Choose a New Hobby: Gerunds and Infinitives Practice

Your goal

Read three fictional adult learner profiles, notice what follows each verb and choose a hobby you could recommend. Allow about 30 minutes. You will practise 14 closed-answer questions, then write a short message.

Read the three profiles

Maya: Photography walks

Maya enjoys noticing small details in the city, but she avoids carrying heavy equipment. She hopes to take better pictures with her phone. The Saturday photography group offers short walks and friendly feedback. Members sometimes stop to compare their photos before continuing. Maya is interested in meeting people who also like exploring, and she plans to attend a free introductory session next week.

Omar: Repair and reuse

Omar has decided to try the repair workshop. He enjoys solving practical problems and wants to avoid throwing useful things away. Beginners start with simple wooden objects, and everyone practises using tools safely. Omar is good at following instructions, but he worries about making mistakes. The tutor suggests working slowly and asking questions. He hopes to repair an old chair at home.

Lena: Community choir

Lena finished studying for a professional course last month and now has free evenings. She plans to join the community choir to relax after work. She enjoys singing but dislikes performing alone. In this choir, beginners sing together, so nobody has to give a solo. Lena is looking forward to learning new songs. She has decided not to buy any equipment before the first meeting.

Word help

• introductory session: a first meeting that shows you what an activity is like

• reuse: use something again

• solo: a performance by one person

• feedback: useful comments about someone’s work

Fourteen verb-pattern checks

Complete the sentences or choose the meaning that matches the profiles.

Write a 70–90-word message

Write to a friend about one hobby you want to try. Give two reasons and one practical plan. Include enjoy + -ing, hope/plan/decide + to-infinitive and a preposition + -ing phrase. You may use a profile or invent reasonable personal details. This open writing is for self-review, not automatic grading.

Your turn · self-review

Model message

Write before opening the model. Different ideas can work if you meet the task.

Practice only. Your writing stays on this page; it is not submitted or saved.

1. 1Tell a friend about a hobby choice
   Model answer and explanation

   Hi Alex, I have decided to try the photography group. I enjoy exploring the city, and I hope to take better pictures with my phone. I also like meeting people, so the short walks sound ideal. I am interested in learning from other members and comparing our photos. I want to avoid carrying heavy equipment, which is another reason to choose this group. I plan to attend the free introductory session next week. Would you like to come too?

Notice the choices in the model

“Decided to try” gives a decision; “enjoy exploring” gives a preference. “Interested in learning” uses -ing after in. “Plan to attend” states a practical next step. The message gives reasons and a clear invitation, rather than only listing grammar patterns.

Self-check

• My message contains 70–90 words.

• I named a hobby, gave two reasons and included a practical plan.

• I checked the verb immediately before each second verb.

• I used -ing after a preposition and a base verb after infinitive to.

• The message sounds like a real message to a friend.