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COMMON VERBS, NOUNS & ADJECTIVES FOLLOWED BY A TO- INFINITIVE


1.1. Common verbs followed by a to-infinitive 

The supplier offered to send samples.
The congressman agreed to aid small enterprises. Some people refuse to pay their income taxes. 

1.2. Common nouns followed by a to-infinitive 

Consumers have the right to ask for a refund if the product is defective or of low quality. 

1.3. Common adjectives followed by a to-infinitive 

You will be able to purchase our goods and services online within a month. 

II. COMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND 

Verbs following some typical verbs below must always be in the form of a gerund. These gerunds functions as the object of the verbs. 

want to 

refuse to 

wish to 

manage to 

prefer to 

learn to 

hope to 

propose to 

offer to 

ask to 

seem to 

permit to 

plan to 

expect to 

need to 

 

decide to 

 

attempt to 

arrange to 

 

fail to 

afford to 

agree to 

promise to 

choose to 

intend to 

 

ability to 

plan to 

time to 

chance/opportunity to 

right to 

effort to 

way to 

decision to 

be able to 

be willing to 

be pleased to 

 

be easy/difficult to 

be eager to 

be likely to 

be about to 

be ready to 

enjoy 

Deny 

practice 

postpone 

imagine 

mind 

avoid 

suggest 

recommend 

appreciate 

consider 

Risk 

admit 

give up 

recall 

finish 

Keep 

miss 

put off 

involve 

8 

2.1. Fill the gaps with the correct forms of the verbs given in brackets. 

1. (adapt) He is willing _____________to new challenges in order to succeed in his career.
2. (review) You can take your time _____________ the checklists.
3. (increase) The interest rates are likely ________________ in the first quarter. 

4. (relocate) The corporation wishes ___________ outside New York.
5. (lower) The manager promised ____________ the sales quotas for new dealers. 

2.2. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. 

1. We are eager ______________ you and to talk about the issue.
A. to meet B. meeting C. meet D. met 2. I don’t think many people will have a chance _____________ for the job. 

A. for applying B. applying C. to applying D. to apply 

III. PRACTICE
3.1. Choose one correct option in the parentheses.
1. He needs (to improve / improving) his communication skills for the upcoming presentation.
2. Those interested in (apply / applying) for the job position should send their résumé. 3. In order to (maintain / maintaining) the air purifying system, we hired another mechanic.
4. I enjoyed (to talk / talking) with many representatives from overseas branches.
5. You are strongly advised (to purchase / purchasing) medical insurance before travelling overseas.
6. They are considering (to offer / offering) a special discount for the upcoming season. 7. We asked our reception staff (to check / checking) the registration list very carefully. 8. I wish (to get / getting) a job at a stable company after graduating.
9. Museum visitors are not permitted (to take / taking) photographs inside the building. 10. Do you mind (to wait/ waiting) for a few minutes while I finish this phone call. 

3.2. Choose the correct option for each of the following sentences. 

1. Please be sure to complete the form to __________ your application for the workshop A. finalize B. finalizing C. finalized D. finalization
2. Coal production for the following quarter is expected __________ the last quarter by five percent. 

A. exceeding B. excess C. to exceed D. exceed
3. The firm is considering __________ strict policy regarding employee absences. 

A. to introduce B. introduced C. introduce D. introducing
4. We strongly recommend ___________ rooms more than eight weeks in advance during the busy summer months. 

A. books B. to book C. booking D. be booked
5. You should call the hotel __________ your reservation at least one day in advance. 

9 

A. confirm B. to confirm C. confirming D. confirms
6. We are now considering _________ a better maintenance system to increase productivity. 

A. to develop B. develop C. developed D. developing 7. They finished the research but failed ____________ the results. 

A. Reporting B. to report C. report D. for reporting 8. The company made every effort __________ customer satisfaction. 

A. Boost B. boosting C. to boost D. for boosting
9. The marketing manager suggested __________ the logo to enhance the image of the company. 

A. change B. changing C. to change D. of changing 10. He was delighted __________ the prestigious award at the ceremony. 

A. receving B. received C. to receive D. with receiving 

Questions 11 – 13 refer to the following notice. 

Date: August 10
Subject: Employee Awards Night 

We have scheduled the ceremony ___________ awards to the company’s employees of the 11. A. present B. presents 

C. to present D. presented
year for August 18. There will be a rehearsal on August 16, so please suggest Jane Williams 

and Ryan Monk ____________ to the second-floor conference hall 5:00 p.m. My secretary 12. A. to reporting B. to report 

C. reporting D. report 

plans ___________ out the invitations to the employees and their families soon. 

13. A. to mail B. mailed 

Questions 14 – 15 refer to the following letter. 

C. is mailing D. mail 

Mr. David Hornsby 190 Broadway Vancouver, BC 

Dear Mr. Hornsby,
I am writing this letter ____________ that you will start working for Big Office Supplies 

14. A. confirm B. to confirm
C. confirming D. for confirming 

on April 12. Your job duties will be explained during the training session.
As we discussed before, you will be able ____________ twenty days of vacation and 

15. A. have B. having C. to having D. to have 

three sick days. If you have any questions please let us know. 


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