Gerund (V-ing) vs. Infinitive (To V) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
Writing the opening lines of an email to a partner or colleague to explain the reason for contacting them. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully. Keep in mind that you are stating the purpose or goal of your email directly and professionally.
1 I am writing this email ________ a meeting with the marketing team for next week.
(A) for scheduling
(B) to schedule
(C) schedule
(D) to scheduling
2 I have attached the latest monthly report ________ you with the project updates.
(A) providing
(B) provide
(C) for provide
(D) to provide
3 Please review the attached document ________ sure all the client’s details are correct.
(A) to make
(B) for make
(C) making
(D) to making
4 I am reaching out ________ if you are available for a quick Zoom call this afternoon.
(A) ask
(B) asking
(C) to ask
(D) because ask
5 We are sending you this friendly reminder ________ you about the upcoming payment deadline.
(A) to inform
(B) informing
(C) for informing
(D) informed
6 I am contacting the IT support desk ________ the software issue on my laptop.
(A) fixing
(B) to fixing
(C) to fix
(D) for fix
7 Could you please send me the finalized invoice ________ the payment process?
(A) to complete
(B) for completing
(C) complete
(D) completed
8 I have CC’d the regional manager in this email ________ him in the loop.
(A) keeping
(B) to keep
(C) for keeping
(D) keep
9 I am writing to you today ________ my sincere apologies for the recent billing error.
(A) offering
(B) for offering
(C) to offer
(D) offer
10 We have updated our company’s privacy policy ________ with the new international data regulations.
(A) complying
(B) to comply
(C) for comply
(D) to complying
11 Let’s schedule a brief call tomorrow morning ________ the new social media strategy.
(A) for discussing
(B) discuss
(C) to discuss
(D) discussing
12 I am forwarding you the client’s original email ________ you understand their specific requirements.
(A) helping
(B) to help
(C) for help
(D) help
13 We need to hire an additional graphic designer ________ the growing number of incoming projects.
(A) for handling
(B) handle
(C) to handle
(D) in order handling
14 I will send you the presentation slides beforehand ________ you some extra time to prepare.
(A) giving
(B) to give
(C) for giving
(D) give
15 I am writing this email early in the morning ________ miss the timezone difference with your Tokyo office.
(A) for not
(B) not to missing
(C) in order not to
(D) to don’t
16 Please reply to this email thread by Friday ________ your attendance at the annual conference.
(A) for confirm
(B) to confirm
(C) for confirming
(D) so as confirming
17 I have summarized the long meeting minutes ________ everyone time reading the full transcript.
(A) to save
(B) saving
(C) for saving
(D) save
18 I am sending this message directly to your personal email ________ lost in your spam folder.
(A) to not getting
(B) for not getting
(C) so as not to get
(D) not to getting
19 I am submitting the financial documents now ________ by the accounting team before the weekend.
(A) to be reviewed
(B) to review
(C) for reviewing
(D) be reviewed
20 We are requesting a one-week extension on the project deadline ________ product quality.
(A) in order to not compromising
(B) for not compromising
(C) to not compromised
(D) so as not to compromise
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The infinitive “to schedule” perfectly expresses the purpose of the action (writing the email). It answers the question “Why are you writing?”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “For scheduling” is a Common Mistake; learners often translate “for” as “để,” but “for + V-ing” is used to describe the function of an object, not a person’s purpose. (C) Bare infinitive (Structural Error). (D) Mixing infinitive ‘to’ with a gerund (Strong Distractor).
2 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “To provide” states the goal of attaching the report.
- Error Analysis: (A) Using a gerund to express purpose is a Common Mistake. (B) Bare infinitive (Structural Error). (C) “For + base verb” is grammatically invalid (Strong Distractor).
3 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “To make sure” is the standard infinitive of purpose.
- Error Analysis: (B) Invalid structure (Structural Error). (C) Gerund used for purpose (Common Mistake). (D) Mixing structures (Strong Distractor).
4 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The purpose of reaching out is “to ask.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Two conjugated verbs cannot sit in the same clause without a linker or infinitive marker (Structural Error). (B) Gerund for purpose (Common Mistake). (D) “Because ask” is a direct, incorrect translation from native languages (Strong Distractor/Meaning Trap).
5 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Expressing the goal of the reminder email.
- Error Analysis: (B) Gerund used for purpose (Common Mistake). (C) “For informing” is a Strong Distractor, often confused with “to inform.” (D) Past participle (Structural Error).
6 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “To fix” is the professional way to state the reason for contacting IT.
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund for purpose (Common Mistake). (B) Combining infinitive ‘to’ with V-ing (Strong Distractor). (D) Invalid grammar (Structural Error).
7 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The reason you need the invoice is “to complete” the process.
- Error Analysis: (B) “For completing” is a classic Common Mistake among B1 learners. (C) Bare infinitive (Structural Error). (D) Past tense verb (Meaning Trap).
8 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The purpose of CC’ing the manager is “to keep” him informed.
- Error Analysis: (A) V-ing cannot show a person’s intention (Common Mistake). (C) “For keeping” sounds plausible but is grammatically incorrect for human intent (Strong Distractor). (D) Bare infinitive (Structural Error).
9 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “To offer” states the goal of the email directly and politely.
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund for purpose (Common Mistake). (B) “For offering” is grammatically flawed here (Strong Distractor). (D) Bare verb (Structural Error).
10 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The company updated the policy with the specific purpose “to comply.”
- Error Analysis: (A) V-ing for purpose (Common Mistake). (C) Invalid preposition/verb combination (Structural Error). (D) Mixed structure (Strong Distractor).
11 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The reason for scheduling the call is “to discuss” the strategy.
- Error Analysis: (A) “For discussing” is incorrect for stating human intent (Strong Distractor). (B) Bare infinitive (Structural Error). (D) Gerund for purpose (Common Mistake).
12 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): Stating the intention behind forwarding the email.
- Error Analysis: (A) V-ing for purpose (Common Mistake). (C) “For help” is a Meaning Trap; here “help” acts as a noun, which changes the grammar structure entirely and doesn’t fit the following clause. (D) Bare verb (Structural Error).
13 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The purpose of hiring is “to handle” the work.
- Error Analysis: (A) “For handling” (Common Mistake). (B) Bare infinitive (Structural Error). (D) “In order handling” is a broken formal structure; it must be “in order to handle” (Strong Distractor).
14 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The goal of sending slides early is “to give” time.
- Error Analysis: (A) Gerund for purpose (Common Mistake). (C) “For giving” (Strong Distractor). (D) Bare verb (Structural Error).
15 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “In order not to” is the correct formal, negative infinitive of purpose. It means “to avoid doing something.”
- Error Analysis: (A) “For not” is a direct, incorrect translation (Common Mistake). (B) Incorrect V-ing form after “to” (Structural Error). (D) “To don’t” is highly unnatural and grammatically invalid (Strong Distractor).
16 (B)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The reason for replying is “to confirm” attendance.
- Error Analysis: (A) “For + base verb” (Structural Error). (C) “For + V-ing” used for human purpose (Common Mistake). (D) Broken formal structure (Strong Distractor).
17 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): The goal of summarizing the minutes is “to save” time.
- Error Analysis: (B) V-ing for purpose (Common Mistake). (C) “For + V-ing” (Strong Distractor). (D) Bare verb (Structural Error).
18 (C)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “So as not to get” is a highly professional, negative infinitive of purpose, expressing the intention to avoid the spam folder.
- Error Analysis: (A) Mixing “to not” with V-ing (Structural Error). (B) “For not + V-ing” (Common Mistake). (D) Broken structure (Strong Distractor).
19 (A)
- Why it is correct (The Key): This is a Passive Infinitive of Purpose (“to be reviewed”). The documents aren’t reviewing anything; they receive the review.
- Error Analysis: (B) “To review” is active. This means the documents will read and review things, which is illogical (Meaning Trap). (C) “For reviewing” (Common Mistake). (D) Missing ‘to’ (Structural Error).
20 (D)
- Why it is correct (The Key): “So as not to compromise” is the correct negative infinitive phrase, indicating the intention to protect product quality.
- Error Analysis: (A) “In order to not compromising” mixes infinitive and gerund (Structural Error). (B) “For not compromising” (Common Mistake). (C) Mixing “to not” with past tense (Strong Distractor).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Infinitive of Purpose (To + V):
When you want to explain why you are doing an action (your goal or intention), always use To + Base Verb. It is a much more professional and concise alternative to “because I want to…”. - Example: I am writing to request a meeting.
- The “For + V-ing” Trap (Common Mistake):
Many learners use For + V-ing to express purpose (e.g., I sent an email for asking a question). This is incorrect when talking about a person’s intent. - Rule: Use To + V for a person’s purpose. Use For + V-ing only to describe what a machine or object is designed to do (e.g., A pen is for writing).
- Formal and Negative Purpose:
To sound more formal in business emails, you can use in order to + V or so as to + V.
If your purpose is to avoid something, use the negative forms: in order not to + V or so as not to + V. - Example: I am calling early so as not to miss you.