The gerund placement test

І. Using the verbs in brackets, supply the appropriate form of the gerund.

1. The letter needs (send) ___ immediately.

2. Ms. Walters complained about (tell, not) _____ about the meeting.

3. Ann borrowed Sally’s clothes without (ask) ___ her first.

4. We appreciated (invite) ____ to your house.

5. The boy resented (talk) ___ about behind his back.

6. His (be, not) ___ able to come is disappointing.

7. I can’t help (wonder) ___ why Larry did such a foolish thing.

8. It’s useless. Enough’s enough. Don’t keep (beat) ___ your head against a brick wall.

9. You should stop (drive) ___ if you fee sleepy.

10. I don’t remember ever (hear) ___ this story before.

ІІ. Fill in the gaps with prepositions if necessary.

1. There is a hole in our roof. It needs ____ repairing.

2. Alice isn’t interested ___ looking for a new job.

3. Matthew left ____ telling anyone.

4. Karen got along very well in France despite ____ not being able to speak French.

5. I’m not used ____ drinking wine with my meals.

6. Keep ___ doing whatever you were doing. Sorry ___ interrupting you.

7. Mary suggested ___ going on a picnic tomorrow.

8. I apologized to Diana ___ making her wait for me.

9. We all congratulate you ____ winning the first prize!

10. Who is responsible ___ washing the dishes after dinner?

Task 1. Point out gerunds and comment on their form and function.

1. I dislike eating fast food every day.

2. Bill isn’t used to wearing a suit and tie every day.

3. I’m angry at him for not having told me the truth.

4. I’m going to visit my family during the school vacation.

5. I’m looking forward to eating my mother’s cooking.

6. I started bringing my own lunch to work, which is more cheap and healthy.

7. I forgot to answer your letter. I’m sorry.

8. I remember seeing this man before.

9. Learning a foreign language is difficult but exciting.

10. Martha is very shy. She avoids being photographed.

11. He started to collect stamps when he was in school.

12. They say, seeing is believing, but many people can’t believe what they see and insist on being explained everything.

13. We all enjoyed Ann’s singing.

14. Before leaving the house remember to turn off the lights.

15. I appreciate having had an opportunity to meet the President.

Task 2. Decide if the following statements about the gerund are true or false. Correct false statements. Use examples from Task 1 to illustrate your answer.

1. The Gerund is often used as the subject of the sentence./T

2. Some verbs can be followed by either the gerund or the infinitive, without a change in meaning./T

3. The gerund is the only verb form that can be followed by a preposition./F (it’s the only verb form that can follow the preposition)

4. Gerund is used to make general statements./T

5. A few verbs (e.g. stop, remember, forget) can be followed by either a gerund or the infinitive, but the meanings are very different./T

6. Some verbs can be followed either by the Gerund or the infinitive without change in meaning. /T

7. The gerund is not used in the function of the object./ F

8. The gerund can be modified by a noun in the possessive case./T

Task 3. Supply an appropriate preposition and verb form

1. Alice is not interested ___ (look) _____ for a new job.

2. Henry is excited ___ (leave) ____ for India.

3. You are capable ___ (do) ____ better work.

4. I’m accustomed ___ (have) ____ a big breakfast.

5. The rain prevented us ____ (complete) _____ the work.

6. Fred is always complaining ___ (have) a headache.

7. Instead ______ ( study) _____, Margaret went to a ball game.

8. Thank you ___ (help) ____ me carry the packages to the post office.

9. Excuse me ___ (interrupt) ___ you, but may I ask you something?

10. It took us a long time, but finally we succeeded ____ (solve) ___ the problem.

11. Nobody suspected the young man ___ (be) a spy.

12. I feel lazy. I don’t feel ___ (do) ___ any work.

13. I’ve always dreamed ___ (live) ___ in a small house by the sea.

14. Some parents do not approve ___ their children (watch) ___ a lot of television.

15. It’s a pity Paul can’t come to the party. I was really looking forward ___ (see) ___ him.