Gerund (V-ing) vs. Infinitive (To V) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
Discussing your job application plans for the upcoming month with a career counselor or family member. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully. Keep in mind that when you are talking about future goals, decisions, and plans, the grammar must reflect that forward-looking intention.
1 After much consideration, I have finally decided ________ a career in digital marketing.
(A) pursue
(B) pursuing
(C) to pursue
(D) pursued
2 Next month, I plan ________ for at least five entry-level positions in the city.
(A) applying
(B) to apply
(C) apply
(D) for applying
3 I sincerely hope ________ an internship at a major tech company by this summer.
(A) to secure
(B) securing
(C) secure
(D) to securing
4 Before going to any interviews, I really want ________ my public speaking skills.
(A) improving
(B) improve
(C) improved
(D) to improve
5 My parents expect me ________ a stable, full-time job immediately after graduation.
(A) finding
(B) find
(C) to find
(D) for finding
6 I intend ________ a professional online portfolio to show to potential employers.
(A) to build
(B) building
(C) build
(D) built
7 During the interview, I would like ________ more about the company’s daily culture.
(A) learning
(B) to learn
(C) learn
(D) learned
8 Right now, my main goal is that I aim ________ a certificate in project management.
(A) completing
(B) complete
(C) completed
(D) to complete
9 I am currently preparing ________ the final certification exam next Friday.
(A) to take
(B) taking
(C) take
(D) to taking
10 I chose ________ this specific major because of the high demand in the job market.
(A) studying
(B) study
(C) to study
(D) studied
11 I promised my career counselor ________ my resume by the end of the week.
(A) updating
(B) to update
(C) update
(D) updated
12 I can’t afford ________ any more time; I need to start networking with professionals immediately.
(A) wasting
(B) waste
(C) to wasting
(D) to waste
13 I am so excited! I managed ________ an interview with a top marketing agency for tomorrow.
(A) to schedule
(B) scheduling
(C) schedule
(D) for scheduling
14 The university’s career advisor agreed ________ my cover letter and give me feedback.
v(A) reviewing
(B) review
(C) to review
(D) reviewed
15 Even if it takes months of rejection, I refuse ________ up on finding my dream job.
(A) giving
(B) to give
(C) give
(D) gave
16 The technology industry seems ________ the best starting salaries for recent graduates.
(A) to offer
(B) offering
(C) offer
(D) offered
17 My uncle generously offered ________ me to his connections in the finance sector.
(A) introducing
(B) introduce
(C) introduced
(D) to introduce
18 During a job interview, you should never pretend ________ skills that you don’t actually possess.
(A) having
(B) have
(C) to have
(D) to having
19 I need to learn how ________ my time better when I am juggling multiple job applications.
(A) to manage
(B) managing
(C) manage
(D) managed
20 I have worked incredibly hard during my studies, and I believe I deserve ________ a fair salary.
(A) earning
(B) to earn
(C) earn
(D) earned
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The verb “decide” expresses a future intention or resolution. Verbs of intention are always followed by the infinitive (To V).
- Error Analysis: (B) “Pursuing” is a Common Mistake; learners often overuse gerunds. (A) Bare infinitive is a Structural Error. (D) Past tense verb cannot act as an object (Strong Distractor).
2 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Plan” inherently looks toward the future, requiring the infinitive “to apply.”
- Error Analysis: (A) “Applying” is a Common Mistake. (D) “For applying” is a Meaning Trap/Strong Distractor (many learners translate “để” into “for + V-ing”, which is incorrect for stating intentions). (C) Bare infinitive (Structural Error).
3 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Hope” is a desire for a future outcome, so it pairs with “to secure.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Mixing infinitive ‘to’ with a gerund is grammatically invalid (Structural Error). (C) Bare infinitive (Structural Error).
4 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Want” is the most common verb of desire, and it strictly takes the infinitive “to improve.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Past participle (Strong Distractor).
5 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The structure “expect someone to do something” requires an infinitive to show the anticipated future action.
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) “For finding” (Meaning Trap). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error).
6 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Intend” means to have a plan or purpose, strictly followed by “to build.”
- Error Analysis: (B) “Building” (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
7 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Would like” is a polite way of expressing a present/future desire, taking the infinitive “to learn.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake – learners confuse “like + V-ing” with “would like + To V”). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
8 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Aim” sets a target for the future, requiring the infinitive “to complete.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
9 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Prepare” involves taking steps now for a future event, followed by “to take.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Mixed structure (Structural Error). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error).
10 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Choose” is a decision-making verb. You made a decision aiming at a specific action (“to study”).
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
11 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Promise” is a commitment to a future action, requiring “to update.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
12 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Afford” (usually with can/can’t) regarding time or money takes the infinitive “to waste.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Mixed structure (Structural Error). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error).
13 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Manage” means succeeding in achieving a goal. It focuses on the target reached, taking “to schedule.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) “For scheduling” (Meaning Trap). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error).
14 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Agree” represents a mutual decision for a future action, followed by “to review.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
15 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Refuse” is a strong decision against a future action, taking the infinitive “to give.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
16 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Seem” describes an impression about a current or future state, requiring the infinitive “to offer.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
17 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Offer” is a proposal to do something in the future, followed by “to introduce.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
18 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Pretend” projects a false state of being or acting, requiring the infinitive “to have.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Mixed structure (Structural Error). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error).
19 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Learn how” is a fixed structure that is always followed by the infinitive “to manage.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
20 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Deserve” states a right to a future or ongoing reward, requiring the infinitive “to earn.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense (Strong Distractor).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The “Future-Oriented” Nature of Infinitives:
The Infinitive (To V) often carries a sense of the future, potential, or uncompleted actions. This is why we use it when talking about things we haven’t done yet but want to do. - Verbs of Intention, Desire, and Planning:
Any verb that expresses a plan, a choice, a hope, or a goal will naturally pair with To V. When you map out your career, you will use these verbs constantly: - Planning/Deciding: plan, decide, intend, choose, aim, prepare. (e.g., I plan to apply.)
- Hoping/Wanting: hope, want, would like, expect. (e.g., I hope to get hired.)
- Committing/Reacting: promise, agree, refuse, offer, manage. (e.g., I promise to work hard.)
- Avoid the “For + V-ing” Trap:
When explaining your goals in an interview, do not say, “I am here for applying for the job.” To express human intention or a plan, you must use the infinitive: “I am here to apply for the job.”