Fill in the blanks with an infinitive or gerund.
1The store has a special department ............... customer complaints.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "to handle" and "handling" can describe the department's purpose or function.
2The politician tried ............... public support for the plan.
Wrong!
Use "to generate" after "tried" when it means made an effort.
3She often used ............... into the distance.
Wrong!
Use "to gaze" after "used" to talk about a past habit.
4Steps should be taken ............... corruption in the government.
Wrong!
Use "to abolish" to express the purpose of the steps.
5The grain was separated from the stalk by ...............
Wrong!
Use the gerund "beating" after the preposition "by".
6Farmers raise millions of edible seed plants ............... the nation.
Wrong!
Use "to feed" to express the purpose of raising the plants.
7People lined the streets ............... the returning heroes.
Wrong!
Use "to cheer" to express the purpose of lining the streets.
8One needs a special license ............... a cab.
Wrong!
Use "to drive" after "license" to show permission or purpose.
9Moles have the habit of ............... in the earth.
Wrong!
Use the gerund "burrowing" after the preposition "of".
10When and where did the practice ............... hands originate?
Wrong!
Use "of shaking" after "the practice" to name the activity.
11The radio audience was hoaxed into ............... that Martians had landed.
Wrong!
Use the gerund "believing" after the preposition "into".
Exercise complete
0 out of 11
correct answers
Answers
- The store has a special department to handle / handling customer complaints.
- The politician tried to generate public support for the plan.
- She often used to gaze into the distance.
- Steps should be taken to abolish corruption in the government.
- The grain was separated from the stalk by beating.
- Farmers raise millions of edible seed plants to feed the nation.
- People lined the streets to cheer the returning heroes.
- One needs a special license to drive a cab.
- Moles have the habit of burrowing in the earth.
- When and where did the practice of shaking hands originate?
- The radio audience was hoaxed into believing that Martians had landed.