GERUND versus INFINITIVE Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive of the verbs in brackets. 1. Can you fancy …………………… (win) $100 from Mr Brown at cards? 2. Do you enjoy …………………… (dance) ? 3. I refuse …………………… (participate) in the meeting? 4. Can you imagine …………………… (live) on a desert island? 5. You should avoid …………………… (hurt) Mrs Clark’s feelings. 6. Will you risk …………………… (go) there? 7. I promise …………………… (return) the books soon. 8. I’m sorry I can’t stand …………………… (watch) television every day. 9. Would you mind …………………… (bring) a bottle of champagne? 10. Tom has already offered …………………… (bring) a bottle of red wine. 11. I always look forward …………………… (meet) you. 12. When I am abroad, I will certainly miss …………………… (see) my friends. 13. You are allowed …………………… (go) home. 14. I often dread …………………… (lose) my purse. 15. When will you finish …………………… (eat) your dinner? 16. He decided …………………… (disguise) himself by …………………… (dress) as a woman. 17. I am prepared …………………… (wait) here all night if necessary. 18. You are expected …………………… (know) the safety regulations of the college. 19. I arranged …………………… (meet) them there. 20. I am against …………………… (make) any complaints. 21. It’s no use …………………… (cry) over spilt milk. 22. He tried …………………… (explain) but she refused …………………… (listen). 23. I am beginning …………………… (understand) what you mean. 24. People used …………………… (make) fire by …………………… (rub) two sticks together. 25. He was fined for …………………… (drive) without lights. 26. After …………………… (read) this article you will give up …………………… (smoke). 27. I managed …………………… (put) the fire out. 28. Is there anything here worth …………………… (buy)? 29. They agreed …………………… (divide) the profits regularly. 30. I don’t feel like …………………… (work), what about …………………… (go) to a disco instead? 31. I wish …………………… (see) the manager. 32. I’m afraid I can’t stand …………………… (sit) on chairs like that one. 33. I went back to the office and demanded …………………… (speak) to the director. 34. She didn’t really fancy …………………… (go) to the cinema, so she stayed at home. 35. I hope …………………… (meet) a lot of interesting people while I’m there. 36. She always pretends …………………… (not hear) what people say to her. 37. I used …………………… (enjoy) …………………… (listen) to pop music, but my tastes have changed. 38. I don’t think we should risk …………………… (arrive) too late at the airport. 39. They warned Ronnie …………………… (be) more careful about what he said to people.
40. Terry keeps …………………… (ask) me to lend her my notes from last week’s lesson. 41. I wish you’d let me …………………… (help) you with that ironing. 42. I don’t think she deserves …………………… (lose) her licence for such an offence. 43. They decided that they should practice …………………… (speak) as much as possible. 44. She promised …………………… (let) me know the results as soon as they came out. 45. When did you learn …………………… (knit) so well? 46. In the winter months I miss …………………… (lie) in the sun on the beach. 47. Although I put out my hand, the bus failed …………………… (stop). 48. It’s time you decided …………………… (leave) home and get a flat of your own. 49. I can’t really imagine Brian …………………… (ride) a camel, can you? 50. In the end he chose …………………… (travel) by bus rather than by train. 51. Excuse me, but would you mind …………………… (open) the door for me? 52. I think I would like …………………… (lie) down for a bit, if that’s alright. 53. Do you mind …………………… (wait) for the steak a few minutes longer? 54. The main idea is …………………… (prevent) the other team …………………… (score) more goals. 55. No, funnily enough I don’t recollect ever …………………… (meet) you before. 56. This part of the country tends …………………… (have) a lot of rain in spring.
make sb do sth • The made me do it. • Passive: I was made to do it.
let sb do • He let me do it. • Passive: I was allowed to do it.
Exercise 2. Fill in the spaces with correct form of make or let. 1. I hated doing the National Service. The officers …………………… me clean the toilets every morning. 2. Her parents are very strict with her. They never …………………… her go out in the evenings. 3. I love his sense of humour – he always …………………… me laugh. 4. I like our English teacher but she …………………… us work very hard. 5. My boss is very good to me – he …………………… me have tie off whenever I want. 6. Do you think your father would …………………… you use the car if you asked him politely? 7. I lost my key, but luckily my brother was in so he …………………… me in. 8. If you eat too much chocolate, it will …………………… you fat. 9. Her parents didn’t …………………… her go to the party because they thought she was too young to go by herself. 10. Please don’t interrupt her - …………………… her speak.
hear, listen to, notice, see, watch, feel + sb + do • It is used to describe a complete action, something that somebody saw,
heard, etc. from beginning to end, e.g. I listened to James sing a song. (I listened to the song from the beginning to end.)
hear, listen to, notice, see, watch, feel + sb + doing • It is used to describe an incomplete action, that is to say that somebody
saw, heard, etc. only a part of the action, e.g. I listened to James singing a song. (I listened to part of the song. I didn’t listen to the whole song.) Exercise 3. Put the verbs into the gerund or the bare infinitive (without to). 1. I watched her …………………… (get up) and …………………… (walk) slowly out of the room. 2. I heard the phone …………………… (ring) twice and then stop. 3. Tim and Jill …………………… (stand) outside the butcher’s as he was driving to work. 4. Jane stopped to watch the river …………………… (flow) down the mountainside. 5. Listen to the wind …………………… (blow) through the trees. 6. We heard the workmen …………………… (drill) the road as we were eating breakfast. 7. The witness saw the burglar …………………… (break into) the house and steal the television. 8. Listen to he …………………… (sing) the song and then tell us what you think of it. Exercise 4. Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive. 1. A: Mum, this programme’s nearly finished. Can’t I go on …………………… (watch) TV for a while? B: No, I want you to do your Maths homework and then go on …………………… (write) your English essay. You haven’t even started it yet and it’s due tomorrow. 2. A: Your dress is filthy. It wants …………………… (wash). B: I know. I wanted …………………… (take) it to the cleaner’s yesterday, but they were closed. 3. A: I’ll never forget …………………… (visit) Thailand for the first time. B: Yes, it was such a wonderful holiday. If only I hadn’t forgotten …………………… (take) my camera. 4. A: Why don’t we stop …………………… (get) something to eat on the way home? B: OK, but we should really stop …………………… (spend) money on junk food. 5. A: Did you remember …………………… (tell) him about the party? B: I don’t remember …………………… (tell) him, but I’m sure I did. 6. A: Do you regret …………………… (offer) him the job? B: Yes, I regret …………………… (say) he’s not a reliable employee. 7. A: Did you mean …………………… (park) so far away? B: Yes, otherwise it would mean …………………… (pay) to get into a car park. 8. A: I’ve been trying …………………… (contact) Mr Isaacs all morning.
B: Why don’t you try …………………… (phone) his club? 9. Do you remember …………………… (meet) her at my house last year? 10. Please remember …………………… (wipe) your feet before coming in. 11. I completely forgot …………………… (lock) the front door last night. 12. Don’t forget …………………… (bring) your bathing suit with you. 13. These stockings need …………………… (mend). 14. Do you need …………………… (buy) all that stuff? 15. I regret …………………… (inform) you that your injury will prevent you from playing any more matches this season. 16. He regrets …………………… (argue) with the referee as it resulted in his being sent off the pitch. 17. the cyclist had to stop …………………… (mend) a flat tyre during the race. 18. You should sop …………………… (smoke) if you want to enter the marathon next year. Exercise 5. Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive. 1. On the way to London, he stopped …………………… (get) some petrol. 2. I’m sorry I forgot …………………… (send) you a birthday card. 3. She stopped …………………… (eat) chocolate because she wanted to lose some weight. 4. I hope you will remember …………………… (do) all the things I have asked you. 5. Why don’t try …………………… (open) the tin with a coin? 6. I’m sure he’s a doctor. I remember …………………… (talk) to him about his work the other day. 7. He always regretted …………………… (not go) to university. 8. I regret …………………… (say) I won’t be able to come to the wedding. 9. I need a change. I need …………………… (go) away for a while. 10. The windows are dirty. They need …………………… (clean). 11. She isn’t able to look after herself. She needs …………………… (look after). 12. Why are you leaving now? You don’t need …………………… (go) yet, do you? 13. They were talking very loudly. I couldn’t help …………………… (overhear) them. 14. Can you help me …………………… (get) the dinner ready? 15. He looks so funny. Whenever I see him, I can’t stop …………………… (smile). 16. I was very tired. I tried …………………… (keep) my eyes open but I couldn’t. 17. I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. Then I tried …………………… (knock) on the door but there was still no answer. Exercise 6. Use an –ing form, or to + infinitive, of the word in brackets to complete each sentence. 1. You say that I’ve met Janet, but I can’t remember her. I can’t remember …………………… (meet) Janet. 2. Please remember that you must buy some stamps. Please remember …………………… (buy) some stamps. 3. We wanted to open the door, but we couldn’t We tried …………………… (open) the door. 4. John met Madonna once. He’ll never forget it. John will never forget …………………… (meet) Madonna. 5. Sheila intended to phone Peter, but she forgot. Sheila forgot …………………… (phone) Peter. 6. Jenny had a headache. She took an aspirin, but it didn’t help.
Jenny tried …………………… (take) an aspirin for her headache. 7. I have a special soap that will probably get your hands clean. Try …………………… (wash) your hands with this special soap. 8. It will not be easy to do all the work today. We’ll try …………………… (finish) the work before tonight. 9. I stayed in Jane’s flat while she was on holiday. I remembered that I had to feed her cats every day. I remembered …………………… (feed) Jane’s cats every day while she was on holiday. 10. Remember that you must invite Mary to the party next week. Don’t forget …………………… (invite) Mary to the party next week. Exercise 7. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the words given. 1. Rita, could I borrow your dictionary? MIND Rita, ………………………………………… me your dictionary? 2. It’s impossible for me not to laugh when he starts singing. HELP I can’t ………………………………………… when he starts singing. 3. I don’t like playing football very much. KEEN I ………………………………………… playing football. 4. I hate it when I’m ill. STAND I ………………………………………… ill, 5. Andrea doesn’t usually arrive late. UNUSUAL It ………………………………………… arrive late. 6. Do you know where they’re going to hold the Olympic Games in 2008? PLACE Do you know where the Olympic Games are going …………………………… in 2008? 7. I can’t play tennis very well. GOOD I ………………………………………… playing tennis. Exercise 8. Complete the following conversation by putting the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive. A: Oh, I forgot …………………… (tell) you that Jane’s got married. B: Not to that dreadful man. What was his name? A: Peter. Yes, she has. B: What ever made her …………………… (decide) …………………… (do) a thing like that? A: It’s impossible …………………… (say). Can you imagine …………………… (be) married to him? B: No, but I can’t help …………………… (feel) sorry for her, though. She seemed to be such a nice girl. She really deserved …………………… (have) someone better. A: I know. I did my best to stop her. I told her …………………… (give up) …………………… (see) him, but she refused …………………… (listen). B: So did I. I asked her several times ………………………… (consider) ………………………… (put off) …………………… (get) married, but in the end I realised it wasn’t worth …………………… (try). A: Oh, well, she chose ……………………… (marry) him and she has ……………………… (learn) …………………… (live) with it. Anyway we mustn’t go on …………………… (talk) all day. I’ve arranged …………………… (meet) Jane for tea and I don’t want …………………… (be) late.
Exercise 9. Complete the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive of the verbs in brackets. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Stop …………………… (argue) and start …………………… (work). I suggest …………………… (hold) another meeting next week. He warned her …………………… (not touch) the wire. It’s difficult to get used to …………………… (eat) with chopsticks. If you can’t turn the key, try …………………… (put) some oil in the lock. My mother told me …………………… (not speak) to anyone about it. Imagine …………………… (live) with someone who never stops …………………… (talk). 8. Would you mind …………………… (show) me how …………………… (work) the lift? 9. If a thing is worth …………………… (do) it is worth …………………… (do) well. 10. I advise you …………………… (start) …………………… (look) for a flat at once. 11. I suggest …………………… (phone) the hospitals before …………………… (ask) the police …………………… (look) for him. 12. He hates …………………… (answer) the phone and often lets it …………………… (ring). 13. After …………………… (hear) the conditions I decided …………………… (not enter) the competition. 14. Some people seem …………………… (have) passion for …………………… (write) for the newspapers. 15. He postponed …………………… (make) a decision till it was too late …………………… (do) anything. 16. There’s no point in …………………… (remain) in a dangerous place if you can’t do anything …………………… (help) the people who have …………………… (stay) there. 17. I distinctly remember …………………… (pay) him. I gave him $4. 18. Please go on …………………… (write); I don’t mind …………………… (wait). Exercise 10. Fill in the correct form of the verbs in the brackets – the infinitive with or without to. 1. He shouldn't …………………… (drive) today. He's just found out that his wife wants …………………… (divorce) him. 2. It is very easy for the Polish …………………… (be) wise after the accident has happened. 3. I was disappointed …………………… (find out) that you had refused …………………… (repair) my mother's house. Last week you offered …………………… (help) her. 4. I think you should …………………… (try) …………………… (speak) more clearly. Nobody wants …………………… (talk) with people who seem (be) drunk. 5. Don't make me …………………… (tell) you how much I really think you will have …………………… …………………… (pay) for the damage you may …………………… (cause) if you help him …………………… (take) this car. 6. I don't think it's too difficult for you …………………… (finish) in time. You're just trying to avoid …………………… (take) responsibility for what you promised …………………… (make). 7. We were all afraid …………………… (touch) the spider, that came on my leg. We tried …………………… (frighten) it. We were shouting and waiting for it …………………… (escape). 8. They forced me …………………… (give) them all my money and they seemed …………………… (expect) much more than they got.
9. I'm sorry …………………… (take) you away now but it's time …………………… (come back). Let me …………………… (stay) a few more minutes. I can't …………………… (leave) the work now. I'd like …………………… (give) it to my boss tomorrow morning. 10. Tim used …………………… (build) paper plane models w hen he could …………………… (buy) enough paper and glue …………………… (do) it. 11. I don't want …………………… (learn) it now. I'd rather put the exam off for a week. I'm afraid it's impossible but you can try …………………… (ask) the headmaster. 12. It is very important for you …………………… (behave) carefully at the meeting. There are going to be many influential people who can decide …………………… (employ) you. 13. Tom invited me …………………… (have) lunch with him but I refused …………………… (meet) him because I had …………………… (pick up) my sister from school. 14. Why are you s o sad? Because I have nobody …………………… (love). I can't even find anybody …………………… (talk) to. 15. It was very stupid for you …………………… (sign) the contract without being able …………………… (understand) everything in it. 16. I arranged …………………… (meet) your brother tomorrow. It is very nice of you …………………… (help) him …………………… (apply) for the scholarship. Exercise 11. Complete the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive of the verbs in brackets. 1. My boss persuaded me …………………… (support) the action by …………………… (convince) me that it will help me …………………… (develop) myself. 2. You didn't seem …………………… (be) interested in football w hen I last met you. What made you …………………… (change) your mind? Imagine …………………… (have to) run continuously for an hour and a half! It must …………………… (cause) bad effects. 3. I regret …………………… (tell) you that you failed …………………… (pass) your driving licence exam. But you may …………………… (take) it next time in two weeks without …………………… (have to) pay. 4. We were supposed …………………… (find) a solution to the problem and we were disappointed …………………… (know) that nobody would …………………… (pay) us for the work. 5. We suggested …………………… (phone) the police w hen he turned out …………………… (be) a well known thief. 6. My uncle ordered me …………………… (buy) him a shaving foam but he forgot …………………… (give) me the money. So I went back. He said that he remembered …………………… (give) me the money and he wanted me …………………… (return) them. 7. Before …………………… (go) on holidays, I stopped …………………… (run) every day and began …………………… (practise) cycling. I didn't mind …………………… (run) but it was too tiring. 8. Don't work so hard. It's not worth …………………… (sacrifice) your health. You'd better …………………… (find) some hobby. 9. I've never enjoyed …………………… (swim) because I've always failed …………………… (remain) on the surface of the water. 10. We used …………………… (make) our own c1othes and once we even succeeded in …………………… (sell) some of them. 11. He always tries …………………… (avoid) …………………… (meet) his boss when the boss refuses …………………… (give) him a rise.
12. I'm afraid I've forgotten …………………… (turn off) the TV. Are you sure? Yes, when I agreed …………………… (go) with you, I went out immediately. 13. I'd like you …………………… (consider) …………………… (visit) your aunt in the hospital when you are in Cracow. She'll be waiting for you …………………… (come). 14. I was surprised …………………… (find out) that you have passed all your exams. I heard you had stopped …………………… (revise) long before them. 15. They were all glad …………………… (hear) that you are going to forbid you employees …………………… (use) company cars after work. Exercise 12. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form. 1. I tried …………………… (keep) it in secret but I couldn't help …………………… (say) the truth because the car really needed …………………… (repair). 2. Tim admitted …………………… (steal) that woman's purse the day before but later he offered …………………… (help) her …………………… (earn) some money. 3. It was very nice of him …………………… (bring) it back to me. It was no use …………………… (ask) his brother …………………… (do) it. 4. I used …………………… (drive) very fast but after I saw my neighbour …………………… (crash) his car I realised there was no point in …………………… (show off). 5. I've always thought she would prefer …………………… (drive) herself but yesterday she asked me …………………… (give) her a lift because after that accident she had trouble …………………… (assess) the danger. 6. When I was a little boy, I dreamed of …………………… (become) a race driver. I still dream about it and I'm even thinking of …………………… (buy) a race car. 7. I don't know how to prevent him from …………………… (attack) everybody around. He will be suspected of …………………… (kill) somebody soon. 8. I was punished for …………………… (exceed) the speed limit yesterday and was made …………………… (pay) a huge fine. 9. I really appreciate your …………………… (try) to help us but I'm afraid it's not worth …………………… (put) so much effort. 10. I can't remember …………………… (take) this photo. Could you remind me …………………… (tell) Jane about it? 11. I had better …………………… (go) back home before she makes me angry. I won't agree …………………… (punish) them so strictly but I'm sure she will try …………………… (convince) me …………………… (do) so. 12. When I was at university, my hobby was …………………… (build) plane models but I couldn’t get used …………………… (paint) them with a brush. 13. I can't imagine him …………………… (ride) a motorbike. But I really saw it. He even tried …………………… (overtake) me despite …………………… (exceed) speed. 14. I'm already fed up with …………………… (watch) TV, there's nothing …………………… (be interested) in. I don't know, why you are so eager …………………… (buy) a new TV set. 15. How about …………………… (go) shopping in the evening? I can't, I'm busy …………………… (write) reports for my boss. He wants me …………………… (have) them done before …………………… (go) on a vacation. Exercise 13. Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund. 1. He gave up …………………… (gamble). 2. Try to avoid …………………… (make) him angry. 3. The children prefer …………………… (watch) TV to …………………… (read).
4. I am against …………………… (make) any complaints. 5. He finished …………………… (speak) and sat down. 6. He was fined for …………………… (drive) without lights. 7. It is difficult to get used to…………………… (eat) with chopsticks. 8. He lost no time in …………………… (get) down to work. 9. You can't make an omelette without …………………… (break) eggs. 10. We are looking forward to …………………… (read) your new book. 11. They escaped by …………………… (slide) down ropes made of blankets. 12. They don't allow …………………… (smoke) in here. 13. He is thinking of …………………… (leave) his job and …………………… (go) to America. 14. After …………………… (read) this article you will give up …………………… (smoke). 15. If you put your money into that business you risk …………………… (lose) every penny. 16. Imagine …………………… (live) with someone who never stops …………………… (talk). 17. Is there anything here worth …………………… (buy)? 18. He was accused of …………………… (leak) classified information to the press. 19. You'd better consult your lawyer before …………………… (decide) to buy the property. 20. I don't enjoy …………………… (go) to the dentist. 21. Would you mind …………………… (put) your pet snake somewhere else? 22. The hostages were rescued without a shot …………………… (be) fired. 23. By …………………… (work) day and night he succeeded in …………………… (finish) the job in time. 24. He has a scheme for …………………… (make) grass grow in winter. 25. Would you mind …………………… (write) your name and address on the back of the cheque? 26. I hate …………………… (borrow) money. 27. He was furious at …………………… (be) mistaken for an escaped convict. 28. After …………………… (talk) for ten minutes I succeeded in …………………… (convince) him that there was no danger. 29. I remember …………………… (read) a review of that book and …………………… (think) I'd like to get it. 30. As a result of …………………… (listen) at keyholes he learnt many facts which he had no hesitation in …………………… (use) to his own advantage. Exercise 14. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form (gerund or infinitive). 1. I am looking forward to …………………… (see) you. 2. He dreads …………………… (have) to retire. 3. I arranged …………………… (meet) them here. 4. He urged us …………………… (work) faster. 5. I wish …………………… (see) the manager. 6. It's no use …………………… (wait). 7. He warned her …………………… (not touch) the wire. 8. Don't forget …………………… (lock) the door before …………………… (go) to bed. 9. My mother told me …………………… (not speak) to anyone about it. 10. I can't understand her …………………… (behave) like that. 11. He tried …………………… (explain) but she refused …………………… (listen). 12. At dinner she annoyed me by …………………… (smoke) between the courses. 13. You are expected …………………… (know) the safety regulations of the college.
14. After …………………… (walk) for three hours we stopped to let the others …………………… (catch up) with us. 15. The boys like …………………… (play) games but hate …………………… (do) lessons. 16. I regret …………………… (inform) you that your application has been refused. 17. I couldn't help …………………… (overhear) what you said. 18. Mrs Jones: I don't allow …………………… (smoke) in my drawing-room. Mrs Smith: I don't allow my family …………………… (smoke) at all. 19. He surprised us all by …………………… (go) away without …………………… (say) 'Good-bye*. 20. He wore dark glasses …………………… (avoid) …………………… (be) recognized. 21. Before …………………… (give) evidence you must swear …………………… (speak) the truth. 22. I tried …………………… (persuade) him …………………… (agree) with your proposal. 23. Your windows need …………………… (clean); would you like me …………………… (do) them for you? 24. Would you mind …………………… (shut) the window? I hate …………………… (sit) in a draught. 25. I can't help …………………… (sneeze); I caught a cold yesterday from …………………… (sit) in a draught. 26. Do stop …………………… (talk); I am trying …………………… (finish) a letter. 27. His doctor advised him …………………… (give up) …………………… (jog). 28. My watch keeps …………………… (stop). That's because you keep …………………… (forget) …………………… (wind) it. 29. Without …………………… (realize) it, he hindered us instead of …………………… (help) us. 30. People used …………………… (make) fire by …………………… (rub) two sticks together. Exercise 15. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form (gerund or infinitive). 1. If you go on ……………………… (let) your dog ……………………… (chase) cars he'll end by …………………… (be) run over. 2. I prefer …………………… (drive) to …………………… (be driven). 3. I advise you …………………… (start) …………………… (look) for a flat at once. 4. Would you mind …………………… (lend) me ₤5? 1 forgot …………………… (cash) a cheque. 5. …………………… (Lie) on this beach is much more pleasant than …………………… (sit) in the office. 6. She likes her children …………………… (go) to the dentist every six months. 7. By …………………… (neglect) …………………… (take) ordinary precautions he endangered the life of his crew. 8. An instructor is coming …………………… (show) us how …………………… (use) the aqualung. 9. I have no intention of …………………… (go) to that film; I couldn't bear …………………… (see) my favourite actress in such a dreadful part. 10. I’ll suggest …………………… (telephone) the hospitals before …………………… (ask) the police …………………… (look) for him. 11. Some people seem …………………… (have) a passion for …………………… (write) to the newspapers.
12. He expects me …………………… (answer) by return but I have no intention of …………………… (reply) at all. 13. I tried …………………… (explain) to him but he refused …………………… (listen) and went on …………………… (grumble). 14. By …………………… (offer) enormous wages he is persuading men …………………… (leave) their present jobs and …………………… (work) for him. 15. He postponed …………………… (make) a decision till it was too late …………………… (do) anything. 16. Imagine …………………… (have) …………………… (get up) at five a.m. every day! 17. Try …………………… (forget) it; it isn't worth …………………… (worry) about. 18. The horse won't be well enough …………………… (run) in tomorrow's race. He doesn't seem …………………… (have recovered) from his long journey. 19. At first I enjoyed …………………… (listen) to him but after a while I got tired of …………………… (hear) the same story again and again. 20. It is usually easier …………………… (learn) a subject by …………………… (read) books than by …………………… (listen) to lectures. 21. It wouldn't be safe …………………… (start) down now; we'll have …………………… (wait) till the mist clears. 22. After …………………… (discuss) the matter for an hour the committee adjourned without …………………… (have reached) any decision. 23. It's not much use …………………… (have) a bicycle if you don't know how …………………… (ride) it. 24. He didn't dare …………………… (leave) the house because he was afraid of …………………… (meet) someone who might …………………… (recognize) him. 25. Did you remember …………………… (give) him the key of the safe? No, I didn't. I'll go and do it now. 26. Please forgive me for …………………… (interrupt) you but would you mind …………………… (repeat) that last sentence? 27. I know my hair wants …………………… (cut) but I never have time …………………… (go) to the hairdresser's. 28. He made a lot of money by …………………… (buy) tickets in advance and …………………… (sell) them for twice the price on the day of the match. 29. She rushed out of the room without …………………… (give) me a chance …………………… (explain). 30. He keeps …………………… (ask) me the time and I keep …………………… (tell) him …………………… (buy) himself a watch. 31. He has a theory that it is possible …………………… (tell) the time in daylight by …………………… (look) into a cat's eyes. 32. I'd hate …………………… (be) beside a volcano when it started …………………… (erupt). Exercise 16. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form (gerund or infinitive). 1. I used …………………… (ride) a lot but I haven't had a chance …………………… (do) any since …………………… (come) here. I ride sometimes. Would you like …………………… (come) with me next time? 2. Most people prefer …………………… (spend) money to …………………… (earn) it. 3. I resented …………………… (be) unjustly accused and asked him …………………… (apologise). 4. It isn't good for children …………………… (eat) too many sweets. 5. I didn't feel like …………………… (work) so I suggested …………………… (spend) the day in the garden.
6. I prefer …………………… (drive) a car to …………………… (travel) by train. 7. Why do you keep …………………… (look) back? Are you afraid of …………………… (be) followed? 8. Do you remember …………………… (post) the letter? Yes, I do; I posted it in the letter-box near my gate. 9. Did you remember …………………… (lock) the door? No, I didn't. I'd better …………………… (go) back and …………………… (do) it now. 10. You still have a lot …………………… (learn) if you'll forgive my …………………… (say) so. 11. It's no use …………………… (try) …………………… (interrupt) him. You'll have …………………… (wait) till he stops …………………… (talk). 12. I'm for …………………… (do) nothing till the police arrive. They don't like you …………………… (move) anything when a crime has been committed. 13. He didn't like …………………… (leave) the children alone in the house but he had no alternative as he had …………………… (go) out to work. 14. Why didn't you drink it? I didn't like …………………… (drink) it as I didn't know what it was. 15. I'm very sorry for …………………… (be) late. It was good of you …………………… (wait) for me. 16. I keep …………………… (try) …………………… (make) mayonnaise but I never succeed. Try …………………… (add) the yolk of a hard-boiled egg. 17. Do you feel like …………………… (go) to a film or would you rather …………………… (stay) at home? 18. She told me …………………… (look) through her correspondence and …………………… (take) out any letters that you had written her. I didn't like …………………… (look) through someone else's letters but I had …………………… (do) as she said. 19. He took to …………………… (get up) early and …………………… (walk) noisily about the house. 20. I liked …………………… (listen) to folk music much better than …………………… (listen) to pop. 21. The car began …………………… (make) an extraordinary noise so I stopped …………………… (see) what it was. 22. You'll never regret …………………… (do) a kind action. 23. He decided …………………… (put) broken glass on top of his wall …………………… (prevent) boys …………………… (climb) over it. 24. He annoyed me very much by …………………… (take) the piece of cake that I was keeping …………………… (eat) after my supper. 25. He kept …………………… (ring) up and …………………… (ask) for an explanation and she didn't know what …………………… (do) about him. 26. We got tired of …………………… (wait) for the weather …………………… (clear) and finally decided …………………… (set) out in the rain. 27. He made me …………………… (repeat) his instructions …………………… (make) sure that I understood what I was …………………… (do) after he had gone. 28. I suggest …………………… (leave) the car here and …………………… (send) a breakdown van …………………… (tow) it to the garage. 29. She apologized for …………………… (borrow) my sewing-machine without …………………… (ask) permission and promised never …………………… (do) it again. 30. I didn't mean …………………… (offend) anyone but somehow I succeeded in …………………… (annoy) them all. 31. She claimed …………………… (be able) …………………… (tell) the future by …………………… (gaze) into her crystal ball.
32. He never thinks of …………………… (get) out of your way; he expects you …………………… (walk) round him. 33. You don't need …………………… (ask) his permission every time you want …………………… (leave) the room. 34. The police accused him of …………………… (set) fire to the building but he denied …………………… (have been) in the area on the night of the fire. 35. I left my door open. Why didn't you walk in? I didn't like …………………… (go) in when you weren't there. 36. It's much better …………………… (go) to a hairdresser than …………………… (try) …………………… (save) time by …………………… (cut) your own hair. 37. I'd rather …………………… (earn) my living by …………………… (scrub) floors than …………………… (make) money by …………………… (blackmail) people. 38. I’d prefer …………………… (get) a taxi rather than walk home.
