seems that he is working on something very interesting.

He seems ...

It was difficult to understand what he was saying.

I had difficulty ...

I couldn't finish the book in one week because it was very long.

The book was too ...

Gina doesn't often speak in front of crowds.

Gina is not used ...

Could you please wait outside for a minute?

Would you mind ...

I prefer cycling to walking.

I prefer to ...

Our coach made us run in the snow.

We ...

The police let him go home.

He was ...

Keeping your pet healthy and happy is important.

It is important ...

Non-finite verb forms - Exercise 5

Fill in each gap in the following questions with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets (bare infinitive, to-infinitive, -ing form or past participle) and then discuss them with your partner.

What do you think is the best way ... weight? (LOSE)

Do you mind ... told what ... in your free time? (BE) (DO)

Is there an English word you find very difficult ... ? (REMEMBER)

What are you thinking of ... after the lesson? (DO)

How often do you have your teeth ... ? (CHECK)

Is it possible ... a foreign language without ... to the country where it is spoken? (LEARN) (GO)

Have you ever ... a whole weekend ... ? (SPEND) (STUDY)

Would you rather ... abroad alone or with company? (TRAVEL)

What do you regret the most not ... in secondary school? (DO)

Have you ever ... made ... very fast? (BE) (RUN)