Friday, 14 March 2014

VERB + INFINITIVE vs VERB + GERUND


One of the difficulties of the English language is that some verbs are followed by the gerund  (ex : doing) and others are followed by theinfinitive (ex : to do). Other verbs, however, can be followed by both.
Generally speaking we can use the following rules:
ExamplesRulesExplanations
Verb + gerund1. I enjoy playing
2. I denied stealing
Often we use the gerund for an action that happens before or at the same time as the action of the main verb.1. I enjoy myself at the time of playing.
2. I deny having stolen anything before.
Verb + infinitive1. I decided to visit my uncle
2. I want to go out
Often we use the infinitive for actions that follow the action of the main verb.1. Visiting my uncle was an action of my decision. It comes after.
2. What I want (now) is to go out (after/later)
These rules are helpful but DO NOT always explain all uses of gerunds and infinitives.

Verbs that can be followed by a gerund (ex: doing)
 

1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :

  • like
  • love
  • enjoy
  • dislike
  • hate
  • don't mind
  • can't stand
  • can't bear
Example:
" I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."

2- After certain other verbs,  such as : 

  • admit
  • appreciate
  • allow
  • avoid
  • advise
  • consider
  • deny
  • delay
  • understand
  • finish
  • fancy
  • go (in go swimming)
  • involve
  • keep
  • mention
  • mind
  • stop
  • waste time/money
  • imagine
  • involve
  • keep (on)
  • mention
  • miss
  • postpone
  • permit
  • practice
  • suggest
  • resist
  • reject
  • risk
  • can't help
  • can't stand
Example:
" I suggest going to the theater."

3- After prepositions :  

interested in ...
instead of ...
good at ...
before ...
after ...
Example:
"I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".

4- After certain expressions :

it's no use ...
it's no good ...
there's no point in ...
I can't help...
I don't mind...
I can't stand/bear...
Example:
" It's no use convincing him to revise his lessons. He's so stubborn."

Verbs that can be followed by an infinitive ( ex : to do)

1- After verbs that  refer to a future event:

  • want
  • hope
  • aim
  • intend
  • arrange
  • attempt
  • promise
  • be determined
  • plan
  • consent
  • decide
  • demand
  • deserve
  • determine
  • endeavor
  • expect
  • offer
  • proceed
  • promise
  • threaten
  • swear
  • volunteer
  • want
  • would like
  • would hate
  • would love
Example:
" I want to finish my work early.

2- After certain other verbs, such as:

  • afford
  • agree
  • help
  • choose
  • fail
  • happen
  • refuse
  • manage
  • need
  • seem
  • learn
  • choose
  • pretend
Example:
"She refused to forgive him."

3- After adjectives :  

  • glad
  • pleased 
  • disappointed 
Example:
"I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."

4- After "too" & "enough":

too difficult
easy enough
Example:
"It's too difficult to convince him to be helpful."
" But it's easy enough to fool him to get what you want."

Verbs that can be followed by both an infinitive and a gerund:

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. Here are some examples:
  • start
  • begin
  • stop
  • remember...
Example:
"I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."
Exercises: 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

Exercise on gerund or infinitive.



Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
She agreed to speak before the game.
agree
aim
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
be able
beg
begin
care
choose
condescend
consent
continue
dare
decide
deserve
detest
dislike
expect
fail
forget
get
happen
have
hesitate
hope
hurry
intend
leap
leave
like
long
love
mean
neglect
offer
ought
plan
prefer
prepare
proceed
promise
propose
refuse
remember
say
shoot
start
stop
strive
swear
threaten
try
use
wait
want
wish

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive
Everyone expected her to win.
advise
allow
ask
beg
bring
build
buy
challenge
choose
command
dare
direct
encourage
expect
forbid
force
have
hire
instruct
invite
lead
leave
let
like
love
motivate
order
pay
permit
persuade
prepare
promise
remind
require
send
teach
tell
urge
want
warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above
and may be used without an object.

Verbs Followed by a Gerund
They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
can't help
complete
consider
delay
deny
detest
dislike
enjoy
escape
excuse
finish
forbid
get through
have
imagine
mind
miss
permit
postpone
practice
quit
recall
report
resent
resist
resume
risk
spend (time)
suggest
tolerate
waste (time)

Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund
We concentrated on doing well.
admit to
approve of
argue about
believe in
care about
complain about
concentrate on
confess to
depend on
disapprove of
discourage from
dream about
feel like
forget about
insist on
object to
plan on
prevent (someone) from
refrain from
succeed in
talk about
think about
worry about


EXERCISES

Basic Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercises 1 - 10 are based on Part 1 of the Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial.

Intermediate Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercises 11 - 20 are based on Part 2 of the Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial.

Advanced Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercises 21-30 are based on Part 3 of the Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial.

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Advice versus obligation: SHOULD vs MUST


1. Before watching the explanation on MUST and SHOULD, complete the sentences below. Use the words in brackets (recommend - important - strict - ought to):
  • We use MUST when something is very .................................. . 
  • We use SHOULD to .............................. something or when somebody ............................... do something. Then, it is not a ....................................... requirement.
2. SAMPLE CONVERSATIONS.
Again, before watching the video, try to complete the sentences with must or should. Then check your answers.

2.1 APARTMENT FORMALITIES
Glossary: 
lease: a contract by which property is conveyed to a person for a specified period, usually for rent.
  • What documents ....................................................... (I / bring) to sign the lease for the apartment?
  • You ........................................... (bring) some identity proof for the records and you .................................................. (bring / also) the cash advance.
  • What time ..................................................... (I / come)?
2.2 COMPLAINING ABOUT LATE BUS SERVICE
  • The bus ................ have been here 30 minutes ago.
  • It ....................... be coming soon.
  • It ..................., because I'm already late for work.
2.3 SOLUTIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

  • We ............................................. (stop) polluting the Earth!
  • I agree. We .............................................. something about it.
  • I think we ................................................. (use) cycles instead of cars to get places.
  • We ..................................................... (not build) any more nuclear reactors.









Friday, 28 February 2014

Defining & non-defining relative clauses


http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/relative-clauses-non-defining-relative-clauses

Relative clauses - non-defining relative clauses

Relative clauses add extra information to a sentence by defining a noun. They are usually divided into two types –defining relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses.

Non-defining relative clauses


Look at this sentence.
  • My grandfather, who is 87, goes swimming every day.
‘who is 87’ is a non-defining relative clause. It adds extra information to the sentence. If we take the clause out of the sentence, the sentence still has the same meaning.

Look at some more examples.
  • The film, which stars Tom Carter, is released on Friday.
  • My eldest son, whose work takes him all over the world, is in Hong Kong at the moment.
  • The car, which can reach speeds of over 300km/ph, costs over $500,000.
Non-defining relative clauses add extra information to sentences.

Defining or non-defining?

Remember that defining relative clauses are used to add important information. The sentence would have a different meaning without the defining relative clause.
  • I’m going to wear the skirt that I bought in London. The defining relative clause tells us which skirt.
  • The skirt, which is a lovely dark blue colour, only cost £10. The non-defining relative clause doesn’t tell us which skirt – it gives us more information about the skirt.
Non-defining relative clauses can use most relative pronouns (which, whose etc,) but they CAN’T use ‘that’ and the relative pronoun can never be omitted.
  • The film, that stars Tom Carter, is released on Friday.
Non-defining relative clauses are more often used in written English than in spoken English. You can tell that a clause is non-defining because it is separated by commas at each end of the clause.

Thursday, 27 February 2014

Making an appointment

a) Watch the video from 3'10" onwards and write down the key details of the appointment:
- Date:
Time:
- Place:

b) Listen again and write down the key sentences for making an appointment.

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Placing an order

Listen and write down the details of the order.


Friday, 14 February 2014

First experience as a Certified Nurse Assistant



Watch and answer:

1- What’s the name of the speaker?
2- What period of time is she talking about?
3- How much is she paid per hour?
4- What task has she basically done so far?
5- Why does she need to have some fresh air?
6- Where did she work before becoming a nurse assistant?
7- Does she think her new job is hard?
8- What does she mean when she says she didn't expect to face identity issues at work with the patients and her workmates?
9- Listen for a second time and say which words she says that should be avoided because they are consired rude or impolite.


Thursday, 13 February 2014

Holes, by Passenger



1) Listen and write down all the sentences with the verb 'have got'.
2) What do the statements with the word 'hole' mean? Rephrase them to make their meaning clear.
3) In small groups, ask each other whether you've got any holes in your hearts or your pockets.

Wednesday, 12 February 2014