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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Take the Gerunds, Participles & Infinitives Quiz!

Think you can ace this verbals practice test? Show off your gerund participle infinitive skills!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a quiz on verbals practice test including gerunds, participles, infinitives on sky blue background

This quiz helps you practice gerunds, participles, and infinitives so you can pick the right form in real sentences. Get instant feedback, fix common mix-ups, and spot gaps before a test. Want a quick refresh first? See the verbals review , then try the verbs quiz .

Eating too much sugar can cause health problems. Identify the verbal form of "Eating."
Finite verb
Infinitive
Gerund
Present participle used as adjective
"Eating" here functions as a noun (the subject of the sentence), so it is a gerund. Gerunds are verbals ending in - ing that act as nouns. They can serve as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence.
She hopes ____ you soon.
to call
call
called
calling
After the verb "hope," we use the infinitive form "to call" to express intention or desire. Infinitives are formed with "to" plus the base verb and often follow verbs of desire or expectation.
To win the championship was his dream. What function does "to win" serve?
Adjective modifying noun
Participle phrase
Noun (subject)
Adverbial phrase
"To win the championship" acts as the subject of the sentence, so it functions as a noun phrase (infinitive used as a noun). Infinitives can take on noun roles such as subject, object, or complement.
They are excited about ____ on vacation.
to go
going
go
having gone
After a preposition like "about," you must use a gerund. "Going" is the gerund form of the verb "go." Gerunds follow prepositions to act as noun objects of the preposition.
The cat purring softly sat on my lap. What form is "purring"?
Infinitive
Gerund
Present participle
Past participle
"Purring" describes the cat's action and modifies the noun, so it is a present participle used adjectivally. Participles are verbals that act as adjectives.
He decided ____ a new car instead of repairing the old one.
buying
buy
to buy
having bought
Verbs like "decide" are followed by the infinitive form. "To buy" properly expresses the chosen action. Gerunds cannot directly follow "decide" in this sense.
I remember ____ her at the conference last year.
meeting
meet
having met
to meet
After verbs of memory like "remember," when referring to past experiences, we use the gerund "meeting." The infinitive would indicate a future action or planned event.
She made me ____ my mistake.
to admit
admit
admitting
admitted
After "make" in active voice, the following verb is in the bare infinitive form without "to." Here, "admit" is correct. This is a unique rule for causative verbs like make and let.
She has a paper to write before tomorrow. What is the function of "to write"?
Adjective modifying "paper"
Adverbial phrase
Participle phrase
Noun (subject)
The infinitive "to write" modifies the noun "paper," telling us what kind of paper. In this case, it functions adjectivally. Infinitives can serve as adjectives when they describe nouns.
Having finished the exam, they left the room. What form is "having finished"?
Past participle
Gerund
Perfect participle
Infinitive phrase
"Having finished" is a perfect participle phrase, showing that one action was completed before another. Perfect participles use "having" plus the past participle. They often introduce a participle clause.
Her plan to start a business failed. What type of verbal phrase is "to start a business"?
Infinitive phrase
Noun clause
Participle phrase
Gerund phrase
"To start a business" is an infinitive phrase functioning as the object of "plan." Infinitive phrases consist of "to" plus a base verb, and they can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
____ early would have saved you the traffic.
Leave
Leaving
To leave
Having left
As the subject of the sentence, the gerund "Leaving" is required. Infinitives can sometimes act as subjects, but using a gerund here is more idiomatic. Gerund subjects express general actions or activities.
The man arrested by the police was innocent. What form is "arrested"?
Gerund
Past participle used as adjective
Infinitive
Present participle
"Arrested" is the past participle of "arrest" and is used here adjectivally to modify "man." Reduced relative clauses often use participles to replace full clauses. This is a common participle clause structure.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Gerunds -

    Spot gerunds functioning as nouns in diverse sentences, strengthening your skills in verbals practice.

  2. Distinguish Participles -

    Differentiate between present and past participles used as adjectives, boosting your clarity in gerunds participles and infinitives usage.

  3. Recognize Infinitives -

    Recognize infinitives serving as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, expanding your knowledge of infinitive verbals.

  4. Differentiate Verbals -

    Analyze quiz items to determine whether each verbal is a gerund, participle, or infinitive, mastering gerund participle or infinitive distinctions.

  5. Apply Correct Verbals -

    Choose the appropriate gerund, participle, or infinitive in sentence completions, enhancing accuracy in a verbals practice test setting.

  6. Enhance Grammar Skills -

    Build confidence in your writing by applying correct verbals and reducing errors in gerunds participles and infinitives.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Identifying gerunds, participles, and infinitives -

    In verbals practice, a gerund ends in - ing and acts as a noun, a participle ends in - ing or - ed and modifies a noun, while an infinitive appears as "to + verb" serving noun, adjective, or adverb roles. A quick tip from Purdue OWL: ask "what?" or "who?" to spot gerunds, "which one?" for participles, and "why?" or "to what end?" for infinitives. Mastering these patterns is foundational for gerunds participles and infinitives quizzes.

  2. Gerunds as subjects and objects -

    Gerunds function seamlessly as subjects (Swimming is fun) or objects (I enjoy reading) in sentences, just like nouns. To remember, use the mnemonic "G.S.O." (Gerunds Serve as Objects/Subjects) inspired by Cambridge University guidance. Practicing gerund participle or infinitive identification helps cement this role in your writing.

  3. Participles in adjective roles -

    Present participles (e.g., running water) and past participles (e.g., broken glass) both describe nouns and can start clauses that add vital details. According to University of Oxford resources, dangling participles often cause confusion, so always match the participle to the correct subject. Regular verbals practice test exercises will sharpen your participle-spotting skills.

  4. Infinitives for purpose, result, and beyond -

    Infinitives (to + verb) frequently express purpose ("He paused to think") but can also act as nouns ("To travel is my dream") or adjectives/adverbs. The mnemonic "To Do Anything" reminds you of this versatility, supported by examples from the OWL at Purdue. Incorporating infinitives into your verbals practice ensures you can harness their full potential.

  5. Avoiding common verbals pitfalls -

    Watch out for verbs that change meaning with a gerund vs. an infinitive (e.g., "remember doing" vs. "remember to do"), as highlighted by the British Council. Preposition + gerund combos (look forward to meeting) often trip writers up - infinitives don't follow prepositions. Regular verbals practice keeps these tricky patterns top of mind and boosts confidence.

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