Exercise – Unit 03: Infinitives and Gerunds – Chapter 1: Grammar Practice – Starter TOEIC – Third Edition – Building TOEIC Test-taking Skills – Anne Taylor – Casey Malarcher

A. Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

1. He expects ——- soon.
(A) arrive
(B) arrival
(C) to arrive
(D) arriving

Answer: (C) to arrive
The verb “expects” is typically followed by an infinitive (non-finitive) when talking about plans or anticipated actions.

2. All I want is ——- to return safe.
(A) he
(B) him
(C) of him
(D) for him

Answer: (D) for him
When expressing a wish or desire for someone’s actions, “All I want is for [someone] to [do something]” is a common structure in English. Here, “for him” correctly follows this pattern to express the wish that he returns safely.

3. I’m sorry about ——- their feelings.
(A) hurt
(B) to hurt
(C) hurting
(D) I hurt

Answer: (C) hurting
Most phrases related to emotions are followed by a gerund.
“Sorry about” is generally followed by a gerund (-ing form) to refer to an action that has caused regret. “Hurting” (gerund) is the correct choice here to express regret over an action.

4. Christine promised to meet ——- at the theater.
(A) our
(B) us
(C) we
(D) ours

Answer: (B) us
The logical subject of a to-infinitive needs to be in an objective form.
“To meet” needs an object pronoun to indicate who will be met. “Us” (object pronoun) is the correct choice here.

B. Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

A smoke detector is an easy way to protect your family. It is very easy to install one. Most people expect (1)——- if there is a fire, but poisonous fumes from smoke kill hundreds of people every year. (2)——- a smoke detector will give your family a chance to escape in the case of a fire. Ask at your local fire station for advice.
(1) (A) to wake up
(B) woke up
(C) wake up
(D) waking up
(2) (A) Putting
(B) Fixing
(C) Installing
(D) Hanging

Answer:

(1) (A) to wake up — The verb “expect” is typically followed by an infinitive to express an anticipated action. Here, “to wake up” (infinitive form) is correct, as it conveys the expectation of waking up in case of a fire.
(2) (C) installing — “Install” means to set something in position and connect for use.
This sentence begins with a gerund phrase to describe an action (using a smoke detector). The most logical and specific choice here is “Installing,” as it directly describes the act of setting up a smoke detector for safety purposes.

C. Fill the blank with the appropriate word.

1. He is making every possible effort to ——- his opponent.
(A) best (B) well (C) good (D) better

Answer: (A) best
The blank needs a verb that can take “his opponent” as its object. The blank needs a verb that means “to defeat” or “outdo,” and that can take “his opponent” as an object. “Best” is a verb meaning “to surpass or defeat,” which fits perfectly in this context.

2. When ——- to resign his position, the manager reacted badly.
(A) ask (B) to ask (C) asking (D) asked

Answer: (D) asked
The verb of the second clause is past tense, so the verb of the first clause must also be a past form.
In passive constructions like “When ——- to resign,” we often use the past participle form to show that the manager was on the receiving end of the action.

3. When we arrived, the film was about ——-.
(A) start (B) starting (C) to start (D) started

Answer: (C) to start
“Be about to” = on the verge of.
The phrase “was about to” is commonly used to indicate something that is on the verge of happening.

4. The prince was married to the Duchess of Kent and ——- by his brother.
(A) to succeed (B) succeeded (C) succeeding (D) successfully

Answer: (B) succeeded
The preposition “by” is usually preceded by a past participle.
The sentence implies a passive structure where the prince was “succeeded” (or followed in position) by his brother. “Succeeded” (past tense) is the correct answer, as it shows the prince was replaced by his brother.