Decide when a verb takes the ing form and when it takes the to form, with the common verb pairs.
Choose an answer for each question. You get the correct answer and a short reason straight away, then your total score at the end.
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1. Fill in the blank: “Neha enjoys ___ old Hindi songs.”
“Enjoy” is always followed by the gerund (-ing form), so “listening to” is correct. Verbs like enjoy, avoid, and finish take -ing, not the to-infinitive.
2. Choose the correct form: “We decided ___ a new house this year.”
“Decide” is followed by the to-infinitive, so “to buy” is correct. Verbs like decide, hope, and want take “to” plus the base verb.
3. Fill in the blank: “Arjun wants ___ a doctor.”
“Want” is followed by the to-infinitive, so “to become” is correct. We say “want to do”, never “want doing”.
4. Choose the correct form: “You should avoid ___ junk food every day.”
“Avoid” is followed by the gerund, so “eating” is correct. Avoid, like enjoy and finish, always takes the -ing form.
5. Fill in the blank: “They hope ___ the match on Sunday.”
“Hope” takes the to-infinitive, so “to win” is correct. We use “hope to” plus the base verb to talk about a wish for the future.
6. Choose the correct form after a preposition: “Kiran is good at ___ chess.”
After a preposition like “at”, we always use the gerund, so “playing” is correct. A verb right after a preposition must take the -ing form.
7. Fill in the blank: “Please finish ___ your dinner before we leave.”
“Finish” is followed by the gerund, so “eating” is correct. Finish never takes the to-infinitive.
8. Choose the correct form: “Deepa is thinking of ___ her own bakery.”
The preposition “of” must be followed by the gerund, so “opening” is correct. “Think of doing” is the fixed pattern.
9. Fill in the blank: “I can’t afford ___ a new car right now.”
“Afford” is followed by the to-infinitive, so “to buy” is correct. We say “can’t afford to” plus the base verb.
10. Identify the error: “He suggested to go to the beach.”
“Suggest” is followed by the gerund, so it should be “suggested going”. Suggest never takes the to-infinitive.
11. Choose the correct sentence.
“Promise” takes the to-infinitive, so “promised to call” is correct. Promise, agree, and refuse all use “to” plus the base verb.
12. Fill in the blank: “Sunita is interested in ___ yoga classes.”
After the preposition “in”, we use the gerund, so “joining” is correct. “Interested in doing” is a fixed pattern.
13. Choose the correct form: “The children kept ___ even after the bell rang.”
“Keep” is followed by the gerund, so “playing” is correct. “Keep doing” means to continue an action.
14. Which sentence is correct?
“Would love” is followed by the to-infinitive for a specific future wish, so “to visit” is correct. “Would like” and “would love” take “to” plus the base verb.
15. Fill in the blank: “Manoj apologised for ___ late to the office.”
After the preposition “for”, we use the gerund, so “being” is correct. “Apologise for doing” is the standard pattern.
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