Free Infinitives and Gerunds MCQs with Answers

21. You _______ to eat if you don't feel like it.

• A. haven't
• B. needn't
• C. mustn't
• D. don't have

Explanation: “Don’t have to eat” expresses a lack of obligation and correctly places to after have. Needn't is also a modal of no obligation, but it is followed directly by the verb, so “needn't to eat” is ungrammatical.

22. She always keeps on _________ dramas.

• A. watch
• B. watched
• C. watching
• D. watches

Explanation: The phrasal verb “keep on” is followed by a gerund, so the correct form is “watching.” “Keep on watch” is not grammatical in this construction.

23. He is good at ________ English.

• A. spoken
• B. speaking
• C. speak
• D. spoke

Explanation: The preposition “at” must be followed by a gerund, giving “good at speaking English.” The base form “speak” cannot follow this preposition.

24. I told him _____ play cricket.

• A. don't
• B. to not
• C. not to
• D. didn't

Explanation: A negative infinitive is formed with “not” before “to”: “I told him not to play cricket.” “Don’t” and “didn’t” cannot follow “told him” in this structure.

25. Complete the following sentence: The doctor advised the patient ______________________

• A. that no to neglect his health
• B. to not to neglect his health
• C. not to neglect his health
• D. don't neglect your health

Explanation: Advise takes an object followed by a to-infinitive: “advised the patient not to neglect his health.” The negative is formed with “not to,” not “to not to” or a direct command.

26. "Reading" quickly and well requires practice. The "Reading" word is a/an ___________.

• A. Infinitive
• B. Verb
• C. Gerund
• D. present Participle

Explanation: “Reading” functions as the subject and names an activity, so it is a gerund. A present participle normally modifies a noun or helps form a continuous verb tense.

27. It's difficult __________reconcile such different points of view.

• A. with
• B. to
• C. in
• D. on

Explanation: The adjective pattern is “difficult to reconcile,” using the infinitive with to. “Reconcile” means bring different opinions or points of view into agreement.

28. The company let me ____ time off work.

• A. take
• B. taking
• C. to take
• D. took

Explanation: The verb “let” is followed by an object and a bare infinitive: “let me take.” It is not followed by “to take” or a past-tense verb.

29. After_____________smoking, they let the cigarette fall on the wood floor.

• A. finished
• B. finishing
• C. had finished
• D. finishes

Explanation: After a preposition such as “after,” a gerund is used, giving “after finishing.” The understood subject of “finishing” is the same as the subject of “they let.”