Gerund (V-ing) vs. Infinitive (To V) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
An adventure travel blog post warning readers about the severe dangers of hiking and mountain climbing alone. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully. Keep in mind that when an adjective is used to evaluate an action or state an opinion, it requires a specific verb form to explain what action is being evaluated.
1 Hello, fellow adventurers! Please listen carefully: it is incredibly dangerous ________ this mountain without a professional guide.
(A) to climb
(B) climbing
(C) climb
(D) for climbing
2 Before you even pack your bags, it is essential ________ the local weather forecast.
(A) check
(B) checking
(C) to check
(D) for check
3 Beginners will find it extremely hard ________ the rocky peak in just one day.
(A) reach
(B) to reaching
(C) reaching
(D) to reach
4 Please stay safe. It is strictly forbidden ________ off the marked trails into the wild forest.
(A) wander
(B) to wander
(C) wandering
(D) wandered
5 Are you crazy? It is never safe ________ a raging river alone during the rainy season.
(A) to cross
(B) cross
(C) crossing
(D) to crossing
6 At high altitudes, it is physically demanding ________ for more than six hours straight.
(A) hiking
(B) to hike
(C) hike
(D) hiked
7 In the middle of winter, it is absolutely impossible ________ the summit due to heavy snow avalanches.
(A) accessing
(B) access
(C) to access
(D) for accessing
8 It is quite foolish ________ any wild animals you might encounter on the path.
(A) feed
(B) to feed
(C) feeding
(D) fed
9 Pay attention to the signs! It is very easy ________ lost in this dense, foggy valley.
(A) getting
(B) to get
(C) get
(D) gotten
10 Even if you have a modern GPS, it is vital ________ a physical paper map and a compass.
(A) to bring
(B) bring
(C) bringing
(D) brought
11 For first-time visitors, it is highly recommended ________ a local sherpa to carry the heavy gear.
(A) to hire
(B) hiring
(C) hire
(D) to hiring
12 During the dry season, it is crucial ________ at least three liters of water per person.
(A) carry
(B) carrying
(C) for carrying
(D) to carry
13 Please respect nature. It is illegal ________ a campfire anywhere inside this national park.
(A) to start
(B) starting
(C) start
(D) started
14 If you get injured, it is very difficult ________ a cell phone signal deep inside the canyon.
(A) find
(B) finding
(C) to finding
(D) to find
15 As a guest in nature, it is completely irresponsible ________ your plastic trash behind on the mountain.
(A) to leave
(B) leaving
(C) leave
(D) left
16 Before you depart, it is always smart ________ your family about your exact climbing route and schedule.
(A) telling
(B) tell
(C) to tell
(D) to telling
17 If you hear thunder, it is urgent ________ emergency shelter immediately.
(A) seeking
(B) to seek
(C) seek
(D) to seeking
18 Because of unseen cliffs and slippery rocks, it is not advisable ________ through the pass at night.
(A) travel
(B) traveling
(C) to travel
(D) traveled
19 Yes, it is breathtaking ________ the sunrise from the top, but your safety must always come first.
(A) watch
(B) to watch
(C) watching
(D) watched
20 To survive in the wilderness, it is necessary ________ calm and collected during sudden emergencies.
(A) to remain
(B) remaining
(C) remain
(D) remained
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The structure “It is + Adjective + To V” is the standard way to evaluate an action. “To climb” tells us exactly what is dangerous.
- Error Analysis: (B) “Climbing” is a Common Mistake; learners often use gerunds after adjectives incorrectly. (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) “For climbing” translates directly from some native languages but is grammatically invalid here (Strong Distractor/Meaning Trap).
2 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Essential” is an adjective evaluating the action of checking the weather. It requires the infinitive “to check.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) “For check” is a broken structure (Strong Distractor).
3 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Hard” is the adjective. The pattern “find it + Adjective + To V” is extremely common for expressing difficulty.
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (B) Mixing “to” with a gerund (Structural Error). (C) Gerund (Common Mistake).
4 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Forbidden” acts as an adjective here. The rule “It is forbidden to do something” strictly takes the infinitive.
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
5 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Safe” is the adjective evaluating the action “to cross.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Mixing infinitive marker and gerund (Structural Error).
6 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Demanding” (challenging) is the adjective. It must be followed by “to hike.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
7 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Impossible” is the adjective. It pairs with the infinitive “to access.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) “For accessing” is grammatically incorrect for evaluating the action itself (Strong Distractor).
8 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Foolish” evaluates the action of feeding the animals, requiring “to feed.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
9 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Easy” is the adjective. The infinitive “to get” specifies what is easy to do.
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past participle (Strong Distractor).
10 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Vital” is an adjective meaning absolutely necessary, followed by “to bring.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
11 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Recommended” functions as an adjective in this passive structure, requiring “to hire.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Mixing “to” and gerund (Structural Error).
12 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Crucial” is the adjective evaluating the action “to carry.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) “For carrying” is an invalid structure here (Strong Distractor).
13 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Illegal” evaluates the action of starting a fire, requiring “to start.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
14 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Difficult” is the adjective. It pairs with the infinitive “to find.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Mixing “to” and gerund (Structural Error).
15 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Irresponsible” is the adjective evaluating the action of leaving trash.
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
16 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Smart” is the evaluating adjective, followed by “to tell.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (B) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Mixing “to” and gerund (Structural Error).
17 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Urgent” is the adjective requiring the infinitive “to seek.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Mixing “to” and gerund (Structural Error).
18 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Advisable” is the adjective. The infinitive “to travel” explains what is not recommended.
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
19 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Breathtaking” (beautiful/amazing) is the adjective evaluating the action “to watch.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Bare verb (Structural Error). (C) Gerund (Common Mistake). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
20 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Necessary” is the adjective, pairing perfectly with “to remain.”
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund (Common Mistake). (C) Bare verb (Structural Error). (D) Past tense verb (Strong Distractor).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The “It is + Adjective + To V” Formula:
Whenever you want to give an opinion, evaluate a situation, or warn someone about an action, use this golden rule. The adjective gives the opinion, and the infinitive (To V) explains exactly what action you are talking about. - Example: It is dangerous to climb alone.
- Example: It is necessary to bring water.
- Avoid the Gerund Trap:
Many learners naturally want to say “It is hard doing this” or “It is important for checking the map.” These are incorrect. Adjectives of evaluation strongly prefer the Infinitive (To V). - Common Adjectives Used with this Structure:
- Difficulty: hard, difficult, easy, impossible.
- Importance: essential, vital, crucial, necessary, important.
- Safety/Warnings: dangerous, safe, risky, foolish, illegal, forbidden, smart, advisable.