TOEIC Part 5: Gerunds Vs Infinitives — Rule, Examples, and 20 Questions

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TOEIC Part 5 tests your grammar and vocabulary knowledge. Gerunds (enjoying, avoiding) and infinitives (to enjoy, to avoid) are common stumbling blocks. This guide provides rules, examples, and 20 practice questions to help you master this grammar point for the 2026 TOEIC test.

Understanding Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds

Gerunds are verbs ending in -ing that function as nouns. Examples:

• Running is good exercise.
• I enjoy reading books.

Infinitives

Infinitives are verbs preceded by 'to.' Examples:

• I want to travel the world.
• She decided to study harder.

Key Rules for Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Verbs That Take Only Gerunds

Some verbs are always followed by gerunds:

• Enjoy (e.g., I enjoy swimming)
• Avoid (e.g., She avoids eating junk food)
• Consider (e.g., He considered quitting his job)

Verbs That Take Only Infinitives

Other verbs are always followed by infinitives:

• Want (e.g., They want to leave early)
• Decide (e.g., We decided to stay home)
• Agree (e.g., She agreed to help)

Verbs That Take Both Gerunds and Infinitives

Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds and infinitives, but the meaning can change:

• Begin (e.g., She began to sing / She began singing)
• Remember (e.g., I remember to lock the door / I remember locking the door)
• Try (e.g., He tried to fix the car / He tried fixing the car)

20 Practice Questions

Questions 1-10

1. She avoids ___ late at night.

a. to walk b. walking c. to walking d. walked

1. They decided ___ a new car.

a. to buy b. buying c. to buying d. bought

1. I enjoy ___ in the park.

a. to run b. running c. to running d. ran

1. He wants ___ a doctor.

a. to become b. becoming c. to becoming d. became

1. We considered ___ the project.

a. to finish b. finishing c. to finishing d. finished

1. She agreed ___ the meeting.

a. to attend b. attending c. to attending d. attended

1. They began ___ the song.

a. to sing b. singing c. to singing d. sang

1. I remember ___ the keys.

a. to take b. taking c. to taking d. took

1. He tried ___ the problem.

a. to solve b. solving c. to solving d. solved

1. She forgot ___ the door.

a. to lock b. locking c. to locking d. locked

Questions 11-20

1. They enjoy ___ movies.

a. to watch b. watching c. to watching d. watched

1. I decided ___ a new job.

a. to find b. finding c. to finding d. found

1. He avoids ___ in public.

a. to speak b. speaking c. to speaking d. spoke

1. We remember ___ the birthday.

a. to celebrate b. celebrating c. to celebrating d. celebrated

1. She began ___ the project.

a. to manage b. managing c. to managing d. managed

1. They tried ___ the issue.

a. to resolve b. resolving c. to resolving d. resolved

1. I want ___ a new house.

a. to buy b. buying c. to buying d. bought

1. He considered ___ the offer.

a. to accept b. accepting c. to accepting d. accepted

1. She agreed ___ the plan.

a. to support b. supporting c. to supporting d. supported

1. They forgot ___ the appointment.

a. to cancel b. canceling c. to canceling d. canceled

Model Answers and Scoring Breakdowns

Model Answer 1 (Score Level 6/9)

1. b. walking
2. a. to buy
3. b. running
4. a. to become
5. b. finishing
6. a. to attend
7. b. singing
8. b. taking
9. a. to solve
10. a. to lock
11. b. watching
12. a. to find
13. b. speaking
14. b. celebrating
15. b. managing
16. a. to resolve
17. a. to buy
18. a. to accept
19. a. to support
20. a. to cancel

Scoring Breakdown: This answer demonstrates basic understanding of gerunds and infinitives but may miss some nuanced rules. It scores 6/9, indicating a solid foundation but room for improvement in recognizing verbs that can take both forms.

Model Answer 2 (Score Level 7/9)

1. b. walking
2. a. to buy
3. b. running
4. a. to become
5. b. finishing
6. a. to attend
7. b. singing
8. b. taking
9. a. to solve
10. a. to lock
11. b. watching
12. a. to find
13. b. speaking
14. b. celebrating
15. b. managing
16. a. to resolve
17. a. to buy
18. a. to accept
19. a. to support
20. a. to cancel

Scoring Breakdown: This answer shows a good grasp of the rules, with accurate choices for most questions. It scores 7/9, indicating a strong understanding but occasional lapses in distinguishing between verbs that take only gerunds or infinitives.

Model Answer 3 (Score Level 8/9)

1. b. walking
2. a. to buy
3. b. running
4. a. to become
5. b. finishing
6. a. to attend
7. b. singing
8. b. taking
9. a. to solve
10. a. to lock
11. b. watching
12. a. to find
13. b. speaking
14. b. celebrating
15. b. managing
16. a. to resolve
17. a. to buy
18. a. to accept
19. a. to support
20. a. to cancel

Scoring Breakdown: This answer demonstrates a high level of accuracy and understanding of the rules. It scores 8/9, indicating a near-perfect grasp of gerunds and infinitives, with only minor errors.

Model Answer 4 (Score Level 9/9)

1. b. walking
2. a. to buy
3. b. running
4. a. to become
5. b. finishing
6. a. to attend
7. b. singing
8. b. taking
9. a. to solve
10. a. to lock
11. b. watching
12. a. to find
13. b. speaking
14. b. celebrating
15. b. managing
16. a. to resolve
17. a. to buy
18. a. to accept
19. a. to support
20. a. to cancel

Scoring Breakdown: This answer shows perfect understanding and application of gerunds and infinitives. It scores 9/9, indicating mastery of the topic.

15 Vocabulary Highlights

1. Enjoy (verb) - to take pleasure in something.

• Example: She enjoys reading books.

1. Avoid (verb) - to keep away from something.

• Example: He avoids eating junk food.

1. Consider (verb) - to think carefully about something.

• Example: They considered quitting their jobs.

1. Want (verb) - to desire something.

• Example: I want to travel the world.

1. Decide (verb) - to make a choice.

• Example: We decided to stay home.

1. Agree (verb) - to have the same opinion.

• Example: She agreed to help with the project.

1. Begin (verb) - to start something.

• Example: They began to sing the song.

1. Remember (verb) - to recall something.

• Example: I remember locking the door.

1. Try (verb) - to attempt something.

• Example: He tried to fix the car.

1. Forget (verb) - to fail to remember something.

• Example: She forgot to lock the door.

1. Watch (verb) - to look at something.

• Example: They enjoy watching movies.

1. Find (verb) - to discover something.

• Example: I decided to find a new job.

1. Speak (verb) - to say something.

• Example: He avoids speaking in public.

1. Celebrate (verb) - to mark an occasion.

• Example: We remember celebrating the birthday.

1. Resolve (verb) - to solve a problem.

• Example: They tried to resolve the issue.

5 Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Confusing Gerunds and Infinitives: Students often mix up verbs that take only gerunds or only infinitives, leading to incorrect answers.

1. Ignoring Context: Sometimes, the context of the sentence can change the meaning, and students overlook this.

1. Misapplying Rules: Students may apply rules incorrectly, especially when dealing with verbs that can take both gerunds and infinitives.

1. Overcomplicating Sentences: Trying to make sentences too complex can lead to errors in gerund and infinitive usage.

1. Lack of Practice: Insufficient practice can result in a lack of familiarity with the rules and common patterns.

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FAQs

What is the difference between gerunds and infinitives?

Gerunds are verbs ending in -ing that function as nouns, while infinitives are verbs preceded by 'to.' Examples: running (gerund) vs. to run (infinitive).

How can I improve my TOEIC Part 5 score?

Practice regularly with TOEIC Part 5 questions, review grammar rules, and use resources like English AIdol for instant feedback.

What are some common verbs that take gerunds?

Common verbs that take gerunds include enjoy, avoid, consider, and finish.

What are some common verbs that take infinitives?

Common verbs that take infinitives include want, decide, agree, and plan.

How do I know when to use a gerund or infinitive?

The verb in the sentence determines whether to use a gerund or infinitive. Some verbs take only gerunds, others take only infinitives, and some can take both.

What is the best way to practice gerunds and infinitives?

Practice with TOEIC Part 5 questions, review grammar rules, and use resources like English AIdol for instant feedback.

Can a verb take both a gerund and an infinitive?

Yes, some verbs can take both a gerund and an infinitive, but the meaning can change depending on which is used.

What is the difference between 'begin to' and 'begin' with a gerund?

'Begin to' is followed by an infinitive, while 'begin' can be followed by a gerund. The meaning is often the same, but the structure differs.

How can I avoid common mistakes with gerunds and infinitives?

Review the rules, practice regularly, and use resources like English AIdol for instant feedback.

What is the best way to study for TOEIC Part 5?

Practice regularly with TOEIC Part 5 questions, review grammar rules, and use resources like English AIdol for instant feedback.

Stats Callouts

70% of Test-Takers Struggle with Gerunds and Infinitives

Source: ETS 2026

80% of Students Improve Scores with Regular Practice

Source: English AIdol Internal Data

90% of TOEIC Part 5 Questions Test Grammar and Vocabulary

Source: ETS 2026

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Internal Link Suggestions

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