Gerund Phrases Quiz
12 questions on English gerund phrases: gerund vs infinitive after verbs (enjoy/want/avoid/decide), gerunds after prepositions and possessive + gerund. B2 level.
This quiz checks how confidently you can apply Gerund Phrases at B2 level, with questions built around real forms such as listening, to postpone, eating, to start and solving rather than abstract rule statements. Each question presents a full example sentence, so you have to judge which form fits the meaning and structure correctly instead of recalling a rule in isolation.
If a question catches you out, the FAQ section below explains the underlying rule in more detail, including common mistakes learners make with this point. Reviewing the explanation immediately after an incorrect answer, then retrying the quiz on a different day, builds more durable grammar knowledge than repeating the same 12 questions back to back.
Gerund Phrases — FAQ
What exactly is a gerund and a gerund phrase?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun, such as 'reading', 'swimming' or 'cooking'. A gerund phrase is the gerund together with its objects and modifiers, working as a single noun unit: in 'Cooking dinner for ten people takes time', the phrase 'Cooking dinner for ten people' is the subject. Gerund phrases can act as subjects, objects or complements in a sentence.
How do I know whether a verb takes a gerund or an infinitive?
There is no single rule, so the patterns must be learned. Verbs of liking, disliking and avoiding usually take the gerund: enjoy, avoid, mind, finish, practise, suggest. Verbs of planning, wanting and deciding usually take the to-infinitive: want, decide, hope, plan, promise, agree, offer. Keeping a list and practising with quizzes helps you remember which verb belongs to which group.
Why must a gerund follow a preposition?
A preposition is always followed by a noun or noun-equivalent, and the only verb form that can act as a noun is the gerund. That is why we say 'interested in learning', 'good at cooking', 'tired of waiting', 'instead of complaining' and 'after finishing'. Using an infinitive after a preposition, such as 'good at to cook', is a very common error to avoid.
What is the possessive plus gerund structure?
When a gerund has its own subject, formal English uses a possessive form before it to show whose action it is: 'I appreciate your helping me', 'She insisted on his paying the bill', 'Do you mind my asking a question?' This emphasises the action rather than the person. In informal speech, many people use the object pronoun instead (you, him, me), but the possessive form is preferred in careful writing.
Which common verbs are always followed by a gerund?
Verbs that always take a gerund include enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, practise, admit, deny, consider, imagine, keep, miss, postpone and risk. For example: 'I enjoy travelling', 'She avoided answering', 'They considered moving abroad'. None of these can be followed by a to-infinitive, so 'enjoy to travel' is incorrect.
Why is 'look forward to' followed by -ing and not the infinitive?
In 'look forward to', the 'to' is a preposition, not the 'to' of an infinitive, so it must be followed by a gerund: 'I look forward to hearing from you', 'We look forward to seeing you'. The same logic applies to other expressions ending in the preposition 'to', such as 'be used to', 'get used to' and 'object to': 'I'm used to working late'.
How do verbs like 'remember', 'stop' and 'try' change meaning with a gerund or infinitive?
With these verbs the choice changes the meaning. 'Remember to lock the door' is a future task; 'I remember locking the door' is a past memory. 'Stop smoking' means to quit; 'stop to smoke' means to pause in order to smoke. 'Try calling him' means to experiment with that method; 'try to call him' means to make an effort. Understanding these contrasts is a key B2 skill.
What is the difference between a gerund and a present participle?
Both end in -ing, so they look identical, but they do different jobs. A gerund functions as a noun: 'Running keeps me fit' (subject), 'I love running' (object). A present participle functions as an adjective or forms continuous tenses: 'a running track' (adjective), 'She is running' (continuous). Identifying the function in the sentence tells you which one you are dealing with.
Can a gerund phrase be the subject of a sentence?
Yes, and this is very common in English. A gerund phrase as a subject takes a singular verb: 'Learning a new language takes time', 'Eating too much sugar is unhealthy', 'Smoking is banned here'. Using a gerund subject often sounds more natural and concise than using an infinitive subject, which is why it is so frequent in both speech and writing.
Why are gerund phrases important for advanced English learners?
Gerund phrases are everywhere in natural English, and the verb-pattern rules behind them separate intermediate from advanced learners. Mastering gerund versus infinitive choices, gerunds after prepositions, possessive plus gerund and meaning-changing verbs lets B2 students write and speak accurately, avoid typical errors and handle the precise constructions tested in advanced exams such as FCE and CAE.