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Gerund, infinitive and present
participle
Exercise
1 Put the verbs in brackets
into the correct forms. Note that sometimes a bare infinitive will be
required.
1
‘I was lonely at first,’ the
old man admitted, ‘but after a time I got used to (live) alone and
even got (like) it.’
2
Before trains were invented people
used (travel) on horseback or in stage coaches. It used (take) a
stage coach three days (go) from London to Bath.
3
I meant (buy) an evening paper but
I didn’t see anyone (sell) them.
4
Tom: I want (catch) the 7 a.m. train
tomorrow.
Ann: But that means (get) up at 6.00; and you’re
not very good at (get) up early, are you?
5
He accepted the cut in salary
without complaint because he was afraid (complain). He was afraid of
(lose) his job.
6
She remembers part of her childhood
quite clearly. She remembers (go) to school for the first time and
(be) frightened and (put) her finger in her mouth. And she remembers
her teacher (tell) her (take) it out.
7
Did you remember (lock) the car? -
No, I didn’t. I’d better (go) back and (do) it
now.
Student
8
No, I didn’t move the bomb. I was
afraid (touch) it; I was afraid of (be) blown to pieces!
9
Next time we go (house hunt),
remember (ask) the agent for clear directions. I wasted hours (look)
for tBe lasFKouse.
10 Tom:
Let’s (go) for a swim.
Ann: I’m not particularly keen on (swim). What
about (go) for a drive instead?
11
The hunters expected (be paid) by
the foot for the snakes they caught. This meant (take) the snakes out
of the sack and (measure) them. They seemed (expect) me (do) it; but
I wasn’t particularly anxious (be) the first (die) of snakebite.
12
After (spend) two days (argue)
about where to go for their holidays, they decided (not go) anywhere.
13
He is talking about (give) up his
job and (go) (live) in the country.
14
I was just about (leave) the office
when the phone rang. It was my wife; she wanted me (call) at the
butcher’s on my way home.
15
He said, ‘I’m terribly sorry to
(keep) you (wait).’
I said, ‘It doesn’t matter at all,’ but he went
on (apologize) for nearly five minutes!
16
The lecturer began by (tell) us
where the island was, and went on (talk) about its history.
17
My father thinks I am not capable
of (earn) my own living, but I mean (show) him that he is wrong.
18
Tom: I can’t get my car (start)
on cold mornings.
Jack: Have you tried (fill) the radiator with hot
water? That sometimes helps.
19
Did he manage (carry) the trunk
upstairs? -
No, he didn’t. He isn’t strong enough (move) it,
let alone (carry) it upstairs.
20
Jack: Don’t forget (take) a
hacksaw with you.
Ann: What’s a hacksaw? And why should I (take) one
with me?
Jack: It’s a tool for (cut) metal. You see, Tom is
bound (get) into trouble for (take) photographs of the wrong things,
and you’ll be arrested with him. With a hacksaw you’ll be able
(saw) through the bars of your cell and (escape).
21
Peter: Wouldn’t it be better
(ask) Tom (leave) his camera at home? Jack: It would be no good (ask)
Tom (do) that. It would be like (ask) a woman (travel) without a
handbag.
22
I’ve got the loaf; now I’m
looking for a breadknife (cut) it with.
I saw Paul (sharpen) a pencil with the breadknife a
minute ago,
23
We stopped once (buy) petrol and
then we stopped again (ask) someone the way.
24
When I caught them (cheat) me, I
stopped (buy) petrol there and started (deal) with your garage'
instead.
25
Do you feel like (dine) out or
would you rather (have) dinner at home? -
I’d like (go) out. I always
enjoy (have) dinner in a restaurant.
26
Your hair needs (cut). You’d
better (have) it done tomorrow—unless you’d like me (have) a go
at it for you.
27
I tried (convince) him that I was
perfectly capable of (manage) on my own, but he insisted on (help)
me.
28
Jack: I don’t mind (travel) by
bus, but I hate (stand) in queues.
Tom: I don’t care for (queue) either; and you waste
so much time (wait) for buses. I think it’s better (go) by tube, or
taxi.
29
He took to (follow) me about and
(criticize) my work till I threatened (hit) him.
30
I have (stay) here; I’m on duty.
But you needn’t (wait); you’re free (go) whenever you like.
31
In Animal Farm the old pig urged
the animals (rebel) against man but he warned them (not adopt) man’s
habits.
32
There is no point in (arrive) half
an hour early. We’d only have (wait). ~
I don’t mind (wait). It’s better (be) too early
than too late.
33
I always try (come) in quietly but
they always hear me (go) upstairs. It’s impossible (climb) an old
wooden staircase at night without (make) a noise.
34
If you agree (work) for me I’ll
see about (get) you a work permit.
35 We’d
better (start) early. We don’t want (risk) (get) caught in a
traffic jam.
36
He suggested (call) a meeting and
(let) the workers (decide) the matter themselves.
Exercise 2 Put
the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. Remember that sometimes
a bare infinitive is required.
1
We suggested (sleep) in hotels but
the children were anxious (camp) out.
2
Paul: Would you like (come) to a
lecture on Wagner tonight?
Ann: No, thanks. I like (listen) to music but I don’t
like (listen) to people (talk) about it.
3
If you want the milkman (leave) you
milk in the morning, remember (put) a milk bottle outside your door.
4
They let us park motorcycles here
but they won’t allow us (park) cars.
5
They don’t allow (smoke) in the
auditorium; they don’t want (risk) (set) it on fire, but you can
(smoke) in the foyer during the interval.
6
Mr Shaw is very busy (write) his
memoirs. He is far too busy (receive) callers {he is so busy that he
can’t receive callers), so you’d better just (go) away.
7
What about (buy) double quantities
of everything today? That will save (shop) again later in the week.
8
The inspector asked (see) my ticket
and when I wasn’t able (find) it he made me (buy) another.
He probably suspected you of (try) (travel) without
one.
9
Would you like me (turn) down the
radio a bit?
No, it’s all right. I’m used to (work) with the
radio on.
10
One of the gang suggested (take)
the body out to sea, (drop) it overboard and (pretend) that it had
been an accident.
11
I want the boy (grow) up hating
violence but his father keeps (buy) him guns and swords.It’s
almost impossible (prevent) boys (play) soldiers.
12
Would you children mind (keep)
quiet for a moment? I’m trying (fill) in a form.
It’s no use (ask) children (keep) quiet. They can’t
help (make) a noise.
13
I’m thinking of (go) to Oxford
tomorrow on my motorbike. Would you like (come)?
No, thanks. I want (go) Oxford, but I’d rather (go)
by train. I loathe (travel) by road.
14
Let’s (go) (fish) today. There’s
a nice wind. What about (come) with us, Ann?
No, thanks. I’m very willing (cut) sandwiches for
you but I’ve no intention of (waste) the afternoon (sit) in a boat
(watch) you two (fish).
15
He resented (be) asked (wait). He
expected the minister (see) him at once.
16
The police have put up a railing
here (prevent) people (rush) out of the station and (dash) straight
across the road.
17
All day long we saw the trees
(toss) in the wind and heard the waves (crash) against the rocks.
18
I didn’t mean (eat) anything but
the cakes looked so good that I couldn’t resist (try) one.
19
Do you feel like (walk) there or
shall we (take) a bus?
I’d rather (go) by bus. Besides, it’ll take ages
(get) there on foot.
20
All right. When would you like
(start)? In a few minutes?
Oh, let’s wait till it stops (rain); otherwise
we’ll get soaked (walk) to the bus station.
21 The
old miser spent all his time (count) his money and (think) up new
hiding-places. He kept (move) it about because he was terrified of
(be robbed). He used (get) up at night sometimes (make) sure it was
still there.
22
Jack suggested (let) one flat and
(keep) the other for myself. But Tom advised me (sell) the whole
house.
23
The child used (lean) on the gate
(watch) the people (go) to work in the mornings and (come) home in
the evenings. And he used to hear them (shout) greetings to each
other and (talk) loudly.
24
He soon got (know) most of them and
even managed (learn) the greetings. Then they began (greet) him too
on their way to work and sometimes would stop (talk) to him on their
way home.
25
He succeeded in (untie) himself,
(climb) out of the window and (crawl) along a narrow ledge to the
window of the next room.
26
Did you have any trouble (find) the
house? —
No, but I had a lot of difficulty (get) in. Nobody
seemed (know) where the key was.
27
Bill couldn’t bear (see) anyone
(sit) round idly. Whenever he found me (relax) or (read) he would
(produce) a job which, he said, had (be) done at once. I wasted a
morning (perform) his ridiculous tasks and spent the rest of the
weekend (keep) out of his way.
28
After (spend) a week in the
cottage, he decided that he didn’t really enjoy (live) in the
country and began (think) of an excuse for (sell) the cottage and
(return) to London.
29
It’s no use (argue) with him. You
might as well (argue) with a stone wall. He is incapable of (see)
anyone else’s point of view.
30
I’m delighted (hear) that you can
come on Saturday. We are all looking forward to (see) you. Remember
(bring) your rubber boots.
31
He has been charged with (receive)
and (sell) stolen goods. He has admitted (receive) but denies (sell)
them. The fact is that he hasn’t had time (sell) them yet.
32
He noticed the helicopter (hover)
over the field. Then, to his astonishment, he saw a rope ladder (be)
thrown out and three men (climb) down it. He watched them (run)
across the field and out through a gate. Later he saw a car with four
men in it (come) out of the lane (lead) to the field.
33
He admitted that it was possible
that the car happened (be passing) and that the three men persuaded
the driver (give) them a lift; but he throught it much more likely
that they had arranged for the car (pick) them up and that the driver
had been waiting in the lane for the helicopter (drop) them.
34
What about (have) a picnic in
Piccadilly Circus?
What an extraordinary place (have) a picnic! Fancy
(sit) there with the traffic (swirl) round you and the pigeons (take)
bites out of your sandwiches!
35
Would you mind (write) your address
on the back of the cheque and (show) us some proof of your identity?
36
Let’s (swim) across.
I’m not really dressed for (swim). What’s wrong
with (go) round by the bridge?
Student
Answers
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Exercise 1
1 living, to like 2 to travel; to take, to go 3 to buy; selling 4
to catch; getting, getting 5 to complain; losing 6 going, being,
putting; telling, to take 7 to lock; go, do 8 to touch, being 9
househunting, to ask; looking 10 go; swimming; going 11 to be
paid; taking, measuring; to expect, to do, to be, to die 12
spending, arguing, not to go 13 giving, going to live 14 to leave;
to call 15 keep you waiting; apologizing 16 telling, to talk 17
earning, to show 18 to start; filling 19 to carry; to move, carry
20 to take; take; cutting; to get, taking; to saw, escape 21 to
ask, to leave; asking Tom to do; asking, to travel 22 to cut;
sharpening 23 to buy, to ask 24 cheating, buying, dealing/to deal
25 dining, have; to go; having 26 cutting/to be cut; have, to have
27 to convince, managing, helping 28 travelling, standing;
queuing, waiting; to go 29 following, criticizing, to hit 30 to
stay; wait; to go 31 to rebel, not to adopt 32 arriving; to wait,
waiting; to be 33 to come, going; to climb, making 34 to work,
getting 35 start; to risk getting 36 calling, letting, decide
Exercise 2
1 sleeping, to camp 2 to come; listening, listening, talking 3 to
leave, to put 4 to park 5 smoking, to risk setting, smoke 6
writing, to receive, go 7 buying; shopping 8 to see, to find, buy;
trying to travel 9 to turn; working 10 taking, dropping,
pretending 11 to grow, buying; to prevent, playing 12 keeping; to
fill; asking, to keep; making 13 going; to come; to go, go;
travelling 14 go fishing; coming; to cut, wasting, sitting,
watching, fishing 15 being, to wait; to see 16 to prevent,
rushing, dashing 17 tossing, crashing 18 to eat, trying 19
walking, take; go; to get 20 to start; raining, walking 21
counting, thinking; moving, being robbed; to get, to make 22
letting, keeping, to sell 23 to lean, watching, going, coming;
shouting, talking 24 to know, to learn; to greet/greeting, to talk
25 untying, climbing, crawling 26 finding; getting; to know 27 to
see/seeing, sitting; relaxing, reading, produce, to be;
performing, keeping 28 spending, living, to think, selling,
returning 29 arguing; argue; seeing 30 to hear; seeing; to bring
31 receiving, selling; receiving, selling, to sell 32 hovering,
being, climbing; run/running; coming/come, leading 33 to be
passing, to give, to pick, to drop 34 having; to have; sitting,
swirling, taking 35 writing, showing 36 swim; swimming; going
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