3. Write the correct form of the verb (infinitive with/without to or gerund). - My friends encouraged me _____________ (apply) for this job. - I didn’t mean ____________ (hurt) your feelings. - I must apologize for _____________ (be) rude. - If you have any questions, don’t hesitate _____________ (call) me. - Don’t you dare ____________ (talk) to me like that!

Here's how I would answer your question in the format of a user on a question-and-answer website:

In each of these sentences, you need to choose the correct form of the verb, either as an infinitive (with or without "to") or as a gerund (the -ing form). Let's break down each sentence:

1. "My friends encouraged me _____________ (apply) for this job."

   • Correct form: "to apply"
   • Explanation: After verbs like "encourage," we use the infinitive form with "to." The sentence should read: "My friends encouraged me to apply for this job."

2. "I didn’t mean ____________ (hurt) your feelings."

   • Correct form: "to hurt"
   • Explanation: "Mean" is followed by an infinitive with "to" when expressing intention. The sentence should be: "I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings."

3. "I must apologize for _____________ (be) rude."

   • Correct form: "being"
   • Explanation: When a verb follows a preposition (in this case, "for"), it is usually in the gerund (-ing) form. Thus, it should be: "I must apologize for being rude."

4. "If you have any questions, don’t hesitate _____________ (call) me."

   • Correct form: "to call"
   • Explanation: The phrase "don’t hesitate" is typically followed by an infinitive with "to." So, the sentence should read: "If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me."

5. "Don’t you dare ____________ (talk) to me like that!"

   • Correct form: "talk"
   • Explanation: The expression "don’t you dare" is an exception and is followed by the base form of the verb without "to." Therefore, the sentence is: "Don’t you dare talk to me like that!"

In summary, understanding whether to use an infinitive or a gerund depends on the verbs and prepositions used in the sentence, as well as certain expressions and their unique rules.