Gerunds, Participles, And Infinitives Grammar Quiz

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Heather Baxter, BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching) |
K-12 English Expert
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Heather is an educator, with four years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching. She is skilled in Teaching English as a Second Language and currently works as an Elementary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools. She made a career transition one year ago to explore a new path in writing and copy editing. Heather's specialization lies in curriculum development and educational materials, but she maintains versatility to work across various industries. Known for her keen attention to detail and a deep passion for language, she possesses a sharp eye for precision.
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  • 1/15 Questions

    "Running is not the solution."

    • Participle
    • Gerund
    • Infinitive
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About This Quiz

Are you ready to elevate your grammatical precision and understanding? Look no further than our Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives Quiz! This quiz serves both as an assessment and a valuable learning opportunity to deepen your knowledge of these essential grammatical concepts.

Gerunds, participles, and infinitives play pivotal roles in sentence construction and language fluency. This quiz, featuring a mix of straightforward and slightly more challenging questions, is designed to test your grasp of these elements. For each item, you'll encounter a word or phrase in quotes, and your task is to identify whether it functions as a participle, gerund, or infinitive.

Whether you're brushing up on your grammar skills or seeking to solidify your understanding, this quiz provides an engaging and informative platform. By mastering these fundamental aspects of grammar, you'll enhance your ability to express ideas with precision and clarity. So, are you ready to embark on this grammatical journey? Dive into the quiz, put your knowledge to the test, and discover just how well you can distinguish between gerunds, participles, and infinitives. Best of luck, and enjoy the quiz!

Gerunds, Participles, And Infinitives Grammar Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    "Swimming" is a good exercise.

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The given sentence "Swimming is a good exercise" uses the word "swimming" as a noun, indicating an activity or a thing. In this context, "swimming" functions as a gerund, which is a verb form that acts as a noun. It is not the present participle form of the verb, as it does not function as an adjective or describe an ongoing action. Additionally, it is not an infinitive, as it is not preceded by the word "to." Therefore, the correct answer is gerund.

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  • 3. 

    We drove to the mall "to buy our new surround sound system."

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Infinitive
    Explanation
    The phrase "to buy our new surround sound system" functions as an infinitive in this sentence. An infinitive is a verb form that is used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. In this case, the infinitive phrase serves as the purpose or reason for driving to the mall. The infinitive "to buy" introduces the action of purchasing the surround sound system.

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  • 4. 

    Swimming is a great sport.

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    In the sentence "Swimming is a great sport," the word "swimming" is functioning as a gerund. A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that acts as a noun. In this case, "swimming" is not describing the action of someone swimming; instead, it is serving as the subject or the main idea of the sentence. It's equivalent to saying "The activity of swimming is a great sport." Here, "swimming" functions as a noun representing the activity or concept rather than the action itself.

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  • 5. 

    They have closed the cafeteria "to repair a broken steam table."

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Infinitive
    Explanation
    The given sentence includes the phrase "to repair a broken steam table," which functions as an adverbial infinitive phrase. Infinitives are verb forms that are usually preceded by the word "to" and can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. In this case, the infinitive phrase explains the reason for closing the cafeteria, indicating that it was closed in order to repair a broken steam table.

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  • 6. 

    "Overwhelmed by the menu choices," I just closed my eyes and pointed with my finger.

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The phrase "Overwhelmed by the menu choices" is functioning as an adjective to describe the subject of the sentence. It is modifying the pronoun "I" and indicating the state or feeling of being overwhelmed. This is the function of a participle, which is a verb form that can act as an adjective. Therefore, the correct answer is participle.

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  • 7. 

    "Breaking the light barrier" is simply not possible.

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    In the phrase "Breaking the light barrier," "Breaking" serves as a gerund, functioning as a noun derived from the verb "break." It represents the action of breaking the light barrier. Gerunds, ending in -ing, are versatile as they can act as both verbs and nouns in a sentence.

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  • 8. 

    "Passing this quiz with a good grade" would make me happy.

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "gerund" because "Passing" is functioning as a noun in the sentence, indicating an action or activity. In this case, it represents the action of passing the quiz. Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to a verb and can act as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence. In this sentence, the gerund "Passing" is the subject of the sentence and is the thing that would make the speaker happy.

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  • 9. 

    Choose the correct sentence using a gerund.

    • She enjoys to read books.

    • She enjoys reading books.

    • She enjoy reading books.

    • She enjoyed reading books.

    Correct Answer
    A. She enjoys reading books.
    Explanation
    The gerund "reading" is the correct form here. Gerunds function as nouns and follow certain verbs, like "enjoy," which require the gerund form instead of an infinitive. "Reading" in this case acts as the object of "enjoys."

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  • 10. 

    I always enjoy "watching a meteor shower."

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The given sentence "I always enjoy watching a meteor shower" contains the phrase "watching a meteor shower." This phrase functions as a noun in the sentence, as it is the object of the verb "enjoy." In this case, "watching" is a gerund, which is a verb form that functions as a noun. Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb. Therefore, the correct answer is gerund.

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  • 11. 

    Identify the participle in the sentence: "The broken glass was lying on the floor."

    • Broken

    • Lying

    • Glass

    • Floor

    Correct Answer
    A. Broken
    Explanation
    "Broken" is a past participle used as an adjective to describe "glass." Participles modify nouns and often describe a state resulting from an action. In this case, the glass is described as being in a broken state.

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  • 12. 

    Economics is an "ever-expanding" field of study.

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    • Infinitive

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The word "ever-expanding" is used to describe the field of study, which suggests that it is continuously growing and developing. This is the characteristic of a participle, which is a verb form used as an adjective to describe a noun. In this case, "ever-expanding" is describing the field of study in economics.

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  • 13. 

    Select the correct use of an infinitive.

    • I can swimming fast.

    • I can swim fast.

    • I can to swim fast.

    • I can swims fast.

    Correct Answer
    A. I can swim fast.
    Explanation
    After modal verbs like "can," the base form of the verb (without "to") is used. "Swim" is the correct infinitive usage here. Infinitives express purpose or ability and often follow modal verbs.

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  • 14. 

    Which sentence contains a participle rather than a gerund or infinitive?

    • Swimming is my favorite activity.

    • I like to swim in the evening.

    • The boiling water spilled on the floor.

    • To swim daily improves your stamina.

    Correct Answer
    A. The boiling water spilled on the floor.
    Explanation
    "Boiling" in sentence C is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the noun "water." In contrast, "Swimming" in A is a gerund functioning as a noun, "to swim" in B and D are infinitives acting as nouns or subjects. Participles describe or modify nouns, while gerunds act like nouns and infinitives can act like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Sentence C clearly shows the participle form.

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  • 15. 

    Which of the following sentences uses the infinitive correctly?

    • I am interested to learn new languages.

    • I am interested in learn new languages.

    • I am interested in learning new languages.

    • I am interested learn new languages.

    Correct Answer
    A. I am interested to learn new languages.
    Explanation
    If we were checking for the correct use of infinitives, the sentence would need to use "to learn" instead, as in: "I am interested to learn new languages." However, this construction is less natural than using the gerund in this context. Some verbs and expressions (like "interested in") are followed by a gerund rather than an infinitive, making the original sentence correct, but not an infinitive example.

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Heather Baxter |BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching) |
K-12 English Expert
Heather is an educator, with four years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching. She is skilled in Teaching English as a Second Language and currently works as an Elementary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools. She made a career transition one year ago to explore a new path in writing and copy editing. Heather's specialization lies in curriculum development and educational materials, but she maintains versatility to work across various industries. Known for her keen attention to detail and a deep passion for language, she possesses a sharp eye for precision.

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  • Current Version
  • Jul 15, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
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    Expert Reviewed by
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  • Nov 28, 2008
    Quiz Created by
    Tbecker
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