English Advanced Grammar Exercises – Infinitives and -ing forms

A. Complete the sentences, using the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1   They allowed me ………………… . (stay)

2   I wanted ………………… (go) to the concert but I couldn’t get a ticket.

3   These days I seem to spend hours ………………… (write) emails.

4   My parents always encouraged me ………………… (follow) my dreams.

5   I don’t mind ………………… (be) outside in the cold, as long as it’s not raining.

6   Sometimes I long ………………… (go) back to my old life.

7   I can’t imagine not ………………… (be) able to use a mobile phone.

8   She keeps ………………… (talk) about resigning, but she never does.

9   I’m worried about ………………… (go) to the dentist this afternoon.

10   This film always makes me ………………… (laugh).

B. Match the pairs.

a   but it didn’t help.

b   but she didn’t answer the phone.

a   to go to that exhibition.

b   going to that exhibition.

a   that we have lost your passport.

b   my secret. I wish I hadn’t.

a   in the Sahara for a year.

b   there for another six months.

a   because I needed a break.

b   about six months ago. Now I only have orange juice.

C. Complete the rest of the interview with Kate Brown, using the correct form of the words in brackets.

Tim:   Where do you live? I guess there aren’t many flats to rent in Antarctica!

Kate:   No, I live with a group of scientists. I wrote to them 1……………… (ask) if I could stay with them. Well, 2……………… (cut) a long story short, they wrote back and said they don’t normally let other people 3……………… (stay) with them. But they suggested 4……………… (apply) for a job as an administrative assistant. So that’s what I did.

Tim:   And do they make you 5………………  (work) very hard?

Kate:   Not really! I spend a lot of time 6………………  (help) them 7……………… (input) data after their experiments. I can’t complain, 8……………… (consider) how much free time I have 9……………… (paint) my pictures.

Tim:   That’s good. One last question: are you looking forward to 10……………… (go) back home?

Kate:   Not at all, 11……………… (tell) the truth. But I suppose I’ll get used to 12……………… (live) there again after a few weeks.

D. Make these sentences shorter and simpler, using a to-infinitive or an –ing form.

1   He told me that I have to get a visa.

2   She hopes that she’ll go to the Antarctic one day.

3   She admitted that she had lied on her application form.

4   I agreed that I would help her.

5   We expect that we’ll be away for at least a year.

6   Do you remember that you promised to fix my computer?

7   I forgot that I had to buy a ticket.

8   I don’t recall that I told you about my trip.

9   I suggested that we come back the next day.

10   He denied that he had cheated in the exam.

E. Complete each sentence b so that it means the same as sentence a.

1   a   I didn’t manage to take any photos.

      b   l failed …………………………… .

2   a   If by any chance you see Rob, please let me know.

      b   If you happen …………………………… .

3   a   They made me sign a form before I could come in.

      b   I was …………………………… .

4   a   We weren’t allowed to take any photographs without permission.

      b   They didn’t let …………………………… .

5   a   I can’t talk to you now because I don’t have time.

      b   I don’t …………………………… .

6   a   I’ll arrange for somebody to contact you with the details.

      b   I’ll have …………………………… .

7   a   The next thing she did was write a book about her experiences.

      b   She went …………………………… .

8   a   I watch the sunrise while I’m sitting in my chair.

      b   I sit …………………………… .

9   a   I once spent a month in Antarctica to see what it was like.

      b   I once tried …………………………… .

10 a   It started getting dark, so we decided to go home.

      b   It was starting …………………………… .

F. Imagine you live in the Sahara desert or the Amazon jungle. Write a short email telling a friend about your new life. Talk about how you spend your time, what you enjoy seeing and doing, what you hope to do and what you miss.

G. Circle the correct option.

1   When I saw Kate’s pictures, it ………… me want to go to Antarctica too.

      a forced     b urged     c made

2   You scored 15 points, which is not bad, ………… this is your first game.

      a considering

      b noticing

      c mentioning

3   Her plan ………… to the South Pole didn’t really work-she had to return to camp after two days.

      a to travel     b travel     c travelling

4   I regret not ………… to the concert – I wish I’d been there.

      a to going   b to go   c going

5   I’m looking forward ………… a break.

      a to have   b to having   c having