Infinitives, Participles And Gerunds Worksheet

Write whether the underlined words in the following sentences are finite or non-finite. If they are non-finite, say whether they are infinitives, past participles, present participles or gerunds. Before doing this exercise you may want to review this lesson about identifying different types of non-finite verbs.

1. I am waiting to hear from my sister.

2. Running as fast as he could, he beat all his opponents.

3. Driven by hunger, he stole a piece of bread.

4. Smoking is injurious to health.

5. Swimming is a good exercise.

6. I enjoy painting.

7. Unable to bear the humiliation, he killed himself.

8. Working day and night, we finished the project before the deadline.

9. I heard them singing in the other room.

10. I told him to leave.

Answers

1. I am waiting to hear from my sister. (To hear is an infinitive.)

2. Running as fast as he could, he beat all his opponents. (Here running is a present participle; it connects the two clauses. He ran as fast as he could. He beat all his opponents.)

3. Driven by hunger, he stole a piece of bread. (Here driven is a past participle; it connects the two clauses. He was driven by hunger. He stole a piece of bread.)

4. Smoking is injurious to health. (Smoking is the subject of the verb is; hence it is a gerund.)

5. Swimming is a good exercise. (Swimming is the subject of the verb is; hence, it is a gerund.)

6. I enjoy painting. (Painting is the object of the verb enjoy; hence it is a gerund.)

7. Unable to bear the humiliation, he killed himself. (To bear is an infinitive.)

8. Working day and night, we finished the project before the deadline. (Working is a present participle. It connects the two clauses.)

9. I heard them singing in the other room. (Singing is the complement of the object them; it is a gerund.)

10. I told him to leave. (To leave is an infinitive.)

Worksheet 2

Write whether the underlined words in the following sentences are finite or non-finite. If they are non-finite, say whether they are infinitives, past participles, present participles or gerunds.

1. We walked around the neighbourhood looking for the cat.

2. Screaming loudly, they ran out of the house.

3. I called him because I wanted to talk to him.

4. Swimming is a good exercise.

5. Smoking harms not only the smoker but also those around him.

6. She said that she wanted to become a writer.

7. She does not enjoy cooking or cleaning.

8. I am used to working hard.

9. She insisted on my joining her.

10. He was told to mind his own business.

11. She does not believe in showing off her wealth.

12. Wading through the water, we reached the bank of the river.

Answers

1. We walked around the neighbourhood looking for the cat. (looking – non-finite – participle)

2. Screaming loudly, they ran out of the house. (screaming – non-finite – participle)

3. I called him because I wanted to talk to him. (wanted – finite)

4. Swimming is a good exercise. (swimming – non-finite – gerund)

5. Smoking harms not only the smoker but also those around him. (smoking – non-finite – gerund)

6. She said that she wanted to become a writer. (to become – non-finite – infinitive)

7. She does not enjoy cooking or cleaning. (cooking – non-finite – gerund)

8. I am used to working hard. (working – non-finite – gerund)

9. She insisted on my joining her. (joining – non-finite (gerund)

10. He was told to mind his own business. (to mind – non-finite (infinitive))

11. She does not believe in showing off her wealth. (showing – Non-finite (gerund; it is the object of the preposition in))

12. Wading through the water, we reached the bank of the river. (wading – Non-finite (present participle))

Worksheet 3

Write whether the underlined words in the following sentences are finite or non-finite.

1. I don’t want to talk to him ever again.

2. Did you meet him yesterday?

3. What were you doing in my room?

4. She is eager to quit.

5. It took me several months to finish the job.

6. Are there any advantages to living alone?

7. We still don’t know what happened to them.

8. Having finished his homework, he went out to play.

9. Singing merrily, she walked into the room.

10. We are all waiting to hear from them.

11. He denied all charges levelled against him.

12. She accused me of reading her letters.

13. They encouraged him to try again and again.

14. We cannot afford to spend any more money on this.

15. We were all shocked to hear the news of his sudden demise.

16.We are going to win.

17. She will soon have an accident if she continues to drive like that.

18. How are we going to solve this issue?

19. I don’t mind getting up early in the morning.

20. I enjoy going for long drives.

Answers

1. I don’t want to talk to him ever again. (Infinitive)

2. Did you meet him yesterday? (Finite verb)

3. What were you doing in my room? (Present participle)

4. She is eager to quit. (Infinitive)

5. It took me several months to finish the job. (Finite verb)

6. Are there any advantages to living alone? (Gerund – object of the preposition to)

7. We still don’t know what happened to them. (Finite verb)

8. Having finished his homework, he went out to play. (Perfect participle)

9. Singing merrily, she walked into the room. (Present participle)

10. We are all waiting to hear from them. (Present participle)

11. He denied all charges levelled against him. (Past participle)

12. She accused me of reading her letters. (Gerund – object of the preposition of)

13. They encouraged him to try again and again. (Infinitive)

14. We cannot afford to spend any more money on this. (Finite verb)

15. We were all shocked to hear the news of his sudden demise. (Past participle)

16.We are going to win. (Infinitive)

17. She will soon have an accident if she continues to drive like that. (Finite verb)

18. How are we going to solve this issue? (Infinitive)

19. I don’t mind getting up early in the morning. (Gerund – object of the verb mind)

20. I enjoy going for long drives. (Gerund – object of the verb enjoy)