English Grammar Test English Grammar Gerund 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which pair of sentences has the same meaning?
- 'Stop to smoke' and 'stop smoking'
- 'Remember to call' and 'remember calling'
- 'Try eating less' and 'try to eat less' (Correct answer)
- 'Forget locking the door' and 'forget to lock the door'
Correct answer: 'Try eating less' and 'try to eat less'
'Try eating less' and 'try to eat less' are nearly synonymous, both suggesting an attempt; unlike 'stop,' 'remember,' and 'forget,' 'try' shows minimal meaning shift between the two forms.
Question 2: Identify the gerund in: 'Her favorite activity is collecting vintage stamps.'
- favorite
- activity
- collecting (Correct answer)
- vintage
Correct answer: collecting
'Collecting' is a gerund acting as the subject complement, completing the meaning of the linking verb 'is.'
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a gerund after 'there's no'?
- There's no to argue about it.
- There's no argue about it.
- There's no arguing about it. (Correct answer)
- There's no argued about it.
Correct answer: There's no arguing about it.
The fixed expression 'there's no' is always followed by a gerund: 'there's no arguing about it.'
Question 4: In 'I don't mind your leaving early,' what is 'leaving'?
- A present participle modifying 'you'
- A gerund acting as the object of 'mind' (Correct answer)
- An infinitive phrase
- An adjective modifying 'early'
Correct answer: A gerund acting as the object of 'mind'
'Leaving' is a gerund functioning as the direct object of the verb 'mind,' with the possessive 'your' as its subject.
Question 5: Which sentence uses a gerund as an appositive?
- Running is exhausting.
- My hobby, collecting coins, is rewarding. (Correct answer)
- She avoids eating sweets.
- He stopped working.
Correct answer: My hobby, collecting coins, is rewarding.
In 'My hobby, collecting coins, is rewarding,' the gerund phrase 'collecting coins' is an appositive renaming 'hobby.'
Question 6: Choose the correct sentence with a gerund after 'it's no use':
- It's no use to cry over spilled milk.
- It's no use cry over spilled milk.
- It's no use crying over spilled milk. (Correct answer)
- It's no use cried over spilled milk.
Correct answer: It's no use crying over spilled milk.
The fixed expression 'it's no use' must be followed by a gerund: 'it's no use crying.'
Question 7: What is the role of 'having finished' in: 'Having finished the exam, she felt relieved'?
- Perfect gerund as subject
- Perfect participle in an absolute phrase (Correct answer)
- Gerund as object of a preposition
- Passive gerund in a reduced clause
Correct answer: Perfect participle in an absolute phrase
'Having finished the exam' is a perfect participial phrase (not a gerund) modifying the subject 'she' and showing prior action.
English Grammar Test English Grammar Gerund 5
Which pair of sentences has the same meaning?