To-infinitive – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are making phone calls to a clinic, a school, or a business. Read the opening sentences of each phone call and choose the best option (A, B, or C) to complete your message.
1 “Good morning. I am calling ______ an appointment with Dr. Smith, please.”
(A) to make
(B) for make
(C) making
2 “Hello, this is John. I am calling ______ a problem with my office computer.”
(A) report
(B) to report
(C) for reporting
3 “Hi, this is Sarah’s mother. I called ______ you that Sarah is sick and cannot come to school today.”
(A) for tell
(B) telling
(C) to tell
4 “Good afternoon. I am calling ______ about the job opening at your store.”
(A) to ask
(B) for ask
(C) ask
5 “Hi, nobody is answering the phone, so I am calling ______ a voicemail for the manager.”
(A) leaving
(B) to leave
(C) for leaving
6 “Hello, I am calling ______ my order status. It is a week late.”
(A) check
(B) for check
(C) to check
7 “Good morning, Sunshine Hotel. I am calling ______ a double room for next weekend.”
(A) booking
(B) to book
(C) book
8 “Hi, my name is Alex. I am calling ______ my dentist appointment to a later time.”
(A) to change
(B) changing
(C) for change
9 “Hello. I am calling ______ more information about your summer English courses.”
(A) get
(B) for get
(C) to get
10 “Good afternoon. I am calling ______ my flight to London tomorrow.”
(A) to confirm
(B) confirm
(C) confirming
11 “Hi, I am moving to another city, so I am calling ______ my gym membership.”
(A) cancel
(B) to cancel
(C) for cancel
12 “Hello, this is David. I am calling ______ for missing the team meeting yesterday.”
(A) to apologize
(B) apologizing
(C) apologize
13 “Good morning. I am calling ______ some new office supplies for our department.”
(A) for order
(B) ordering
(C) to order
14 “Hi, I missed a call from this number ten minutes ago. I am calling back ______ who called me.”
(A) finding out
(B) to find out
(C) find out
15 “Hello, I am calling ______ you about the unpaid invoice from last month.”
(A) to remind
(B) for remind
(C) reminding
16 “Good morning. I am calling ______ about the terrible noise from the construction site next door.”
(A) complaining
(B) complain
(C) to complain
17 “Hi, Mr. Davis. I am calling ______ you for the beautiful flowers you sent to our office.”
(A) for thank
(B) to thank
(C) thanking
18 “Hello, this is Anna. I am calling ______ an interview with the marketing director.”
(A) arranging
(B) arrange
(C) to arrange
19 “Good afternoon. I am calling ______ a table for four people at 8:00 PM tonight.”
(A) to reserve
(B) for reserve
(C) reserve
20 “Hi, I left my car at your garage yesterday. I am calling ______ if it is ready.”
(A) see
(B) to see
(C) seeing
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) to make
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: We use “to + verb” (to-infinitive) to show the purpose of an action. “Why are you calling?” -> “To make an appointment.”
- Why others are wrong: (B) “for make” is a very common translation mistake; you cannot use “for” directly with a base verb in English. (C) “making” is a gerund, which does not express the purpose of calling here.
2 (B) to report
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains the reason for the phone call.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “report” lacks “to”. (C) “for reporting” is incorrect; “for + V-ing” is used to describe the function of an object (e.g., A pen is for writing), not the purpose of a person’s action.
3 (C) to tell
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Answers why the mother called the school.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “for tell” is grammatically invalid. (B) “telling” is the incorrect verb form.
4 (A) to ask
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Shows the purpose of making contact.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “for ask” is invalid. (C) “ask” lacks “to”.
5 (B) to leave
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains why you are speaking to the voicemail machine.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “leaving” and (C) “for leaving” break the rule of infinitive of purpose.
6 (C) to check
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The caller’s goal is to check the status.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “check” lacks “to”. (B) “for check” is a direct translation error.
7 (B) to book
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains the reason for calling the hotel.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “booking” is a gerund. (C) “book” lacks “to”.
8 (A) to change
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains the purpose of the call to the clinic.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “changing” and (C) “for change” are incorrect. (Note: “for a change” is a noun phrase meaning something different, but here “change” is a verb).
9 (C) to get
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: States the reason for calling the language school.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “get” lacks “to”. (B) “for get” is invalid.
10 (A) to confirm
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Shows the goal of the call to the airline.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “confirm” lacks “to”. (C) “confirming” is the wrong verb form.
11 (B) to cancel
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “To cancel” answers why the person is calling the gym.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “cancel” lacks “to”. (C) “for cancel” is invalid.
12 (A) to apologize
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains the professional purpose of the call.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “apologizing” is a gerund. (C) “apologize” lacks “to”.
13 (C) to order
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains the reason for calling the supplier.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “for order” is a common mistake. (B) “ordering” is incorrect.
14 (B) to find out
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Shows the reason for returning a phone call (calling back).
- Why others are wrong: (A) “finding out” and (C) “find out” do not correctly express purpose.
15 (A) to remind
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: States the purpose of the business call.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “for remind” is invalid. (C) “reminding” is incorrect.
16 (C) to complain
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Shows the reason for calling to report a problem.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “complaining” is the -ing form. (B) “complain” lacks “to”.
17 (B) to thank
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains why you picked up the phone to call Mr. Davis.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “for thank” is invalid. (C) “thanking” is incorrect.
18 (C) to arrange
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “To arrange” explains the goal of the phone call.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “arranging” is a gerund. (B) “arrange” lacks “to”.
19 (A) to reserve
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Explains the purpose of calling the restaurant.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “for reserve” is invalid. (C) “reserve” lacks “to”.
20 (B) to see
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “To see” (meaning to check or find out) explains the reason for the call to the garage.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “see” lacks “to”. (C) “seeing” is incorrect.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The Infinitive of Purpose on the Phone: – When you start a professional phone call, you need to state your purpose clearly.
- Always use “I am calling TO + Verb”.
- Example: I am calling to book a room. / I am calling to ask a question.
- The “For” Trap:
- Many learners say “I am calling for book a room” because they translate from their native language. In English, “for + base verb” is always grammatically wrong.
- Can I use “For” on the phone?
- Yes, but ONLY if you use a Noun immediately after “for”.
- With a Noun: “I am calling for more information.” (Correct)
- With a Verb: “I am calling to get more information.” (Correct)
- Wrong: “I am calling for get more information.” (Incorrect)