Verbals exercises I.

Choose between the infinitive and the ing-form to use as a subject in the following sentences:

1. I did it because ...... on living in the country would have been to much of a problem. (to go)
2. There was no ...... how his father would react to the news. (to tell)
3. You know, her ....... cleverer than her husband was half the trouble. (to be)
4. Not ...... home, in fact, seemed lately to become the pattern of his life. (to go)
5. I belonged to neither group, and ...... was to take sides. (to speak)
6. There is no ...... how long he would have continued on the subject if his attention had not been distracted by a man who appeared on the deck. (to know)
7. ....... that she was upset would have been an understatement, she was beside herself with anger (to say)
8. There was no ..... the sound. (to mistake)
9. We were in the officces, and ......... to his room meant going right through the place. (to get)
10. Just ........... silent together like that helps. (to be)
11. Just ..... my trouble would have been in bad taste. (to mention)
12. Let us admit that ........... with us is the ting that we cannot do without. (to read)
13. ..... away for a weekend demanded a degree of will and organization. (to get)
14. She felt exhilarated, there eas no ....... it. (to deny)
15. Though it was fine, ........... outside at a small table, eating, was not a tempting prospect. (to sit)
16. There was no ......... for taste. (to account)

KEY

1. to go
2. telling
3. being
4. going
5. to speak
6. knowing
7. to say
8. mistaking
9. to get
10. being
11. to mention
12. reading
13. to get
14. denying
15. to sit
16. accounting