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TOEIC Decision Point

Try Doing vs Try To Do: Test a Solution or Make an Effort

In TOEIC Part 5, try doing and try to do can describe two different workplace situations.

The quick choice is not “What is the grammar name?” The quick choice is: is someone testing a possible solution, or making an effort to complete a difficult task?

Try doing = test this possible solution. Try to do = make an effort to complete the task.

The quick choice

Look at the situation around the action. Is the sentence offering an experiment, or describing effort and difficulty?

Try doing

Use it when someone tests a method to see whether it helps: try restarting the system, try contacting another supplier.

Try to do

Use it when someone makes an effort to complete a task: try to finish the report, try to reduce costs.

The signal to remember

Possible solution = doing. Effort toward a goal = to do.

This is the MTC move. Follow the purpose of the action instead of translating both choices.

If the printer is still offline, try restarting it.
Restarting is a possible solution to test. Choose try doing.
The technician tried to repair the printer before noon.
The technician made an effort to complete the repair. Choose try to do.
Try moving the meeting to Thursday.
Moving the meeting is a suggested option to test. Choose try doing.
The manager tried to move the meeting before the invitations were sent.
The manager made an effort to change the schedule. Choose try to do.

What to notice

This choice can appear in advice, troubleshooting, project updates, customer service, negotiations, and descriptions of difficult work.

try checking / try calling / try using
Test this method and see whether it works.
try to check / try to call / try to use
Make an effort to complete this action.

Use the surrounding signal

Use the surrounding words to decide whether the action is a possible solution or an effort toward a goal.

Solution signals

Look for if that does not work, instead, another option, to see whether, or a suggestion.

Effort signals

Look for difficult, deadline, despite, but could not, managed, or before time ran out.

Try reducing the image size to see whether the file uploads successfully.
Reducing the image size is a solution being tested.
The design team tried to reduce the file size before the deadline.
The team made an effort to reach a goal.

Under pressure, ask one question: is this an experiment, or an effort?

Quick TOEIC check

Choose first. Then read the feedback. Use the quick check: test a solution, or make an effort?

1. If the attachment will not open, try ___ it in a different browser.

2. Despite the delayed product launch, the sales team worked hard and tried ___ its monthly target by the end of the month.

3. Try ___ the supplier directly if the online form does not produce a response.

4. Ms Alvarez worked through lunch and tried ___ the revised proposal before the client meeting began.

The mistake to avoid

Treating both forms as meaning “attempt” can hide the difference between testing an option and working toward a difficult result.

Weak choice

Translate both options as “try” and choose by sound.

Better choice

Check the purpose: testing a solution, or making an effort toward a goal?

Keep the purpose clear under pressure

Use the wider sentence to confirm the purpose. In English, the form after try can distinguish testing a possible method from making an effort toward a goal.

Do not compare the endings in isolation. Read the business situation and identify the purpose of the action.

Quick tool: test a method = try doing. Make an effort = try to do.
Related practice

Continue building fast action decisions

Use these related pages to follow the purpose and timeline of an action.

Read Remember Doing vs Remember To Do Read Stop Doing vs Stop To Do
Next step

Use small TOEIC mistakes as a diagnostic

If you understand the answer during review but miss it under time pressure, the problem may be your decision pattern rather than the words alone.

Start with the Learning Block Diagnostic to see whether your mistakes connect to Speed Trap, Memoriser, Over Thinker, Translator, Passive Listener, or Burnout.

Take the Learning Block Diagnostic Find Your TOEIC Plan Browse the Strategy Library

Continue reading

Use these pages to turn small TOEIC mistakes into faster decisions and better review.

Back to top TOEIC Strategy Library Anchor Drills Learning Block Diagnostic TOEIC Plan Finder Remember Doing vs Remember To Do Stop Doing vs Stop To Do Unless vs If Not