Gerunds are verbs that end in "-ing". They should not be confused with present participles. Although present participles are verb forms that end in "-ing", they are active action words that are happening right now. Gerunds are verb forms that act as nouns in a sentence with no reference to time. Infinitives are verbs combined with the word "to": to see, to run, to start, etc.
When a gerund follows a verb, it is acting as a noun form.
Directions: Which sentence is incorrect?
1) a. The city requires recycling of all glass items.
b. The city requires to recycle of all glass items.
c. The city requires people to recycle all glass items.
2) a. The rangers designating to camp in certain areas of the park.
b. The rangers designated people to camp in certain areas of the park.
c. The rangers designated camping in certain areas of the park.
3) a. My teacher recommended studying together.
b. My teacher recommended students to study together.
c. My teacher recommending students studying together.
4) a. His parents taught skiing at a young age.
b. His parents taught their son to ski at a young age.
c. His parents teaching to skiing at a young age.
5) a. My trainer encourages eating healthy.
b. My trainer encouraging people eating healthy.
c. My trainer encourages everyone to eat healthy.
Directions: Write in the infinitive form of each gerund.
1) Smoking: __________
2) Quitting: __________
3) Washing: __________
4) Fishing: __________
5) Watching: __________
6) Starting: __________
7) Learning: __________
8) Caring: __________
9) Volunteering: __________
10) Happening: __________
Quiz 1 Answers
1) B
2) A
3) C
4) C
5) B
Quiz 2 Answers
1) to smoke
2) to quit
3) to wash
4) to fish
5) to watch
6) to start
7) to learn
8) to care
9) to volunteer
10) to happen