1. Put the verbs into the correct form: -ing or the infinitive with to … .
1 I don’t get on with the new boss, so I’ve asked …to be transferred…… (transfer) to another branch of the company.
2 Please stop …interrupting…… (interrupt) me when I’m explaining something to you. You can ask questions at the end.
3 He admits ……………………… (enter) the house, but he says he didn’t take anything
4 What a beautiful house! Can you imagine ……………………… (live) there?
5 I’ve forgotten ……………………… (bring) my briefcase with me. I’ll have to go back for it.
6 We had hoped ……………………… (live) in our new house by now, but the builders are still working on it.
7 I don’t mind ……………………… (work) late if it will help at all.
8 You’ll just have to find a job. I simply can’t afford ……………………… (support) you any longer.
Answer
3 entering 4 living 5 to bring
6 to be living 7 working 8 to support
2. Put the verbs into the correct form: -ing or the infinitive with to … .
CYCLIST ABANDONS 24 HR RIDE
For the second time, Andrew Spicer, the local cycling star, has decided (1) …to give up…… (give up) the attempt (2) ……………………… (ride) his bike non-stop for twenty-four hours. His decision came after dangerous weather conditions had caused him to postpone (3) ……………………… (set off) for several hours. His first attempt had also ended in failure, when he appeared (4) ……………………… (lose) control of his bicycle as he attempted to avoid (5) ……………………… (hit) a small child and crashed into a wall. He says that he has not yet decided whether (6) ……………………… (try) one more time, but denies (7) ……………………… (lose) interest in the project. ‘I’ve promised (8) ……………………… (raise) money for the local hospital,’ he explained. ‘They deserve help. I shall do what I can if I manage (9) ……………………… (find) the time.’
Answer
2 to ride 3 setting off 4 to lose
5 hitting 6 to try
7 having lost or losing
8 to raise 9 to find
3. Complete the conversations with suitable verbs in the correct form: -ing or the infinitive with to … .
A
ANNA: What are you doing this weekend?
WILL: I’m hoping (1) …to visit…… my brother at his university if I can.
ANNA: I thought you went to see him last weekend.
WILL: No, I was planning (2) …………………………. him then, but he texted me and suggested (3) …………………………. the visit for a week because he hadn’t finished (4) …………………………. his thesis. Now he’s done it, we can celebrate.
B
CELIA: Can you help me get these packages posted today? One of our main customers has said he’ll consider (5) …………………………. to another supplier if we don’t improve our delivery times.
DAVE: Have we been failing (6) …………………………. on time?
CELIA: Apparently someone forgot (7) …………………………. one order last month. So I agreed (8) …………………………. them myself this time – we can’t risk (9) …………………………. such an important customer.
C
JACK: Oh dear, here’s another text from Peter.
SEAN: Why does he keep (10) …………………………. you?
JACK: He wants me to join his basketball team and go to training tonight. He’s offered (11) …………………………. me fix my car this weekend if I agree (12) …………………………. them. The trouble is, I’d have to go to a lot of training sessions and I haven’t got time. And I can fix the car by myself.
SEAN: Well, you’ll just have to find a way to say no. He’ll understand. You can’t avoid (13) …………………………. to him forever.
Answer
Example answers:
2 to see or to visit
3 postponing or putting off or delaying
4 writing or doing
5 going or changing or switching
6 to deliver
7 to send or to post
8 to send or to post
9 losing or offending
10 texting
11 to help
12 to join
13 replying
4. Complete the sentences using -ing or the infinitive with to … .
Answer
2 Hugo to do fifty press-ups.
3 her / the woman to sign the petition
4 buying Delia the drums / buying the drums (for Delia)
5 Charlie finish his homework (before he went out)
6 to reach the shampoo
7 washing or to be washed
8 Sam (to) lay the table
5. Complete the conversations with the correct form of the verbs and any other words you need.
A
PATSY: Who should I ask if I want a day off?
MIKE: It doesn’t really matter, except I’d advise (1) …you not to ask…… (not / ask) the assistant manager. He can be very rude sometimes.
PATSY: Oh, I don’t mind (2) ……………………………… (shout) at by him. He threatened (3) ……………………………… (sack) me last week, but he apologised very politely later.
B
SUSAN: I don’t trust the new director of marketing.
JILL: Why not?
SUSAN: She claims (4) ……………………………… (work) in several different countries before she came here. But when I asked her where exactly, she kept (5) ……………………………… (change) the subject. I was wondering whether (6) ……………………………… (say) something to the boss.
JILL: Why don’t we go on (7) ……………………………… (be) friendly for a few more days and see how she behaves? Perhaps she’s just shy.
SUSAN: OK. I’d hate (8) ……………………………… (get) someone into trouble for nothing.
C
ANDY: I don’t know what to do about Gemma. She’s so difficult to work with. She keeps forgetting (9) ……………………………… (pass) on important messages and she won’t let me (10) ……………………………… (help) her when she’s busy.
JEN: Have you actually talked to her about all this?
ANDY: That’s part of the problem. I’ve tried (11) ……………………………… (discuss) the problem with her, but she always says she’s too busy to stop and talk. I’ve even tried (12) ……………………………… (ask) her to have lunch with me, but she doesn’t want to.
JEN: I think I’d better have a chat with her. How long has she been like this?
ANDY: Oh, it’s several weeks now.
JEN: Well, I’d really like (13) ……………………………… (know) about the problem earlier. Never mind, I’ll see what I can do.
ANDY: Thanks very much.
Answer
2 being shouted 3 to sack
4 to have worked 5 changing
6 to say 7 being 8 to get
9 to pass 10 help 11 to discuss
12 asking 13 to have known
6. Complete the sentences with your own ideas. Use -ing or the infinitive with to … .
1 I often help …to prepare lunch at weekends…… .
2 I learnt ………………………… at the age of ………………………… .
3 I can’t help ………………………… when I see someone being treated unfairly.
4 I don’t mind …………………………, but I hate ………………………… .
5 I sometimes pretend ………………………… when really I’m just daydreaming.
6 I always encourage ………………………… which I have enjoyed reading myself.
7 I remember ………………………… when I was a small child.
8 I enjoy ………………………… even though I’m not very good at it.
9 I expect ………………………… by the end of next year.
10 I’ve given up ………………………… .
Answer
Example answers:
2 I learnt to swim at the age of six.
3 I can’t help getting angry when I see someone being treated unfairly.
4 I don’t mind washing up, but I hate vacuuming the floors.
5 I sometimes pretend to be listening to what the boss is saying when really I’m just daydreaming.
6 I always encourage people to read books which I have enjoyed reading myself.
7 I remember going to the circus when I was a small child.
8 I enjoy swimming even though I’m not very good at it.
9 I expect to have passed my driving test by the end of next year.
10 I’ve given up going to discos because they’re too noisy.