LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

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

16.7

16.7A

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16.7B

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16.7C

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16.7D

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Adjectives, nouns and prepositions + '-ing'

Adjectives + '-ing' form (gerund) or to-infinitive [> LEG 16.47,4.12-13]

We can use -ing or a to-infinitive after a great many adjectives and some nouns [> 4.3A]:

To lie in the sun/Lying in the sun is pleasant. -* It's pleasant to lle/lylng in the sun.

Use the to-infinitive and the -ing form in the following sentences.

1 It's difficult somewhere to live nowadays, (find)

2 It's awkward a friend that you don't like the way she dresses, (tell)

3 It isn't very nice you're useless, (be told)

4 It isn't easy work these days, (find)

5 It was kind of her you like that, (help)

6 It was fun to the north of Scotland, (drive)

7 It was just a piece of luck a restaurant open so late at night, (find)

8 It's a pleasure a surprise party for someone, (arrange)

Adjective -1- '-ing' form (participle) [> LEG 16.47]

We use some adjectives with a personal subject (Not *it*) + -ing:

I am busy. + I am working. -* I am busy working. (Not "to work*)

Join the following sentences.

1 John gets bored. He watches TV all the time. Т.)(..(Ш<.(No.&Ш-.

2 Sylvia is frantic. She is getting ready for the wedding

3 I got tired. I waited so long for an answer

4 Jane's occupied. She's making lists

5 We're busy. We're decorating our house

Common expressions followed by '-ing' [> LEG 16.4G]

We use -ing after common expressions like It's no good and it's (not) worth:

It's no good complaining about it.

Join the following sentences starting with the words in italics.

1 Don't complain about it. It's no good. Ш.П^.^Ш^.ШЩМ^ШШЩ.-.

2 Don't worry about it. It's just not worth it

3 Don't try to persuade him. There's no point in it

4 Why apologize? What's the use of it?

5 I owe a lot of money. There's nothing worse than that

Preposition + '-ing' [> LEG 16.50-54, Apps 27-30]

We use -ing after prepositions, not a to-infinitive [> 16.5A3]:

He left the restaurant without paying. (Not 'without to pay*)