star twitter facebook envelope linkedin youtube alert-red alert home left-quote chevron hamburger minus plus search triangle x

COMMON EXPRESSIONS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND – VERBS FOLLOWED BY EITHER A GERUND OR A TO-INFINITIVE

I. Common Expressions Followed by a Gerund 

Below are some common expressions followed by a gerund, which are useful not only in the TOEIC test but also in daily life. 

have difficulty V-ing 

can’t help V-ing 

be busy V-ing 

can’t stand V-ing 

spend (time/money) V-ing 

look forward to V-ing 

there is no use V-ing 

be good/bad at V-ing 

be worth V-ing 

be devoted to V-ing 

feel like V-ing 

be used to V-ing 

with a view to V-ing 

be accustomed to V-ing 

I had difficulty finding a firm to work at.
We look forward to working with you.
He is not accustomed to using a smartphone. 

1.1. Choose the correct option given in brackets to complete each sentence. 

  1. She often has difficulty ( making/to make) decisions quickly 

  2. Do you feel like (going/to go) for a walk in the park this evening? 

  3. The director is devoted to (promote / promoting ) sales. 

  4. The employees are not accustomed (to using / to use) the Intranet. 

  5. We are looking forward to (hearing / hear) from you. 

  6. The new secretary spends her time (to shop / shopping) online at lunchtime. 


1.2. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. 

  1. The team is busy ____________ a new software program.
A. develop B. to develop C. developing D. development 

  2. Mr. Smith had difficulty ____________ used to the new working environment. A. getting B. to get C. get D. gotten 


II. Verbs Followed by either a Gerund or a To-infinitive
2.1. Verbs followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive with meanings unchanged. 

They started to work on the project. / They started working on the project. 2.2. Verbs followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive with meanings changed 

like 

love 

hate 

start 

begin 

continue 
 

Gerund 

To-infinitive 

Remember 

An action that was done in the past 

An action that needs to be done in the future 

11 

Forget 

An action that was done in the past 

An action that needs to be done in the future 

Stop 

Give up/quit what one is doing/what one does 

Make a break/pause in order to do sth 

Try 

Experimenting 

Making an effort 

Regret 

An action that was done in the past 

An action that going to be informed 

You should remember to mail this invitation before noon. I remember meeting the guy at the conference. 

2.3. Look at the following sentences and explain the meanings of the underlined parts. 

  1. She regretted forgetting to submit the assignment on time. _______________________ 

  2. Don't forget to buy groceries on your way home from work. ______________________________ 

  3. I do not regret working at this company. _____________________________ 

  4. We regret to say that your proposal has been rejected after a careful review. _____________________________________ 

  5. We all try to get the best results. ______________________________ 


2.4. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. 

1. Please remember ____________ all the windows before you leave the office. A. close B. closing C. closed D. to close 

2. I do not regret ___________ my previous job, and I am pleased with my current one. A. quit B. quitting C. to quit D. to quitting 

III. PRACTICE 

1. Travelers are advised .............reservations for their trip before the predicted rate increase. 

A. make B. to be made C. making D. to make
2. The system engineers work more efficiently as they stop ......... the old technology. 

A. to use B. using C. to used D. to be using 

3. The president suggested _____________ a new staff lounge to better serve the employees. 

A. to build B. build C. built D. building 4. We would like to thank you for ____________ in our annual conference. 

A. participate B. participating C. to participating D. participated 

    

12 

5. Mr. Carter has had difficulty ___________ experienced research specialists since last month. 

A. find B. finding C. to find D. found
6. Because of the bad economic situation, we could not help _____________ our New York branch. 

A. close B. closed C. closing D. to close
7. You can simply book your ticket by _____________ our website on dropping by one of our stores. 

A. visits B visiting C. visit D. to visit 8. We regret _____________ you that your application has been rejected. 

A. to tell B. told C. telling D. tells
9. They stopped ____________ the old model in order to promote a newly released one. 

A. to sell B. selling C. sold D. sell
10. ____________ the number of security guards will hopefully reduce the chance of thefts. 

A Increase B. Increasing C. Increased D. To increasing 11. Atlantis Co. Strictly prohibits its employees from _________ an office phone for personal reasons. 

A. use B. to use C. used D. using 

12. The company has considered ______________ its branch to Boston for the past few weeks. 

A. relocation B. to relocate C. relocating D. relocated
13. Do not forget ___________ the application form before submitting it to Ms. Radowich at the front desk. 

A. signing B. to sign C. sign D. signed
14. Ms. Wrigley has decided to stop ____________ applicants because she has found a well-qualified person. 

A. interview B. interviewed C. to interview D. interviewing 15. If you wish to exchange for size or color, please return it it us within 30 days of __________ your order. 

A. receipt B. received C. receiving D. receive
16. __________ various information regarding computer skill not only offline but also online is part of our business. 

A. Provide B. Providing C. Provided D. Provides
17. The secretary was busy ____________ calls to the customers who have cancelled their orders. 

A. make B. to make C. making D. to making 18. They are interested in ____________ in renewable energy projects. 

A. investing B. to invest 

C. invest D. invested 

13 

Questions 19 - 20 refer to the following letter. 

Dear Mr. Myer,
According to our records, your membership with California Fitness will expire in a few weeks. We would like to __________ you with a special offer. With 

19. A. provide B. schedule B. cancel D. approve 

your renewal of your membership, you can continue ____________ our facilities 20. A. use B. used 

and services at a discounted price. Sincerely,
Jane Miller 

C. using D. uses 

14 

LESSON 4
PRACTICE WITH TOEIC ACTUAL QUESTIONS (1) 

1. No firm can ..............to rely forever only on the strength of its name to sell products. A. require B. afford C. suppose D. depend
2. Workers who work with hazardous materials should remember ........and always wear protective clothing. 

A. be cautious B. to be cautious C. being cautious D. to being cautious
3. In almost every business, it is really imperative ........... responsive to customers ' needs. A. to be B. being C. is D. that
4. It is expected that we will begin .......... our new line of portable printers next month
A. productive B. production C. produce D. producing
5. Some technical support workers have been trained at the headquarters to learn how .......... the new network access system over the past two months.
A. to operate B. operating C. to solve D. solving
6. Construction workers are responsible for ..........their own equipment and tools.
A. provides B. providing C. provision D. provided
7. If commercial banks raise mortgage rates, many households will have difficulty in ............interest.
A. be repaying B. repaying C. to repay D. to be repaid
8. It is important for security guards ...... the security guidelines while they are on duty.
A. following B. followed C. follow D. to follow
9. The weather .......... for tomorrow is partly cloudy with a chance of slight rain.
A. forecast B. forecasted C. forecasting D. to forecast
10. Mr. Radford, the plant manager, has recently conducted a tour for Japanese clients ........ the production plant.
A. visit B. visited C. visiting D. to visit
11.......... the personnel department directly if you have any questions regarding your benefits.
A. Contact B. Contacts C. To contact D. Contacting
12. The company announced that it has a plan to acquire several properties ...........its business.
A. expanding B. expanded C. to expand D. expansion 

15 

13. Our service representatives remain committed to ........... quality service for customers. A. provide B. be provided C. provides D. providing
14. The board of directors unanimously agreed to.......... your consultant contract for an additional two - year period. 

A. redeem B. renew C. rehire D. recall 

Questions 15 through 17 refer to the following e-mail. 

To: Alexandra Piaskovsky <Alexyaho8513@narumail.com >
From: Lorenzo Sandoval, Finance Events, InC. < lorenzo_452@financeevents.com > Subject: Annual Stockbroker Convention
Dear Ms. Piaskovsky,
This year's convention will be held at the Sunriver Resort on San Domingo Island. All rooms will have an (15)________view of the surrounding landscape.
15. A. obvious B. objective C. extraordinary D. adhesive
The resort also offers guests a wonderful variety of (16)_____________ including a large 16.A. attractions B. intervals C. exchanges D. finances swimming pool, great spa, and massage facilities. For convention attendees, we urge you to extend your stay and enjoy the amenities. Because the resort is likely to be very crowded, you need to consider (17) ___________.
17. A. reserve B. reserving C. reserves D. reserved Please email to Finance Events, InC. right away to organize your registration, transportation, and accommodations. Yours sincerely, Lorenzo Sandoval, Finance Events, InC. 

 


 
Other News: