Ex.149 Gerund, infinitive and present participle

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. Note that sometimes a bare infinitive will be required.

1 'I was lonely at first,' the old man admitted, 'but after a time I got used to (live) alone and even got (like) it.'

2 Before trains were invented people used (travel) on horseback or in stage coaches. It used (take) a stage coach three days (go) from London to Bath.

3 I meant (buy) an evening paper but I .didn't see anyone (sell) them.

4 Tom: I want (catch) the 7 a.m. train tomorrow.

Ann: But that means (get) up at 6.00; and you're not very good at (get) up early, are you?

5 He accepted the cut in salary without complaint because he was afraid (complain). He was afraid of (lose) his job.

6 She remembers part of her childhood quite clearly. She remembers (go) to school for the first time and (be) frightened and (put) her finger in her mouth. And she remembers her teacher (tell) her (take) it out.

7 Did you remember (lock) the car? ~

No, I didn't. I'd better (go) back and (do) it now.

8 No, I didn't move the bomb. I was afraid (touch) it; I was afraid of (be) blown to pieces!

9 Next time we go (house-hunt), remember (ask) the agent for clear directions. I wasted hours (look) for the last house.

10 Tom: Let's (go) for a swim.

Ann: I'm not particularly keen on (swim). What about (go) for a drive instead?

11 The hunters expected (be paid) by the foot for the snakes they caught. This meant (take) the snakes out of the sack and (measure) them. They seemed (expect) me (do) it; but I wasn't particularly anxious (be) the first (die) of snakebite.

12 After (spend) two days (argue) about where to go for their holidays, they decided (not go) anywhere.

13 He is talking about (give) up his job and (go) (live) in the country.

14 I was just about (leave) the office when the phone rang. It was my wife; she wanted me (call) at the butcher's on my way home.

15 He said, 'I'm terribly sorry to (keep) you (wait).'

I said, 'It doesn't matter at all,' but he went on (apologize) for nearly five minutes!

16 The lecturer began by (tell) us where the island was, and went on (talk) about its history.

17 My father thinks I am not capable of (earn) my own living, but I mean (show) him that he is wrong.

18 Tom: I can't get my car (start) on cold mornings.

Jack: Have you tried (fill) the radiator with hot water? That sometimes helps.

19 Did he manage (carry) the trunk upstairs? ~

No, he didn't. He isn't strong enough (move) it, let alone (carry) it upstairs.

20 Jack: Don't forget (take) a hacksaw with you.

Ann: What's a hacksaw? And why should I (take) one with me? Jack: It's a tool for (cut) metal. You see, Tom is bound (get) into trouble for (take) photographs of the wrong things, and you'll be arrested with him. With a hacksaw you'll be able (saw) through the bars of your cell and (escape).

21 Peter: Wouldn't it be better (ask) Tom (leave) his camera at home? Jack: It would be no good (ask) Tom (do) that. It would be like (ask) a woman (travel) without a handbag.

22 I've got the loaf; now I'm looking for a breadknife (cut) it with. ~ I saw Paul (sharpen) a pencil with the breadknife a minute ago.

23 We stopped once (buy) petrol and then we stopped again (ask) someone the way.

24 When I caught them (cheat) me, I stopped (buy) petrol there and started (deal) with your garage instead.

25 Do you feel like (dine) out or would you rather (have) dinner at home? ~-I'd like (go) out. I always enjoy (have) dinner in a restaurant.

26 Your hair needs (cut). You'd better (have) it done tomorrow—unless you'd like me (have) a go at it for you.

27 I tried (convince) him that I was perfectly capable of (manage) on my own, but he insisted on (help) me.

28 Jack: I don't mind (travel) by bus, but I hate (stand) in queues. Tom: I don't care for (queue) either; and you waste so much time (wait) for buses. I think it's better (go) by tube, or taxi.

29 He took to (follow) me about and (criticize) my work till I threatened (hit) him.

30 I have (stay) here; I'm on duty. But you needn't (wait); you're free (go) whenever you like.

31 In Animal Farm the old pig urged the animals (rebel) against man but he warned them (not adopt) man's habits.

32 There is no point in (arrive) half an hour early. We'd only have (wait). ~ I don't mind (wait). It's better (be) too early than too late.

33 I always try (come) in quietly but they always hear me (go) upstairs. It's impossible (climb) an old wooden staircase at night without (make) a noise.

34 If you agree (work) for me I'll see about (get) you a work permit.

35 We'd better (start) early. We don't want (risk) (get) caught in a traffic jam.

36 He suggested (call) a meeting and (let) the workers (decide) the matter themselves.

Ex.150 Gerund, infinitive and present participle

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. Remember that sometimes a bare infinitive is required.

1 We suggested (sleep) in hotels but the children were anxious (camp) out.

2 Paul: Would you like (come) to a lecture on Wagner tonight? Ann: No, thanks. I like (listen) to music but I don't like (listen) to people (talk) about it.

3 If you want the milkman (leave) you milk in the morning, remember (put) a milk bottle outside your door.

4 They let us park motorcycles here but they won't allow us (park) cars.

5 They don't allow (smoke) in the auditorium; they don't want (risk) (set) it on fire, but you can (smoke) in the foyer during the interval.

6 Mr Shaw is very busy (write) his memoirs. He is far too busy (receive) callers (he is so busy that he can't receive callers), so you'd better just (go) away.

7 What about (buy) double quantities of everything today? That will save (shop) again later in the week.

8 The inspector asked (see) my ticket and when I wasn't able (find) it he made me (buy) another. ~ He probably suspected you of (try) (travel) without one.

9 Would you like me (turn) down the radio a bit? ~

No, it's all right. I'm used to (work) with the radio on.

10 One of the gang suggested (take) the body out to sea, (drop) it

overboard and (pretend) that it had been an accident.

11 I want the boy (grow) up hating violence but his father keeps (buy)

him guns and swords. ~

It's almost impossible (prevent) boys (play) soldiers.

12 Would you children mind (keep) quiet for a moment? I'm trying (fill)

in a form.~

It's no use (ask) children (keep) quiet. They can't help (make) a

noise.

13 I'm thinking of (go) to Oxford tomorrow on my motorbike. Would you like (come)? ~

No, thanks. I want (go) Oxford, but I'd rather (go) by train. I loathe (travel) by road.

14 Let's (go) (fish) today. There's a nice wind. What about (come) with us, Ann? ~No, thanks. I'm very willing (cut) sandwiches for you but I've no intention of (waste) the afternoon (sit) in a boat (watch) you two (fish).

15 He resented (be) asked (wait). He expected the minister (see) him at once.

16 The police have put up a railing here (prevent) people (rush) out of the station and (dash) straight across the road.

17 All day long we saw the trees (toss) in the wind and heard the waves (crash) against the rocks.

18 I didn't mean (eat) anything but the cakes looked so good that I couldn't resist (try) one.

19 Do you feel like (walk) there or shall we (take) a bus? ~

I'd rather (go) by bus. Besides, it'll take ages (get) there on foot.

20 All right. When would you like (start)? In a few minutes?~

Oh, let's wait till it stops (rain); otherwise we'll get soaked (walk) to the bus station.

21 The old miser spent all his time (count) his money and (think) up new hiding-places. He kept (move) it about because he was terrified of (be robbed). He used (get) up at night sometimes (make) sure it was still there.

22 Jack suggested (let) one flat and (keep) the other for myself. But Tom advised me (sell) the whole house.

23 The child used (lean) on the gate (watch) the people (go) to work in the mornings and (come) home in the evenings. And he used to hear them (shout) greetings to each other and (talk) loudly.

24 He soon got (know) most of them and even managed (learn) the greetings. Then they began (greet) him too on their way to work and sometimes would stop (talk) to him on their way home.

25 He succeeded in (untie) himself, (climb) out of the window and (crawl) along a narrow ledge to the window of the next room.

26 Did you have any trouble (find) the house?~

No, but I had a lot of difficulty (get) in. Nobody seemed (know) where the key was.

27 Bill couldn't bear (see) anyone (sit) round idly. Whenever he found me (relax) or (read) he would (produce) a job which, he said, had (be) done at once. I wasted a morning (perform) his ridiculous tasks and spent the rest of the weekend (keep) out of his way.

28 After (spend) a week in the cottage, he decided that he didn't really enjoy (live) in the country and began (think) of an excuse for (sell) the cottage and (return) to London.

29 It's no use (argue) with him. You might as well (argue) with a stone wall. He is incapable of (see) anyone else's point of view.

30 I'm delighted (hear) that you can come on Saturday. We are all looking forward to (see) you. Remember (bring) your rubbei boots.

31 He has been charged with (receive) and (sell) stolen goods. He has admitted (receive) but denies (sell) them. The fact is that he hasn't had time (sell) them yet.

32 He noticed the helicopter (hover) over the field. Then, to his

astonishment, he saw a rope ladder (be) thrown out and three men (climb) down it. He watched them (run) across the field and out through a gate. Later he saw a car with four men in it (come) out of the lane (lead) to the field.

33 He admitted that it was possible that the car happened (be passing) and that the three men persuaded the driver (give) them a lift; but he throught it much more likely that they had arranged for the car (pick) them up and that the driver had been waiting in the lane for the helicopter (drop) them.

34 What about (have) a picnic in Piccadilly Circus? ~

What an extraordinary place (have) a picnic! Fancy (sit) there with the traffic (swirl) round you and the pigeons (take) bites out of your sandwiches!

35 Would you mind (write) your address on the back of the cheque and (show) us some proof of your identity?

36 Let's (swim) across. ~

I'm not really dressed for (swim). What's wrong with (go) round by the bridge?

18 Unreal pasts and subjunctives