Exercise 18

Use infinitive and/or participle phrases to rewrite this extract from a TV listings magazine in a more natural way. The parts you need to change are underlined. You may need to change the order of some words. The first phrase has been done for you.

Movie of the week

The Godfather

It dates from 1971 and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather won three Oscars.

The film lasts almost three hours and is Shakespearean in its scope and ambition. It is the story of a New York mafia family which is headed by Marlon Brando as 'the Godfather'.

Although Brando has the title role it is Al Pacino, who plays his troubled son and heir Michael, who steals the show in a masterly performance. As he struggles to reconcile his distaste for crime and brutality with his sense of family honour and duty, Pacino's character embodies the moral dilemma at the heart of the movie.

The director intersperses long scenes of family life with shorter sequences of extreme violence in order to achieve his aim of taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Because it was shot in explicit detail, this violence may shock some viewers. But anyone who is prepared to put up with this will enjoy a unique dramatic experience. In fact, for many people The Godfather is the greatest American film which had been made in the 1970s.

Exercise 19

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given. This word must not be altered in any way. There is an example (0).

0 The first person that arrives in the office in the mornings is usually Gary.

toGary is usually ...... the first person to arrive................... in the office in the mornings.

1 Martin is always a great asset at any party because he is so charming.

being .............................................................................................always a great asset at any party.

2 I took a short computing course following my graduation from college.

having .......................................................................................................a short computing course.

3 Celia's major regret is that she had never made more of her musical abilities.

toher musical abilities is Celia's major regret.

4 As she threw open the French windows Mary said 'There's nothing like fresh air!'

throwing'There's nothing like fresh air!' .................................................................... the French windows.

5 The company launched an advertising campaign with the aim of increasing its market share.

toThe company ............................................................................... its market share.

6 Finding the old house in such a derelict state came as a great shock.

findItcame as ........................................................................... in such a derelict state.

7 Frankly, I don't think my clients will ever agree to those prices.

frankIdon't think my clients will ever agree ......................................................................................

8 The shrubs should grow well if you plant them in a sunny spot.

planted ....................................................................................................................shouldgrow well.

9 They will probably sell the ground floor flat first.

beThey expect the ground floor flat ...........................................................................

10 My brother is having a lot of trouble finding a decent job as he hasn't had the benefit of a college education.

having ..........................................................................a college education, my brother is having a lot of trouble finding a job.

11 Sophie was a demanding boss because she was such a perfectionist.

being ............................................................................................................was a demanding boss.

12 The town hall was one of the few buildings that wasn't destroyed in the earthquake.

beenThe town hall was one of the few in the earthquake.