Lesson 2 – Handout 2a - KEY

Infinitive, gerund, present participle

 

1. For each sentence tick one or two of the boxes. Choose only those words which describe the full infinitive (= to-infinitive):

 

	simple	perfect	progressive	passive	negative
We decided not to take part.	YES Ö				YES Ö
I’d like to have seen the show.		YES Ö
You’re supposed to have been practising.		YES Ö	YES Ö
I hate to be stared at.	YES Ö			YES Ö
It’s time to be going.			YES Ö
It’s annoying not to have received an invitation.		YES Ö			YES Ö

 

2. Look at the –ing forms in the following sentences and decide whether they represent “gerund” or “present participle”:

 

a) They caught a student cheating. = present participle

b) She should stop cheating on him. = gerund

c) I was left standing there all by myself. = present participle

d) The woman sat staring into space. = present participle

e) I’m bored with just sitting here. = gerund

f) Gambling all your money away is ridiculous. = gerund

g) We had to keep several applicants waiting. = present participle

h) I could smell something burning. = present participle

i) It is no use trying to repair the machine. = gerund

j) I look forward to hearing from you soon. = gerund

 

3. Complete the conversations. Choose either the ‘to-infinitive’ or the ‘gerund’ of the verbs in brackets.  

 

1.         Linda: I’m having problems with this computer again. With all the trouble it’s given us, I really regret buying it.

            Lucy: Does it need repairing / to be repaired?

            Linda: Actually I think I just need to study the manual.

            Lucy: Well, stop fiddling around with it now, will you?

 

2.         Jim: I see your favourite actress won an Oscar.

Tim: Yes, but I regret to say she didn’t make a very good speech. First she thanked lots of people who had helped her, and then she went on to tell us her whole life story.

            Jim: I know. She just wouldn’t stop talking.

 

4. Choose (circle/underline) the correct form:

a) The receptionist told me to wait here until I’m called.

b) Meeting new people always makes me feel anxious about about saying the wrong thing.

c) Will you remind me to post this letter when we go past the post office?

d) I couldn’t climb a tall ladder like that because I’d be afraid of falling.

e) It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.

 

5. Rewrite the parts in bold type. Use do or go and an  -ing form:

Connie: I might sunbathe for a bit on the terrace. = do a bit of sunbathing

Julius: Good idea! Coming, Amy?

Amy: I need to iron some clothes. = do some/the ironing

Julius: Amy, you’re on holiday.

Amy: Oh, all right. And I’d like to swim in the sea later. = go swimming

Julius: OK, we’ll go out. I’ll drive. I’ll take you in my new car. = do the driving

Connie: While we’re out, we’d better get something at the shop. We haven’t got much food. = do the shopping or go shopping

Julius: Well, we can eat out. We don’t want to cook much, do we? = do much / a lot of cooking

Amy: No, I agree. And tomorrow I’d like to sail somewhere in a boat. = go sailing /
 do some sailing