138 have difficulty (in) + gerund
PEG 259
A: Did you find the house quite easily?
B: No, I had a lot of difficulty (in) finding the house.
Did you ... quite easily?
-
fit everything into your case (Use my.)
-
hire a caravan
-
start the car
-
read the map
-
cross the river
-
find a place to park
-
persuade them to let you camp (Use me.)
-
put up the tent
-
light the fire
-
keep warm
-
understand him
-
make yourself understood
-
explain what you wanted
-
arrange a loan
-
raise the money
-
cash your cheque
-
get a visa
-
renew your passport
-
obtain a permit
-
make ands meet
139 have difficulty (in) + gerund, find it easy + infinitive
PEG 259
This is an exercise in both structures and should be done by students
working in pairs.
-
Prompt: open the windows
-
A: Do you have difficulty (in) opening the windows?
-
B: No, I find it quite easy to open them.
-
B: No, I find them quite easy to open. (See note below.)
-
Prompt: deal with the correspondence
-
A: Do you have any difficulty in dealing with the correspondence?
-
B: No, I find it quite easy to deal with it.
-
B: No, I find it quite easy to deal with. (See note below.)
Note: I find it easy to open them/it implies that the speaker has the necessary skill.
I find them/it easy to open implies that it is easy to open them/it.
1–10 The hall porter of a block of flats is answering questions
-
regulate the central heating
-
organize the cleaning
-
control the cleaning staff
-
remember the tenants' names
-
answer telephone esquires
-
deal with complaints
-
understand foreign tenants
-
operate the switchboard
-
read the meters
-
get on with the tenants
11–20 A farmer is answering questions
-
milk your cows
-
fee the calves
-
start your tractor
-
tow that big trailer
-
service your farm machinery
-
obtain spare parts
-
shear your sheep
-
train sheepdogs
-
obey all the regulations
-
sell your produce
140 it's no use/good + gerund
it's no use/good me/my + gerund
PEG 261, 262
A: Why didn't you tell him?
(a) B: It's no use telling him.
or
B: It's no use telling him.
-
B: It's no use me/my telling him. (normally with a slight stress on me/my)
-
B: It's no use me/my telling him, but if you told him something might be done.
(stress on me/my and you)
Why didn't you ...
-
talk to him?
-
remind him?
-
ask him?
-
complain?
-
suggest a remedy?
-
make a fuss?
-
ring him?
-
refuse?
-
speak out?
-
threaten him?
-
offer a reward?
-
apply?
-
resign?
-
warn him?
-
sign?
-
strike?
-
go to the embassy?
-
demand compensation?
-
leave?
-
oppose him?
141 insist on + gerund, insist on me/my + gerund
PEG 262
-
A: Tom painted the ceiling black, didn't he?
B (in resigned tones): Yes, he insisted on painting the ceiling black.
-
A: You painted the ceiling black, didn't you?
B: Yes, Bill insisted on me/my painting the ceiling black.
(Bill made me paint ... would also be possible.)
-
Tom ... didn't he? (b) You ... didn't you?
-
wore a tie,
-
changed trains,
-
started at midnight,
-
travelled in the guard's van,
-
post-dated the cheque,
-
sent for the Fire Brigade,
-
burnt the film,
-
took the dogs,
-
wrote to the papers,
-
slept in the attic,
-
consulted a fortune-teller,
-
pulled the communication cord,
-
fetched a doctor,
-
stopped the traffic,
-
searched the house,
-
rang the police,
-
defused the bomb,
-
marched in the procession,
-
waited till the end,
-
signed the petition,
142 in spite of + gerund
PEG 259, 329
Prompt: He spends very little.
A: He is quite rich.
B: But in spite of being quite rich, he spends very little.
The sentences could of course be joined by although/though.
Prompts are given in italics.
-
He got the job. He knows no Spanish.
-
He got there first. He started last.
-
He remained sober. He drank a lot.
-
She arrived in time. She missed the first train.
-
They managed to cross the frontier. They had no passports.
-
He doesn't make much progress. He practises a lot.
-
She didn't lose any weight. She died for six months.
-
He never made enough to live on. He worked hard.
-
He never mastered the subject. He studied for ten years.
-
He didn't take good photographs. He used very expensive cameras.
-
She never looked smart. She paid a lot for her clothes.
-
She is always late for work. She lives quite near the office.
-
He passed his exams. He did no work.
-
It didn't sell well. It was widely advertised.
-
He was always looked on as a foreigner. He spent his life in this country.
143 look forward to + gerund
PEG 260B
A: When you get home, you'll b able to ski, won't you?
B: Yes, I'm looking forward to skiing. (Leave objects unchanged.)
When you get home, you'll be able to ... won't you?
-
swim in the sea,
-
skate,
-
ride your horse again, (Use my.)
-
meet your friends, (Use my.)
-
speak your own language, (Use my.)
-
drink wine,
-
fish in the river,
-
have a good holiday,
-
sunbathe,
-
show off your English, (Use my.)
-
take your dog for walks, (Use my.)
-
buy a lot of new clothes,
-
earn more money,
-
get a good job,
-
continue your university course, (Use my.)
-
start your training, (Use my.)
-
hear the local gossip,
-
go out without an umbrella,
-
open a language school,
-
write a book about your experiences, (Use my.)
144 make a point of + gerund
¤
A: She came late.
B: Oh, she makes a point of coming late, She wants to attract attention.
She ...
-
arrived in a Rolls Royce.
-
parked the Rolls just outside the concert hall.
-
refused to queue at the box office.
-
argued about the prices.
-
insisted on seeing the manager.
-
kept everyone waiting.
-
smoked very powerful cigarettes.
-
used very strong scent.
-
wore most extraordinary clothes.
-
move her seat several times.
-
fanned herself vigorously.
-
said she couldn't hear. (Use can't.)
-
clapped very loudly.
-
shouted 'Encore'.
-
drank double gins at the interval.
-
complained of the bad bar service.
-
contradicted the critics.
-
offered to write the reviews herself.
-
invited the soloists to dinner.
-
left before anyone else.
145 there's no point in + gerund, what's the point of + gerund
PEG 98A
A: The shops don't open till 9 but we'd better be there by 8.
-
B: But if the shops don't open till 9, there's no point in being there by 8.
-
B: But if the shops don't open till 9, what's the point of being there by 8?
-
The train doesn't leave till 9 but we'd better set out for the station at 7.
-
We aren't allowed to take photos but I'll bring my camera.
-
We can't park near the theatre but we'll take the car.
-
The pills aren't any good but we may as well finish the bottle.
-
We haven't any money but let's read the menus outside restaurants.
-
It's a job for men only but I'll advise Ann to apply for it.
-
None of the guests smoke but I'll provide them with ashtrays.
-
Tom hasn't as chance of getting elected but I'll vote for him.
-
Bill's plane doesn't land till 8 but we'd better be at the airport by 7.
-
I'm sure it's not going to rain but I'll take an umbrella.
-
They don't drink alcohol but I'll offer them gin.
-
It's too cold to bathe but pack a swimsuit.
-
My Alsation is quite harmless but I put up a notice saying, 'Beware of the dog'.
-
I know he'll refuse but I'll ask all the same. (Omit all the same.)
-
I don't want o buy anything but we may as well look around the shop.
146 succeed in + gerund, manage + infinitive
PEG 241, 259
A: He reached the top in the end.
-
B (surprised): Oh, he succeeded in reading it, did he?
-
B: Oh, he managed to reach it, did he?
He ... in the end.
-
passed his driving test
-
finished the portrait
-
wrote his thesis
-
started the car
-
caught the plane
-
reached the finishing line
-
repaired the radio
-
got his visa
-
proved his innocence
-
solved the problem
-
climbed the mountain
-
grew a beard (Use one.)
-
fixed the aerial
-
found a house (Use one.)
-
recovered his property
147 hear + object + -ing
PEG 273
A noisy night.
A (tired and irritated): The dogs barked all night!
-
B: I didn't hear them barking.
-
B: I heard them barking, but it didn't keep me awake.
-
The wind whistled (all night)!
-
The dogs howled!
-
The windows rattled!
-
The stairs creaked!
-
The mice squeaked!
-
The rats ran about!
-
The tap dripped!
-
The pipes gurgled!
-
The church clock struck the quarters! (Omit the quarters.)
-
Water dripped through the ceiling! (Omit the ceiling.)
-
Thunder rumbled!
-
Chimneys crashed to the ground!
-
People in the street screamed!
-
Ambulance sirens wailed!
-
Traffic roared past!
-
The baby yelled!
-
Owls hooted!
-
Doors banged!
-
The man upstairs groaned!
-
My brother snored!
148 hear + object + -ing
PEG 273
Bill is living in a room formerly occupied by Andrew. Andrew asks if the other tenants are as noisy as they were in this day. Apparently they are! The walls and floors in this house are very thin!
A: Does Miss Jones still type all night?
B: Yes, I hear her typing.
-
Does Mr Jones still sing in his bath?
-
Does Peter Jones still whistle as he goes downstairs?
-
Do the Smiths still quarrel?
-
Does the Jones baby still cry a lot?
-
Does Mr Brown's dogs still bark a lot?
-
Does Mrs Brown still cough when she goes down the stairs?
-
Does Mr White still walk about at night?
-
Do Mr and Mrs White still argue all the time?
-
Does Mr White's alarm clock still go off at six?
-
Does Mr White still swear when it goes off?
-
Does Mrs Smith still hoover every morning?
-
Does she still use her sewing machine every afternoon?
-
Do the Smith girls still tap-dance?
-
Does the Smith boy still practise the violin all night?
-
Do the other tenants complain about this?
-
Does Mrs Smith still nag at her husband?
-
Does Mr White still hammer on the walls?
-
Do the children still scream at each other?
-
Do they still run up and down the corridors?
-
Do they still bang on the doors as they pass? (Keep on the doors.)
149 hear + object + -ing
hear + object + -ing + infinitive without to
PEG 273
A: Are you sure Tom left?
-
B: Yes, I heard him leaving.
-
B: Yes, I heard him leave.
A: Are you sure he told Ann?
-
B: Yes, I heard him telling her.
-
B: Yes, I heard him tell her.
Are you sure ...
-
Tom booked the tickets?
-
Jack invited Mrs Jones?
-
Mrs Jones accepted the invitation?
-
Mary told her husband?
-
The lift doors shut?
-
Peter wound the clock?
-
the bell rang?
-
they accused Bill?
-
the bus stopped?
-
the ice cracked?
-
George spoke o Mary?
-
the passengers shouted at the driver?
-
the driver apologized?
-
Ann asked for the keys?
-
Peter complained about the delay?
-
the official explained?
-
Ann cancelled her reservation?
-
he threatened his students?
-
the students laughed?
-
they opened the champagne?
150 see + object + -ing
PEG 273
A man visiting a foreign country expresses horror at what he sees. But his wife points out that he could see similar behaviour in their own country.
A: They push their way through!
B: But you see people pushing their way through in our country too.
They ...
-
jump the queue!
-
drive much too fast!
-
ignore pedestrian crossings!
-
crash the lights!
-
double park!
-
elbow their way on to buses!
-
fight in the pubs!
-
sleep in the parks!
-
hang washing out of their windows!
-
go barefoot!
-
beg in the streets!
-
snatch purses!
-
play the guitar in the Underground!
-
dance in the streets!
-
run about nearly naked!
-
sit on the pavements!
-
write on the walls!
-
drop litter!
-
stare at foreigners!
-
cross the road without looking!
151 see + object + -ing, or see + object + infinitive without to
PEG 273
A (with a note of doubt in his/her voice): Did he pay the bill?
(a) B: Well, I didn't actually see him paying it. (stress on see)
(b) B: Well, I didn't actually see him pay it. (stress on see)
Did he ...
-
sign the cheque?
-
lock the door?
-
take the key?
-
read the instructions?
-
use the photocopier?
-
weigh the parcel?
-
post the letter?
-
burn the photographs?
-
copy the documents?
-
bury the gold?
-
throw the brick?
-
attack the postmistress?
-
give the injection?
-
sterilize the needle?
-
swallow the tablet?
-
oil the hinges?
-
drink the coffee?
-
cut the telephone cable?
-
open the safe?
-
take the money?
152 see/hear + object + -ing
see/hear + object + infinitive without to
PEG 273
Bill was standing just outside the bank when the bank was raided.
A reporter is checking over his statement. The reporter speaks first:
A: You say that a white van pulled up?
-
B: Yes, I saw it pulling up.
-
B: Yes, I saw it pull up.
A: You say the raiders told the manager to open the safe?
-
B: Yes, I heard them telling him to open the safe.
-
B: Yes, I heard them tell him to open the safe.
Use saw or heard, whichever seems most logical.
You say that ...
-
a white van stopped outside the bank?
-
four masked men leapt out?
-
they dashed into the bank?
-
one of them demanded the keys of the safe?
-
they smashed the grille?
-
a woman customer screamed?
-
the raiders shouted at her?
-
the alarm went off?
-
the police arrived?
-
the raiders rushed out of the bank?
-
they seized a woman as a hostage? (Omit as a hostage.)
-
they threatened to kill her?
-
they dragged her towards their car?
-
the police sergeant told them to release her?
-
the raiders fired at him?
-
the sergeant ordered his men to fire back?
-
passers-by ran for cover?
-
the leader of the raiders fell?
-
he lay bleeding on the ground?
-
the others surrendered?
153 see/hear + object + -ing
PEG 273
Trouble with football fans.
A: A lot of their supporters behaved very badly. You saw them, didn't you?
B: Well, I saw a few of them behaving very badly. (Stress few.)
A: A lot of them threatened the referee. You heard them, didn't you?
B: Well, I heard a few of them threatening the referee. (Stress few.)
See also Drill 24.
A lot of ... didn't you?
-
climbed over the wall. You saw them,
-
walked about on the grandstand roof. You saw them,
-
kicked our fans. You saw them,
-
made a terrible noise. You heard them,
-
threw bottles on to the ground. You saw them,
-
shouted insults at our team. You heard them,
-
screamed abuse at the referee. You heard them,
-
ran on to the field. You saw them,
-
attacked the referee. You saw them,
-
dug up the pitch. You saw them,
-
tried to pull down the goal posts. You saw them,
-
demanded a replay. You heard them,
-
overturned cars. You saw them,
-
smashed windows. You heard them,
-
drank whisky out of bottles. You saw them,
-
staggered about drunk. You saw them,
-
jostled the passers-by. You saw them,
-
stole fruit from the market. You saw them,
-
tried to climb the lamp-posts. You saw them,
-
splashed about in the fountains. You heard them,
154 spend + time + -ing
PEG 275
A: Do you ever clean your flat?
B: Yes. I spent all yesterday afternoon cleaning my flat.
Do you ever ...
-
tidy up
-
put the books back on the shelves
-
wash the coffee cups
-
remove the empty bottles
-
sweep up the broken glass
-
empty the ashtrays
-
hoover the carpets
-
make the beds
-
throw out the cracked cups
-
replace the broken bulbs
-
apologize to the landlord
-
advise Bill to stop drinking
-
tune the piano
-
shake the mats
-
take the dog for a walk
-
pay your bills
-
do your income tax returns
-
wind the clocks
-
weed your window box
-
try to lose weight
155 had better + infinitive without to
it's time + subject + past tense
PEG 120, 293
Alan and Bill got work abroad for a year and each is taking his car.
They mean to leave together, but Bill is a bit behindhand with his preparations.
A: I've rung my parents.
-
B: Oh, I'd better ring my parents. (stress on my)
-
B: Oh, I suppose it's time I rang my parents. (stress on 'I' and 'my')
I've ...
-
paid my bills
-
said goodbye to my colleagues
-
sub-let my flat
-
told my landlord
-
written to my new boss
-
applied for my visa
-
stopped my newspapers
-
bought my maps
-
worked out my route
-
read my instructions
-
had my injections
-
collected my traveller's cheques
-
insured my luggage
-
arranged to have my mail forwarded
-
put on my roof rack
-
adjusted my brakes
-
tested my lights
-
checked my tyres
-
changed my money
-
done my packing
156 let + object + infinitive without to
PEG 246D
-
A: He wanted to go but I said 'No'.
B: But why didn't you let him go? (slight stress on 'didn't)
Alternatively the first sentence could be in the form:
-
A: He would have gone if I'd let him.
B: But why didn't you let him go?
or
-
B: Why on earth didn't you let him go?
Leave noun objects unchanged.
-
He wanted to ...
but I said 'No'.
| -
and (c) He would have ...
if I'd let him.
| -
stop
-
help
-
pay
-
hitch-hike
-
lead the way
-
take a short cut
-
tell the truth
-
give evidence
-
leave early
-
tell me about it (Use me.)
-
phone his brother
-
decide for himself
-
join the club
-
use his real name
-
bring his passport
-
mark the cards
-
finish the bottle
-
smoke a cigar
-
drive home
-
wear a kilt
| -
stopped
-
helped
-
paid
-
hitch-hiked
-
led the way
-
taken a short cut
-
told the truth
-
given evidence
-
left early
-
told me about it
-
phoned his brother
-
decided for himself
-
joined the club
-
used his real name
-
brought his passport
-
marked the cards
-
finished the bottle
-
smoked a cigar
-
driven home
-
worn a kilt
|
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