LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

16.8 The to-infinitive or the '-ing' form?

16.5 The'-ing'form

16.5A Basic information about the '-ing' form [> LEG 16 .З8-40,2.16.5]

Study:

ra

We use the -ing form in three ways:

1 We use it as a verb (called a participle): He is playing. She is writing, etc. [> 9.2B, 9.4B]

Walking in the park yesterday, I saw a bird building a nest. [> 1.11 -12]

(= I was walking. + The bird was building a nest.)

2 We use the -ing form as an adjective:

I need some ihot X water. (= water which is hot)

( boiling ) (= water which is boiling) [> 2.2A]

We use the -ing form as a noun (called a gerund):

(coffee.

( swimming. (i.e. 'the act of swimming')

With a few exceptions, we use the -ing form (gerund) like any other noun.

Hike

Write: Supply gerund forms for the words in brackets. (For spelling, [> 9.2A])

A1 The gerund as an uncountable noun in general statements [> 3.5A]

1 йШШЩ. is fun. (dance) 6 makes me tired, (drive)

2 tall is an advantage, (be)

3 tall is an advantage, (not be)

4 What I like is (ride)

5 I enjoy (read)

7 able to drive is a disadvantage, (not be)

8 keeps you fit. (run)

9 I like (cycle)

10 is a difficult profession, (act)

A2 The gerund as an uncountable noun with 'some', 'a lot of 'a little', etc. [e.g. > Ю.7А]

1 He does a lot of (read)

2 Did you do any? (iron)

3 I did some this morning, (shop)

4 I do very little these days, (swim)

5 There's no my decision (regret)

6 I heard a lot of last night, (shout)

7 There's more in the streets, (fight)

8 We all enjoy a bit of (sing)

9 We all need a little (encourage)

10 I've done enough for today, (garden)

A3 The gerund as an uncountable noun after prepositions [> 16.7D]

1 This is used for cuMúrug, metal, (cut)

2 What can you do besides? (dig)

3 I'm against (box)

4 I'm always hungry after (sleep)

5 Try to work without a noise, (make)

6 What do you know about? (compute)

7 I'm not interested in (garden)

8 She's above (argue)

9 Since I've done nothing, (retire)

10 Taste it before (complain)

A4 The gerund as an uncountable noun after adjectives and possessives [compare >16.6C-D]

1 Quick saved us. (think)

2 Her quick saved us. (think)

3 Your to help hurt him. (refuse)

4 His doesn't matter, (not know)

5 I like your (violin play)

6 The meat will be fine with slow (cook)

7 We had some tough (train)

8 His woke us up. (shout)

9 Their delighted everyone, (sing)

10 Try deep (breathe)

A5 The gerund as an uncountable noun after 'no' in prohibitions [compare > 11.3B]

1 No ..pMriwnß,.. (park) 4 No (smoke)

2 No (camp) 5 No (trespass)

3 No (wait) 6 No (fish)