A practical english grammar - Vyssaja skola 1978
Exercises
Sound symbols
Exercise 1. Choosing between infinitive and gerund. Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb at the left: gerund or infinitive or, if possible, both.
see
1. I’d like ... some of your work.
wait
2. She prefers ... inside.
overhear
3. I couldn’t avoid ... what he said.
put
4. The meat was flat, so I tried ... some pepper on it.
listen
5. I can’t bear ... to his constant complaints.
join
6. Dick finally decided not ... the club.
get
7. We expect ... an answer within a few days.
tell
8. He thought the stores were open because I forgot ... him it was a holiday.
smg
9. She began ... her favorite song.
find out
10. I don’t know the answer now, but I hope ... soon.
type
11. I stopped ... so as not to disturb my roommate.
know
12. He seems ... what he is doing.
get 13.
With some effort I managed ... all the clothes into the suitcase.
read
14. Let’s go out; I’m tired of ... the newspaper.
talk
15. I tried to get John’s attention, but he kept on ...
open
16. I found that the door was locked when I tried ... it.
visit
17. He looks forward to ... his relatives.
move
18. Do you mind ... your chair closer?
see
19. The children are anxious ... the circus.
ask
20. I’ve forgotten the number, and so I have ... for it.
Exercise 2. Using subjects with non-finite verbs. Change the sentence below so that the same meaning is expressed by one of the constructions you have studied in this lesson. Begin your sentence as shown.
Examples:
I said to John, “Go away.”
I told John to go away.
Tom teases me, and I resent it.
I resent Tom’s teasing me. (or: ... Tom teasing me.)
1. I said to the children, “stop shouting.”
I told ...
2. He uses my towel and I don’t like it.
I don’t like ...
3. I noticed that he was looking in all the drawers.
I noticed ...
4. Dave smokes in bed; I think he should stop.
I want ...
5. I said to the men, “Bring in the boxes.”
I asked ...
6. I said to Peter, “You should finish the work right away.”
I told Peter that J expected ...
7. His order to the battalion was: “Attack at dawn.”
He ordered ...
8. I said to Paul, “Come into the water,” and he did.
I persuaded ...
9. The children learned from her that they should pick up their toys. She taught ...
10. With the telescope, Flint was able to see the camp.
The telescope enabled ...
Exercise 3. Choosing an infinitive or a gerund after the subject. The pairs of sentences below represent the words of two speakers. Complete the second speaker’s sentence, using the subject and verb suggested by the first speaker. Use suitable pronouns.
Example:
Did Tom close the door?
Yes, I asked him to close it.
I. May John sit here?
No, I don’t want ...
2. May Dick drink beer?
No, I don’t approve of ...
3. Can Mary go alone?
No, I don’t like ...
4. David is sleeping again.
Yes, and I’m tired of ... all the time.
5. Bob came back.
Really? I didn’t see ...
6. Barbie can write her name.
Yes, her mother taught ...
7. Did Paul take the letter?
I’m not sure. I don’t remember ...
8. Did the company return the money?
Yes, the court ordered ...
9. Is George going to cut the grass?
Yes, I expect ...
10. Will the students bring their books?
Yes, the teacher instructed ...
Exercise 4. Using FOR before the subject. Make sentences with the for construction using the words provided.
Example:
easy ... John remember the answers
It’s easy for John to remember the answers.
1. important everyone learn the words
2. unnecessary you wait
3. good people study languages
4. hard old people change their habits
5. useful farmers study biology
6. unusual cats have short tails
7. wrong children disobey their parents
8. all right pedestrians cross the street
9. not unusual birds fly a thousand miles
10. O.K. the porter take the luggage