Doing vs To Do: Choose by the Signal Before the Blank
This drill trains you to identify the word or phrase that controls whether the next action uses an -ing form or a to-infinitive.
Selected verbs and purpose structures point to to do
Choose doing
Use the -ing form after patterns such as avoid, consider, finish, and suggest. Prepositions also commonly lead to doing: responsible for checking, interested in joining, and look forward to meeting.
Choose to do
Use the to-infinitive after patterns such as plan, decide, agree, and expect. It also commonly expresses purpose: called to confirm or visited to inspect.
How to find the anchor
Look immediately before the blank. The controlling verb, adjective, or preposition usually determines the form. Do not choose by meaning alone, and do not assume every to introduces an infinitive.
The consultant suggested ___ the delivery schedule.
Answer: revisingsuggested is the anchor. In this structure, suggest is followed by an -ing form.
The committee agreed ___ the proposal by Friday.
Answer: to reviewagreed is the anchor. In this structure, agree is followed by a to-infinitive.
The choices contrast an -ing form with a to-infinitive. Tap the controlling anchor before choosing.
What your result reveals
Your score shows whether you identified the governing word or phrase before choosing. Use the Review to check whether the sentence required an -ing form, a to-infinitive, or a purpose structure.
If doing caused problems
Review the verbs that take an -ing form, such as avoid, consider, finish, and suggest. Also check whether a preposition before the blank requires doing.
If to do caused problems
Review verbs such as plan, decide, agree, and expect. Also check purpose, requirement, adjective, passive, and object-plus-infinitive structures.
If false anchors or timing caused problems
You may be choosing by general meaning instead of the governing pattern, or treating every to as an infinitive marker. Check whether to is part of a fixed prepositional phrase.
Use the Review in this order: check the correct answer, identify the exact controlling anchor, read why that anchor requires the form, then compare the full sentence with the rejected choice.