To-infinitive – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Your friends are texting you with some good news and bad news. Read their messages and choose the best option (A, B, or C) to complete your reaction.
1 Friend: “I finally passed my driving test today!”
You: “Congratulations! I am so happy ______ that!”
(A) to hear
(B) hearing
(C) hear
2 Friend: “I feel terrible. I broke my leg while playing football.”
You: “Oh no! I am so sorry ______ about your accident.”
(A) learning
(B) learn
(C) to learn
3 Friend: “Guess what? We are moving to Canada next month!”
You: “Wow! I am surprised ______ this news, but I am happy for you.”
(A) to read
(B) read
(C) reading
4 Friend: “My dog was lost, but we finally found him!”
You: “That is great. I am so relieved ______ that he is safe.”
(A) knowing
(B) to know
(C) know
5 Friend: “I didn’t get the job I interviewed for.”
You: “I am sad ______ that you didn’t get it. Don’t give up!”
(A) to see
(B) seeing
(C) see
6 Friend: “I won two tickets to the Taylor Swift concert!”
You: “Are you serious? I am very excited ______ this message!”
(A) getting
(B) get
(C) to get
7 Friend: “The doctor said my fever is gone and I can go outside.”
You: “I am glad ______ that you are feeling better.”
(A) to hear
(B) hear
(C) hearing
8 Friend: “They canceled our favorite TV show. There is no season 3”
You: “Really? I am very disappointed ______ that.”
(A) finding out
(B) to find out
(C) find out
9 Friend: “I am getting married! Here is your invitation.”
You: “Thank you so much! I am pleased ______ this.”
(A) to receive
(B) receive
(C) receiving
10 Friend: “Someone stole my bicycle from the park.”
You: “That is terrible. I am shocked ______ what happened.”
(A) hear
(B) hearing
(C) to hear
11 Friend: “I got an A+ on my difficult math project!”
You: “Amazing job! I am proud ______ your excellent grade.”
(A) to see
(B) seeing
(C) see
12 Friend: “I can’t come to your birthday party because I am sick.”
You: “Oh no, I am sad ______ that you can’t join us.”
(A) to know
(B) know
(C) knowing
13 Friend: “We are having a baby boy!”
You: “Congratulations! I am delighted ______ your wonderful news.”
(A) reading
(B) to read
(C) read
14 Friend: “My flight is delayed by six hours.”
You: “That is so annoying. I am sorry ______ about your delay.”
(A) finding out
(B) to find out
(C) find out
15 Friend: “I am coming to visit your city next week!”
You: “This is the best news! I am so excited ______ you again!”
(A) see
(B) to see
(C) seeing
16 Friend: “My laptop is completely broken, and I lost my files.”
You: “I am really sorry ______ that. Do you need to borrow mine?”
(A) to hear
(B) hear
(C) hearing
17 Friend: “I found my lost wallet in the car!”
You: “Thank goodness! I am happy ______ that you found it.”
(A) knowing
(B) know
(C) to know
18 Friend: “Our team lost the final match.”
You: “I am disappointed ______ the bad result, but you played well.”
(A) to see
(B) seeing
(C) see
19 Friend: “I bought you a present for helping me.”
You: “You didn’t have to do that, but I am thrilled ______ it!”
(A) get
(B) getting
(C) to get
20 Friend: “I finally finished reading that long book you gave me.”
You: “Great! I am glad ______ that you finished it. Did you like it?”
(A) to hear
(B) hearing
(C) hear
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) to hear
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: We use an adjective of emotion (happy) followed by a “to-infinitive” (to hear) to explain the reason for the feeling.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “hearing” is a gerund; we do not typically use V-ing right after adjectives of emotion in this context. (C) “hear” is a bare infinitive, which is grammatically incomplete.
2 (C) to learn
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Sorry” is an adjective describing your feeling. You use “to learn” to explain why you are sorry.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “learning” is the wrong verb form. (B) “learn” is missing the word “to”.
3 (A) to read
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Surprised” + to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (C) “reading” is a common mistake for learners who confuse gerunds and infinitives. (B) “read” is missing “to”.
4 (B) to know
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Relieved” (feeling relaxed after a worry) is followed by “to know”.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “knowing” and (C) “know” break the grammar rule of “Adjective + to V”.
5 (A) to see
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The adjective “sad” is followed by the to-infinitive “to see”.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “seeing” and (C) “see” are structurally incorrect after an adjective in this sentence pattern.
6 (C) to get
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Excited” is the emotion, “to get” is the cause of the excitement.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “getting” uses the -ing form, which is wrong here. (B) “get” lacks the “to”.
7 (A) to hear
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Glad” + to-infinitive (“to hear”) is one of the most common conversational phrases in English for reacting to good news.
- Why others are wrong: (C) “hearing” and (B) “hear” are grammatically incorrect.
8 (B) to find out
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Disappointed” + to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “finding out” and (C) “find out” do not fit the structure.
9 (A) to receive
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Pleased” (meaning happy/satisfied) takes a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (C) “receiving” and (B) “receive” are structurally wrong.
10 (C) to hear
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Shocked” is an adjective of extreme surprise/upset, followed by the to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “hearing” and (A) “hear” violate the grammar rule.
11 (A) to see
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Proud” + to-infinitive shows you feel pride because you saw the grade.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “seeing” and (C) “see” are incorrect verb forms.
12 (A) to know
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Sad” + to-infinitive explains the reason for the sadness.
- Why others are wrong: (C) “knowing” is a gerund error. (B) “know” is a bare infinitive error.
13 (B) to read
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Delighted” (very happy) is followed by a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “reading” and (C) “read” do not follow the adjective rule.
14 (B) to find out
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Sorry” + to-infinitive (“to find out” means to discover information).
- Why others are wrong: (A) “finding out” is a common mistake. (C) “find out” lacks the necessary “to”.
15 (B) to see
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Excited” + to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (C) “seeing” and (A) “see” are incorrect. (Note: We can say “looking forward to seeing”, but with just the adjective “excited”, we use “to see”).
16 (A) to hear
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “I am sorry to hear that” is the standard empathetic response to bad news in English.
- Why others are wrong: (C) “hearing” and (B) “hear” are incorrect forms.
17 (C) to know
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Happy” + to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “knowing” and (B) “know” are grammatically incorrect in this slot.
18 (A) to see
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Disappointed” + to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “seeing” and (C) “see” are incorrect.
19 (C) to get
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Thrilled” (extremely happy/excited) takes the to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “getting” and (A) “get” fail to connect properly to the adjective.
20 (A) to hear
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Glad” + to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “hearing” is a gerund error. (C) “hear” is a bare infinitive error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The Rule: In English, we frequently use the structure: Subject + Be + Adjective + “to” + Verb (Infinitive).
- The Function: We use this structure to explain the reason why we feel a certain emotion.
- Example: “I am happy.” -> Why are you happy? -> “I am happy to hear your news.”
- Common Adjectives of Emotion: – Good feelings: happy, glad, pleased, delighted, excited, relieved, proud.
- Bad feelings: sad, sorry, disappointed, shocked, upset.
- Common Verbs used with News: to hear, to see, to know, to read, to learn, to find out. – Never use the -ing form immediately after these emotion adjectives in this context (e.g., do NOT say “I am glad hearing that”). Always use to + V.