Level: Intermediate and Up
Pair with the Song: “7 Years” (Lukas Graham, 2015)
Recommended Video: the official lyric video

In the song “7 Years,” the songwriter sings, “I started writing songs. I started writing stories.” The verb start belongs to a group of verbs that can be followed with either a gerund (I started writing songs) or an infinitive (I started to write songs). Verbs in this group are: begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, and can’t stand. (In the progressive tenses, however, only an infinitive follows these verbs, for example, The baby is starting to crawl.) The interactive worksheet below gives students practice using this group of verbs. (You may need to stress that there are two grammatically correct ways to fill in each blank–with a gerund OR an infinitive; students are generally accustomed to worksheets in which there is only one correct answer.) Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use. For more activities to pair with this song, please see the Lesson Plan.

infinitive or gerund. docx          infinitive or gerund. pdf          infinitive or gerund (webpage)

Preview:

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive or a Gerund

A. Read the sentences below. Which one is correct?

1. I started to play soccer when I was six years old, and I still like to play.
2. I started playing soccer when I was six years old, and I still like playing.

Both sentences are correct. The verbs start and like can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund. Other verbs that can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund are: begin, continue, love, hate, and can’t stand.

B. Complete the sentences below with either an infinitive or a gerund.

1. What is something you started (do) ______________________________ when you
were a child and still like (do) _______________________?
I started ______________________________ when I was a child, and I still like (do)
______________________________ it.
2. When did you begin (learn) ______________________________ English?
I began (learn) ______________________________ English _________ years ago.
3. What is something you’ll continue (do) ______________________________ even
when you’re old?
I’ll continue ______________________________ even when I’m old.
4. What is something you can’t stand (do) ______________________________?
I can’t stand ______________________________.
5. What is something you like (do) ______________________________?
I like ______________________________.
6. What is something you love (do) _____________________________?
I love ______________________________.

C. Read the questions and answers aloud with a partner.

Copyright © 2016 Sandra Heyer. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Image: Copyright © Ron Sumner | Dreamstime. Reprinted with permission.