Gerund (V-ing) vs. Infinitive (To V) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
Giving advice to a friend who is complaining about not being able to sleep for the past few nights. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully. Keep in mind that you are suggesting new methods or experiments for your friend to test out, hoping one of them will cure their insomnia.
1 If you can’t fall asleep, have you tried ________ a glass of warm milk?
(A) to drink
(B) drank
(C) drinking
(D) drink
2 You should try ________ to some relaxing piano music before getting into bed.
(A) listening
(B) listen
(C) to listen
(D) to listening
3 Why don’t you try ________ a really boring book to make your eyes tired?
(A) read
(B) reading
(C) to read
(D) reads
4 If your body feels tense, try ________ a hot shower to relax your muscles.
(A) taking
(B) to take
(C) take
(D) taken
5 I know it sounds silly, but try ________ sheep in your head.
(A) to count
(B) count
(C) counted
(D) counting
6 You drink too much coffee. Try ________ to herbal tea in the afternoon.
(A) switch
(B) to switch
(C) switching
(D) switched
7 If the street lights are too bright, try ________ an eye mask tonight.
(A) wearing
(B) wear
(C) to wear
(D) worn
8 Your mattress might be the problem. Try ________ on the sofa for one night just to see if it helps.
(A) to sleep
(B) sleeping
(C) sleep
(D) to sleeping
9 When your mind is racing with worries, try ________ down your thoughts in a journal.
(A) wrote
(B) to write
(C) write
(D) writing
10 Try ________ your phone in another room so you aren’t tempted to scroll through social media.
(A) leaving
(B) leave
(C) left
(D) to leave
11 Have you ever tried ________ for ten minutes to calm your breathing?
(A) meditate
(B) meditating
(C) to meditate
(D) meditated
12 If your neighbors are too noisy, try ________ earplugs to block out the sound.
(A) use
(B) to use
(C) using
(D) to using
13 Try ________ the thermostat; sometimes a cooler room helps you fall asleep faster.
(A) adjusting
(B) to adjust
(C) adjust
(D) adjusted
14 If you wake up at 3 AM, try ________ some light stretching instead of lying there in frustration.
(A) doing
(B) do
(C) to do
(D) done
15 You just stare at the ceiling for hours. Try ________ up and walking around the house for a bit.
(A) to getting
(B) to get
(C) get
(D) getting
16 Instead of taking strong sleeping pills, try ________ some lavender essential oil in your bedroom.
(A) diffusing
(B) diffuse
(C) to diffuse
(D) diffused
17 I know you hate exercise, but try ________ for a brisk walk in the morning to reset your body clock.
(A) to go
(B) going
(C) go
(D) gone
18 If you feel hungry in the middle of the night, try ________ a small banana rather than a heavy sandwich.
(A) eating
(B) to eat
(C) eat
(D) ate
19 Have you tried ________ your pillows? Your neck might be lacking proper support.
(A) change
(B) changing
(C) to change
(D) to changing
20 Next time insomnia hits, try ________ at the clock, as checking the time only increases your anxiety.
(A) not looking
(B) not to look
(C) don’t look
(D) to not look
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Try + V-ing” means to experiment with a method to see if it solves a problem. Drinking milk is the experiment to cure insomnia.
- Error Analysis: (A) “To drink” means making a difficult physical effort to swallow the milk (e.g., because it tastes terrible), which misses the point of giving advice (Meaning Trap). (D) Bare infinitive is a grammatical error (Common Mistake). (B) Past tense verb (Structural Error).
2 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Listening to music is suggested as a relaxing experiment.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To listen” implies struggling to hear the music (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare infinitive (Common Mistake). (D) Mixing infinitive ‘to’ with gerund (Structural Error).
3 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Reading is the proposed solution to test out.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To read” would mean you are trying hard to read (maybe the text is too small), not testing it as a sleep aid (Meaning Trap). (A) Bare infinitive (Common Mistake). (D) Present simple verb (Structural Error).
4 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Taking a shower is an experiment to relax the body.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To take” implies it is very difficult to get into the shower (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past participle (Structural Error).
5 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Counting sheep is a classic experimental method for falling asleep.
- Error Analysis: (A) “To count” implies you are struggling with your math skills (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (C) Past tense (Structural Error).
6 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Switching to tea is a lifestyle experiment to see if sleep improves.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To switch” implies it’s a massive, painful effort to change your habit (Meaning Trap). (A) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense (Structural Error).
7 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Wearing a mask is a simple test to block out light.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To wear” implies the mask is too tight and you are fighting to put it on (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past participle (Structural Error).
8 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Sleeping on the sofa is an experiment to test the mattress theory.
- Error Analysis: (A) “To sleep” means attempting to sleep but failing (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Invalid grammar (Structural Error).
9 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Writing is suggested as a coping mechanism/experiment.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To write” implies your hand hurts and you are struggling to hold the pen (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (A) Past tense (Structural Error).
10 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Leaving the phone away is an experimental boundary.
- Error Analysis: (D) “To leave” implies it takes immense willpower and struggle to put the phone down (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (C) Past tense (Structural Error).
11 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Meditating is a suggested new experience.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To meditate” means attempting to meditate but getting distracted (Meaning Trap). (A) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense (Structural Error).
12 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Using earplugs is a test to block noise.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To use” means you don’t know how earplugs work and are struggling to figure them out (Meaning Trap). (A) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Invalid structure (Structural Error).
13 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Adjusting the temperature is an experiment to find the right comfort level.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To adjust” implies the thermostat is broken and you are struggling to fix it (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense (Structural Error).
14 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Stretching is a proposed alternative activity to test.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To do” means you are physically unable to stretch and are trying very hard (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past participle (Structural Error).
15 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Getting up is a method to break the cycle of staring at the ceiling.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To get” implies you are physically paralyzed and struggling to stand (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (A) Invalid structure (Structural Error).
16 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Diffusing oil is a holistic experiment.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To diffuse” means you are fighting with the machine to make it work (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense (Structural Error).
17 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Walking is an experiment to fix the body clock.
- Error Analysis: (A) “To go” implies you are desperately trying to leave the house but something is stopping you (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past participle (Structural Error).
18 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Eating a banana is a dietary experiment for better sleep.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To eat” implies you have no appetite or the banana is gross and you must force it down (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense (Structural Error).
19 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Changing pillows is a physical experiment for neck support.
- Error Analysis: (C) “To change” implies the pillowcases are stuck and you are struggling to remove them (Meaning Trap). (A) Bare verb (Common Mistake). (D) Invalid structure (Structural Error).
20 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Not looking” is a negative gerund, suggesting the experiment of avoiding the clock.
- Error Analysis: (B) “Not to look” is a negative infinitive, implying you are using immense willpower to fight the urge to look (Meaning Trap). (C) “Don’t look” is an imperative, invalid here (Structural Error). (D) Split negative infinitive, grammatically awkward and wrong context (Common Mistake).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Try + V-ing (The Experiment):
- Use this structure when you suggest a solution, a new method, or an experiment to see if it works. The action itself is usually easy to do; the goal is just to see the result.
- Example: “I have a headache.” -> “Try drinking some water.” (Drinking water is easy; you are just testing if it cures the headache).
- Try + To V (The Effort/Struggle):
- Use this structure when the action itself is very difficult, and you have to make a physical or mental effort to accomplish it (often implying failure).
- Example: “I tried to sleep, but the dog was barking all night.” (I made an effort to sleep, but I failed).
- The Insomnia Context:
- If a friend can’t sleep, telling them to “try to sleep” is useless advice (they are already trying and failing!). Instead, you must give them methods to experiment with, which is why we always use “Try + V-ing” when giving advice.