1. She enjoys ____. (draw)
Answer & explanation
drawing
She enjoys drawing. (draw)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
THE IDEA, SIMPLY
The rule, with an example
Some verbs take -ing, such as enjoy and avoid. Others take to + base form, such as decide and hope. Modal verbs take the base form. Learn patterns in short meaningful phrases.
SEE IT IN CONTEXTI enjoy learning. I hope to improve. I can practise every day.
Skills to work on in this practice
- Recognise common verb patterns
- Choose -ing or to + verb
- Use the pattern in a complete sentence
Learn the whole verb pattern
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + -ing | I enjoy reading. | Enjoy normally takes an -ing form. |
| Verb + to-infinitive | I decided to revise. | Decide takes to + base verb. |
| Modal + base verb | I should revise. | Should takes the base form without to. |
Common mistake
Check: I enjoy to read
Use: I enjoy reading
The first verb determines the pattern here; the forms are not interchangeable.
How should I practise this?
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
MORE PRACTICE · SAME TOPIC
Your four practice sets
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
Practise, then understand your answers
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
Answer every question to see your score.0 / 10 answered
Question 1
I enjoy ___ with other students.
- study
- to study
- studying
Answer & explanation
studying. Enjoy is followed by an -ing form.
Question 2
She decided ___ the club.
- to join
- joining
- join
Answer & explanation
to join. Decide takes a to-infinitive.
Question 3
We avoided ___ during the recording.
- to talk
- talking
- talk
Answer & explanation
talking. Avoid takes an -ing form.
Question 4
They hope ___ next month.
- visiting
- visit
- to visit
Answer & explanation
to visit. Hope takes a to-infinitive.
Question 5
You should ___ the instructions first.
- read
- to read
- reading
Answer & explanation
read. A modal such as should takes the base form.
Question 6
I enjoy ___ new recipes.
- try
- trying
- to try
Answer & explanation
trying. Enjoy is followed by an -ing form.
Question 7
They decided ___ early.
- to leave
- leaving
- leave
Answer & explanation
to leave. Decide is followed by a to-infinitive.
Question 8
She suggested ___ the train.
- to take
- take
- taking
Answer & explanation
taking. Suggest takes an -ing form in this structure.
Question 9
We hope ___ you soon.
- see
- to see
- seeing
Answer & explanation
to see. Hope is followed by a to-infinitive here.
Question 10
He avoided ___ the question.
- answering
- to answer
- answer
Answer & explanation
answering. Avoid is followed by an -ing form.
SET 2 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes
Build the pattern
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
2. They agreed ____ at noon. (meet)
Answer & explanation
to meet
They agreed to meet at noon. (meet)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
3. He avoided ____ noise. (make)
Answer & explanation
making
He avoided making noise. (make)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
4. We plan ____ in spring. (travel)
Answer & explanation
to travel
We plan to travel in spring. (travel)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
5. I finished ____ the kitchen. (clean)
Answer & explanation
cleaning
I finished cleaning the kitchen. (clean)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
6. She hopes ____ a place. (win)
Answer & explanation
to win
She hopes to win a place. (win)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
7. They considered ____ house. (move)
Answer & explanation
moving
They considered moving house. (move)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
8. He refused ____. (answer)
Answer & explanation
to answer
He refused to answer. (answer)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
9. I miss ____ my friends. (see)
Answer & explanation
seeing
I miss seeing my friends. (see)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
10. We decided ____. (wait)
Answer & explanation
to wait
We decided to wait. (wait)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
SET 3 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes
Check the details
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
1. She practises ____ every day. (speak)
Answer & explanation
speaking
She practises speaking every day. (speak)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
2. He offered ____. (help)
Answer & explanation
to help
He offered to help. (help)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
3. They suggested ____ instead. (walk)
Answer & explanation
walking
They suggested walking instead. (walk)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
4. I want ____ my writing. (improve)
Answer & explanation
to improve
I want to improve my writing. (improve)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
5. We postponed ____ the room. (paint)
Answer & explanation
painting
We postponed painting the room. (paint)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
6. She promised ____ the book. (return)
Answer & explanation
to return
She promised to return the book. (return)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
7. He admitted ____ the cup. (break)
Answer & explanation
breaking
He admitted breaking the cup. (break)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
8. They managed ____ on time. (finish)
Answer & explanation
to finish
They managed to finish on time. (finish)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
9. I don’t mind ____. (share)
Answer & explanation
sharing
I don’t mind sharing. (share)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
10. She learned ____ last year. (drive)
Answer & explanation
to drive
She learned to drive last year. (drive)
The main verb controls the following pattern. These items use verbs with clear -ing or to-infinitive patterns.
SET 4 OF 4 · 20–30 minutes
Use it yourself
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
1. Write about an activity you enjoy.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Enjoy is followed by an -ing form.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
2. Describe a decision about a future action.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Decide takes a to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
3. Suggest an activity without using that.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Suggest can take an -ing form.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
4. Describe something you avoid doing.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Avoid takes an -ing form.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
5. Make a promise.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Promise takes a to-infinitive in this pattern.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
6. Describe finishing an activity.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Finish takes an -ing form.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
7. Write about something you hope to achieve.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Hope takes a to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
8. Describe considering a change.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Consider takes an -ing form.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
9. Write an offer to help someone.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Offer takes a to-infinitive.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
10. Explain and repair enjoy to read in a sentence.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use enjoy reading because enjoy takes -ing.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Printable practice
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE
Can you use it yourself?
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
1. Explain or repair
Repair: We decided joining, but we avoided to pay early.
Check the reasoning
We decided to join, but we avoided paying early. Decide takes a to-infinitive; avoid takes an -ing form.
2. Make the meaning
Write one sentence with enjoy and another with hope about learning English.
Compare a possible answer
I enjoy reading short stories. I hope to understand longer texts soon. The first verb controls the form that follows.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
RELATED PRACTICE
Gerund & infinitive rules
Organise verb patterns into useful groups.