Welcome to the World of Gerunds and Infinitives!

In Part 5 of the TOEIC (Incomplete Sentences), you will often see questions that ask you to choose between a verb ending in -ing (a Gerund) and a verb starting with to (an Infinitive). These might seem small, but they are "easy points" once you know the patterns. This chapter will help you recognize which one to use so you can answer quickly and move on to the harder reading passages.

Did you know? In the TOEIC exam, timing is everything. Most successful candidates spend less than 20 seconds on grammar questions like these. Learning these patterns by heart is the best way to save time for the Reading comprehension section!

1. What are Gerunds and Infinitives?

Think of Gerunds and Infinitives as "verbs wearing costumes." They are verbs that are acting like nouns in a sentence. They usually appear after a "main verb."

The Gerund: Verb + -ing (e.g., meeting, calling, signing).
The Infinitive: To + Verb (e.g., to meet, to call, to sign).

Key Rule for the Exam:

In TOEIC Part 5, the "Main Verb" (the word before the blank) decides whether you need a Gerund or an Infinitive. Your job is to look at the word immediately before the blank.

2. When to use Gerunds (The -ing Form)

You must use a Gerund after certain "trigger" verbs. In a business context, these are very common:

Common TOEIC Gerund Verbs:

Avoid, consider, finish, suggest, recommend, postpone, mind, keep.

Example:
The manager suggested postponing the meeting until Friday.
(In the test, if you see "suggested," you should immediately look for the "-ing" option.)

The Preposition Rule:

This is a gold mine for points! If a blank comes after a preposition (of, in, at, for, about, with, by), you almost always choose the Gerund.

Model Sentence:
He is responsible for training the new interns.
(Here, "for" is the preposition, so we must use "training.")

Common Mistake to Avoid:
Don't be fooled by the phrase "look forward to." In this case, "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.
Weak: I look forward to meet you.
Improved: I look forward to meeting you.

3. When to use Infinitives (The "To" Form)

The Infinitive is often used to show purpose (why we do something) or after specific "trigger" verbs that look toward the future.

Common TOEIC Infinitive Verbs:

Agree, decide, expect, hope, plan, want, refuse, offer, promise.

Example:
The company decided to expand its operations to Asia.

The Adjective Rule:

If you see an adjective (important, easy, difficult, necessary) before the blank, choose the Infinitive.

Model Sentence:
It is necessary to sign the contract before the deadline.

Memory Aid: Think of the Infinitive as the "Future" form. We plan to, hope to, and decide to do things that haven't happened yet!

4. Tricky Verbs: Change in Meaning

A few verbs can take both forms, but the meaning changes. TOEIC examiners love to use these to test if you really understand the context.

Stop:

Stop + -ing: To quit or finish an action.
He stopped smoking. (He doesn't smoke anymore.)

Stop + to: To pause what you are doing in order to do something else.
He stopped to smoke. (He paused his walk so he could have a cigarette.)

Remember / Forget:

Remember + -ing: Looking back at a memory of the past.
I remember locking the door. (I have the memory in my head.)

Remember + to: Reminding yourself to do a task in the future.
Please remember to lock the door. (Don't forget to do it!)

5. Strategy for Part 5 (The 3-Step Method)

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first. Follow these steps to get the right answer every time:

Step 1: Identify the "Trigger" Word. Look at the word just before the blank.
Step 2: Check for a Preposition. If you see "of," "for," or "by," lean toward the -ing form.
Step 3: Test for "Purpose." If the sentence is trying to say "in order to," the answer is the Infinitive.

Let's look at a "Weak" vs. "Improved" test-taking approach:

Question: The technician is capable of ------- the server issues quickly.
(A) fix (B) to fix (C) fixing (D) fixed

Weak approach: Reading the whole sentence over and over to see which "sounds" better. (Wastes 30 seconds).
Improved approach: See "of" (preposition) -> Know that prepositions take Gerunds -> Choose (C) fixing. (Takes 5 seconds).

6. Summary Checklist for the Exam

Check your understanding with this quick review list:

  • Gerunds (-ing) follow verbs like suggest, consider, and avoid.
  • Gerunds (-ing) are always used after prepositions (at, in, of, for, about).
  • Infinitives (to + verb) follow verbs like decide, plan, and hope.
  • Infinitives (to + verb) are used after adjectives (it is hard to..., it is important to...).
  • Infinitives (to + verb) express purpose (why someone does something).

Quick Tip: If you are totally stuck and have to guess, remember that in business English (TOEIC), Gerunds are very common after verbs of "process" and Infinitives are very common after verbs of "intent."

Key Takeaway: Mastering Gerunds and Infinitives is not about "fluency"—it is about pattern recognition. The more you practice spotting the "Trigger Word" before the blank, the higher your score will climb!