Fill in the blanks with an ing form or an infinitive.
1The thought ............... never entered his head.
Wrong!
After the noun "thought", we use the preposition plus gerund "of failing".
2She is quite good ............... puzzles.
Wrong!
The adjective "good" takes the preposition "at", followed by the gerund "solving".
3I am tired ............... to your advice.
Wrong!
The adjective "tired" takes the preposition "of", followed by the gerund "listening".
4You can’t talk without ............... your mouth.
Wrong!
After the preposition "without", we use the gerund "opening".
5We managed to finish the job by ............... overtime.
Wrong!
After the preposition "by", we use the gerund "working".
6We repaired the roof instead of ............... on vacation.
Wrong!
After the phrase "instead of", we use the gerund "going".
7I look forward to ............... a grandmother.
Wrong!
In "look forward to", "to" is a preposition, so the correct form is "becoming".
8I am not used to ............... in big cities.
Wrong!
In "be used to", "to" is a preposition, so the correct form is "living".
9He objects to ............... on weekends.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "object to" is followed by the gerund "working".
10They don’t permit ............... in the conference hall.
Wrong!
When "permit" has no object before the next verb, we use the gerund "smoking".
11We regret ............... you that the flight has been cancelled.
Wrong!
For announcing bad news, "regret" is followed by the infinitive "to inform".
12The principal has forbidden students ............... in the corridors.
Wrong!
After "forbid" with an object, we use the object plus infinitive pattern "to sing".
Answers
- The thought of failing never entered his head.
- She is quite good at solving puzzles.
- I am tired of listening to your advice.
- You can’t talk without opening your mouth.
- We managed to finish the job by working overtime.
- We repaired the roof instead of going on vacation.
- I look forward to becoming a grandmother.
- I am not used to living in big cities.
- He objects to working on weekends.
- They don’t permit smoking in the conference hall.
- We regret to inform you that the flight has been cancelled.
- The principal has forbidden students to sing in the corridors.