By the end of this exercise, you can talk about your own digital habits in English, using the correct gerund or infinitive after key verbs.
Free Year 9 English practice: teenagers and screen time, with gerunds and infinitives, self-marking gap-fills and a writing task.
Read the text about teenagers and screen time. Choose the correct word for each gap.
Most teenagers in Germany enjoy checking their phone many times a day. A recent survey found that students spend almost four hours a day looking at a 1, mostly on social media apps and video platforms.
Some teenagers say they can't stop scrolling even when they want to. Experts say this is because apps are 2 to keep users interested for as long as possible, with notifications and endless new content.
Too much screen time can affect your 3 at school and make it harder to fall asleep at night, because the light from the screen confuses your body.
But it isn't all bad news. Many teenagers manage to use their phones in a healthy way — for example, by setting a daily 4 for certain apps, or by turning off notifications during homework time.
Doctors also 5 putting your phone in another room an hour before bed. That way, your brain has time to relax before sleep.
In the end, a phone is just a 6 — it depends on how you use it.
After verbs like enjoy, avoid, keep, finish, suggest, mind, practise, give up, the next verb takes the -ing form.
1. I really enjoy videos before bed.
2. She's trying to avoid her phone during meals.
3. He keeps track of time when he's gaming.
4. Have you finished the photos yet?
5. Our teacher suggested off notifications during class.
6. Would you mind the volume a bit?
7. I practise English with an app every day.
8. My brother finally gave up that game — it was too addictive.
After verbs like want, decide, plan, hope, promise, manage, refuse, afford, the next verb takes to + infinitive.
1. I want my screen time this month.
2. She decided the app that wasted most of her time.
3. We're planning a screen-free evening once a week.
4. He hopes better at controlling his phone use.
5. I promise my phone off during dinner from now on.
6. She finally managed her homework without checking her phone once.
7. My parents refuse me use my phone after ten o'clock.
8. We can't afford how much time we spend online.
Write 6–8 sentences about your own phone and screen habits. Use at least three gerunds and three infinitives after the verbs you practised.
• What do you enjoy doing on your phone?
• Is there anything you are trying to avoid doing, or planning to change?
• Have you ever decided to take a break from an app?
• What do you hope to do differently in the future?
Review your answers below, then send them to your teacher.
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