Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
I like __________ people happy.
A. To have made.
B. made
C. making
D. having made
E. being made

Answer 1

Hint: Gerunds are words that are formed but function as nouns with verbs. Gerunds are also seen to end in 'ing' at times. The word in the blank functions as a noun in this particular phrase, thus becoming the subject of the phrase and also as a verb by taking up the object. This means we will like a gerund in the blank one. Gerunds and infinitives can replace a noun in a sentence. Gerund = the present participle (-ing) form of the verb, e.g., singing, dancing, running. Infinitive = to + the base form of the verb, e.g., to sing, to dance, to run. Whether you use a gerund or an infinitive depends on the main verb in the sentence.

Complete answer:
Option A: to have made is a phrase of a verb that does not function as a noun.
Option B: The past tense is formed again. This is the wrong choice for
Option C: Making is a gerund, as it functions in the sentence as a noun
Choice D: Having made the perfect tense in the past
Option E: Being made is in the continuous present tense and it does not act as a noun. This is the wrong choice.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘C’

Note: You have to learn some fixed prepositions, to do verbs, expressions where the gerund is being used. There is no fixed location for gerunds in sentence structure; it can be used as a subject or as an object as well.