Advanced grammar tests - English exam centre 2015
Gerunds & Infinitives/ Test-2
1. There is no point in … the washing out because it keeps ... with rain.
A) to hang / to shower
B) hanging / showering
C) hand / shower
D) hung / having showered
E) having hung / showered
2. I dislike spending my time ... so I prefer ... clothes made from synthetic fabrics.
A) to iron / to buy
B) ironed / bought
C) ironing / buying
D) iron / being bought
E) having ironed / buy
3. Don’t you think the assistant deserves ... a day off after working so hard at the exhibition?
A) to give
B) giving
C) to be given
D) gave
E) having given
4. In my opinion, it’s ridiculous ... a computer as a present for a three-year-old child.
A) bought
B) buy
C) having bought
D) being bought
E) to buy
5. I don’t think I would enjoy ... a cricket match as I don’t understand the rules.
A) to watch
B) being watched
C) having watched
D) watching
E) watch
6. Because they both work at the family’s flower shop, they have agreed ... about flowers at weekends.
A) not to talk
B) not talking
C) haven’t talked
D) not talk
E) don’t talk
7. ... the old hospital would cost £1 million, so the council are considering ... the building to developers.
A) Demolishing / selling
B) To demolish / to sell
C) Demolished / to have sold
D) Having demolished / sell
E) Being demolished / having sold
8. Being able to think quickly and having an up-to-date knowledge of a language is essential for speakers ... simultaneously.
A) to be translated
B) having translated
C) to translate
D) being translated
E) translated
9. In order to save money and energy, we are going to have double glazed windows ... .
A) having installed
B) install
C) to install
D) installed
E) installing
10. In his performance against Brazil, he proved himself ... a skilled player.
A) was
B) be
C) having been
D) being
E) to be
11. After the game, the players sat around ... themselves on their performance.
A) being congratulated
B) congratulate
C) congratulating
D) to have congratulated
E) congratulated
12. The photographs he took of the products were too dark ... on the company’s web site, so he’ll have to get some professionally.
A) using / to be taken
B) to be used / taken
C) to use / taking
D) use / to take
E) being used / take
13. The director of the play still hasn’t decided whom ... in the role of the hero.
A) casting
B) to cast
C) cast
D) having cast
E) being cast
14. Why don’t you go and ask a chemist ... something ... dry skin?
A) recommending / soothed
B) having recommended / soothe
C) recommend / having soothed
D) to recommend / to soothe
E) recommend / soothing
15. The problem with Simon is that he thinks he can succeed ... a degree without ... any lectures.
A) gaining / having attended
B) to gain / to have attended
C) on gaining / attended
D) for gaining / to attend
E) in gaining / attending
16. We have decided ... a new Ford Focus, but we are not certain about which colour ... .
A) buying / choosing
B) bought / chosen
C) having bought / choose
D) to have bought / be chosen
E) to buy / to choose
17. Wearing high-healed shoes for long periods can result in women ... too much pain from their feet ... in active work.
A) to suffer / continuing
B) suffer / having continued
C) suffering / to continue
D) suffered / not to continue
E) having suffered / not continuing
18. His daughter persuaded him ... his heart operation in a private hospital instead of waiting for one in a state hospital as she could see his condition ... worse daily.
A) to have / getting
B) from having / to get
C) having had / get
D) to be having / to have got
E) have / having been getting
19. I knew the answer, but I didn’t press the buzzer quickly enough ... the prize.
A) winning
B) to win
C) win
D) won
E) being won
20. Robert didn’t work as carefully last year as he does this year, and the boss had even threatened ... him if he didn’t improve his work.
A) sacking
B) being sacked
C) to be sacked
D) to sack
E) to have sacked
21. I’d love ... on my own, but I simply can’t afford ... my own flat.
A) to live / to have
B) living / having
C) live / to be having
D) having lived / have
E) to have lived / having had
22. The receptionist never minds ... with sending out the new catalogues.
A) to help
B) to have helped
C) to be helping
D) have helped
E) helping
23. The manager likes ... on all pricing decisions.
A) to have consulted
B) having consulted
C) to be consulting
D) being consulted
E) having been consulting
24. I am hoping ... for the school basketball team next week.
A) picking
B) to be picked
C) to pick
D) picked
E) pick
25. Your hair needs ... before you go back to school.
A) to cut
B) being cut
C) cutting
D) having cut
E) to be cutting
26. The social worker gave the students a talk ... them against ... drugs.
A) to warn / taking
B) having warned / to take
C) warning / taken
D) to have warned / take
E) warn / having taken
27. He’s not in the habit ... lies, but he had to make up an excuse ... the afternoon off for his job interview.
A) of telling / to take
B) to tell / to have taken
C) for telling / being taken
D) being told / taking
E) having told / to be taken
28. In the Middle Ages, surrounding a castle with a ditch filled with water proved ... a successful technique ... its security.
A) being / to be ensured
B) to have been / ensure
C) having been / of ensuring
D) have been / to ensure
E) to be / for ensuring
29. The most effective way ... the destructiveness of earthquakes is ... buildings and other structures capable of withstanding strong shaking.
A) reducing / being constructed
B) reduced / having constructed
C) to be reduced / constructing
D) to reduce / to construct
E) reduce / to be constructed
30. The children were … giving up hope when someone phoned to say their dog had been found.
A) in the habit of
B) in return for
C) on the point of
D) for the sake of
E) in exchange for
31. ... a doorman at a hotel consists ... greeting guests and taking them to their rooms.
A) To be / in
B) To have been / for
C) Being / of
D) Having been / about
E) Be / from
32. She should have apologized to him ... spilling coffee down his suit.
A) about
B) with
C) of
D) for
E) by
33. Sheep have been so changed by breeding that their wild ancestors are hard ... .
A) identifying
B) being identified
C) to identify
D) identify
E) having identified
34. Shopping for fruit and vegetables makes me ... hungry.
A) to feel
B) feel
C) felt
D) feeling
E) to be feeling
35. We haven’t yet decided when ... a meeting, so we’ll let you ... as soon as we’ve fixed a date.
A) to hold / know
B) holding / to know
C) held / to be known
D) to have held / knowing
E) having held / known
36. Tobacco, which we now know ... so harmful, was once thought ... medicinal value.
A) being / to be having
B) be / to have
C) having been / to have had
D) to have been / having
E) to be / to have
37. His ability ... well makes him a great teacher.
A) being communicated
B) communicated
C) having communicated
D) to communicate
E) communicating
38. We should appreciate ... in the 20th century, when we have so many appliances ... the hardships of our lives.
A) to be living / easing
B) having lived / being eased
C) living / to ease
D) to live / having eased
E) live / to be easing
39. You don’t appear ... the formula. Do you want me ... it once more?
A) having understood / explaining
B) understand / to have explained
C) to have understood / to explain
D) understood / to be explaining
E) understanding / having explained
40. My mother won’t allow anyone ... the living room until she finishes ... .
A) enter / to vacuum
B) to enter / vacuuming
C) entering / having vacuumed
D) entered / to be vacuuming
E) having entered / vacuum