Exercise 1. Choose an appropriate verb to complete these sentences. Use a to-infinitive or an -ing form. (A &B) admit alarm brake hear obtain prepare see walk win
1. We were delighted.......you last weekend.
2. I was aware of....... hard, but I can't remember anything after that until I was being helped out of the car.
3. You are welcome....... around the farm at any time you want.
4. The agreement is conditional on....... permission from my employer.
5. The increase in fighting is certain....... UN troops in the area.
6. I'll be interested....... what he has to say.
7. I'm busy....... a lecture at the moment.
8. The government seems certain to raise taxes soon, but they are not keen....... it.
9. He's in such good form that he's almost certain of....... tomorrow's race.
Key:
1. to see
2. braking
3. to walk
4. obtaining
5. to alarm
6. to hear ('in hearing' is also possible)
7. preparing
8. to admit
9. winning
Exercise 2. Rewrite these sentences using It... (adjective) for/of, as in 1. (C)
1. She found it difficult to say goodbye. It was difficult -for Her to say goodbye..
2. You were very kind to come. It...
3. I think it's important that you take some exercise every day. It...
4. You were wrong to ride your bike across Mr Taylor's garden. It...
5. I think you were greedy when you took the last cake. It...
6. I find it unacceptable that newspapers publish this kind of story. It...
7. You were being careless when you dropped all those plates. It...
8. You don't need to have all these books at the start of your course. It...
Key:
1.
2. It was very kind of you to come.
3. It's important for you to take some exercise every day.
4. It was wrong of you to ride your bike across Mr Taylor's garden.
5. It was greedy of you to take the last cake.
6. It is unacceptable for newspapers to publish this kind of story.
7. It was careless of you to drop all those plates.
8. It isn't necessary for you to have all these books at the start of your course.
Exercise 3. Do you think these sentences have a very similar meaning or a different meaning? If the meaning is different, can you explain the difference? (B)
1. a) I was worried about upsetting you, so I didn't tell you the bad news earlier.
b) I was worried that I would upset you, so I didn't tell you the bad news earlier.
2. a) Mike is very good at looking after the children,
b) Mike is very good to look after the children.
3. a) They're anxious to rent out their house while they are away in Canada.
b) They're anxious about renting out their house while they are away in Canada.
4. 'I'm sorry I had to cancel our meeting.'
a) 'That's okay. I'm glad of the extra time.'
b) 'That's okay. I'm glad to have the extra time.'
5. a) He is sure to win.
b) He is sure that he will win.
Key:
1. similar meaning
2. a) Mike does it well;
b) Mike is very kind.
3. a) They want to rent it out very much;
b) They are worried about renting it out.
4. similar meaning
5. a) = I think that he will win;
b) = He thinks that he will win.
Exercise 4. Correct these sentences. (A & C)
1. James is busy to prepare tonight's dinner.
2. We think unlikely that anyone survived the crash.
3. It is hard of him to accept that he was wrong.
4. His new film is really worth to be seen.
Key:
1. busy preparing
2. We think it unlikely
3. for him
4. worth seeing
