Lesson 2 – Handout 2a

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.
I’d like to have seen the show.
You’re supposed to have been practising.
I hate to be stared at.
It’s time to be going.
It’s annoying not to have received an invitation.

 

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. = ……………………………………………..

b) She should stop cheating on him. = ……………………………………………

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

d) The woman sat staring into space. = …………………………………………..

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

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

g) We had to keep several applicants waiting. = …………………………………..

h) I could smell something burning. = …………………………………………….

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

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

 

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 ……………………… (buy) it.

            Lucy: Does it need ………………………………. (repair)?

            Linda: Actually I think I just need …………………….. (study) the manual.

            Lucy: Well, stop …………………… (fiddle) around with it now, will you?

 

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

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

            Jim: I know. She just wouldn’t stop ……………………………… (talk).

 

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

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

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

c) Will you remind me of posting / 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 / to fall.

e) It turned out to be / being 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. = ……………………………………….

Julius: Good idea! Coming, Amy?

Amy: I need to iron some clothes. = ………………………………………………………..

Julius: Amy, you’re on holiday.

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

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

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

Julius: Well, we can eat out. We don’t want to cook much, do we? = ………………………...

Amy: No, I agree. And tomorrow I’d like to sail somewhere in a boat. = ……………………