The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002
2.4. Describing emotions 2
Unit two TWO. Emotion
Sections 309-318; 722-723
The verbs like, love, hate and prefer can be followed by a noun phrase object, a to-infinitive clause or an -ing clause. The infinitive clause tends to express an ’idea’ and is also used when the main verb is hypothetical, while the -ing clause rather expresses a ’fact’.
The verbs enjoy, dislike and loathe take only -ing clauses.
The rejected alternative following the object of prefer is introduced by a to-phrase, by an infinitive clause introduced by rather than or by an -ing clause.
Other emotions can be expressed in a large variety of structural and lexical ways and can range in tone from more to less tentative, tactful, enthusiastic, etc.
Task one **
Complete the following sentences, using the infinitive OR -ing form of the verb in brackets.
1. I dislike (sit) ... in overcrowded trains.
2. I wouldn’t like (drive) ... a thousand miles all on my own.
3. On the whole, I prefer (walk) ... to (cycle) ... .
4. We both enjoyed (cook) ... dinner for our newly arrived guests.
5. The traditional housewife likes everything (be) ... neat and tidy.
6. Margaret is an actress who has always loved (perform) ... on the stage.
7. Rather than (sack) ... part of the workforce, the management preferred (introduce) ... part-time work.
8. I hate (say) ... this, but you keep giving us the wrong signal.
9. Arthur tells me he loathes (go) ... to these conferences.
10. Would you really love (work) ... with autistic children?
11. I like (be) ... with Jerry because he is so entertaining.
12. We have always preferred (travel) ... abroad, rather than (stay) ... close to home.
Task two **
(a) What is the basic emotion expressed by each of the following pairs of sentences? Choose the appropriate label from the following list of seven: (A) hope, (B) anticipation of pleasure, (C) disappointment or regret, (D) approval, (E) disapproval, (F) surprise, (G) concern or worry.
(b) Which of the two versions expresses the stronger emotion, i.e. sounds more direct, more emphatic, less tentative, etc.?
1a. You handled the situation very clumsily.
b. Couldn’t you have handled the situation a little more carefully?
2a. I’m a bit worried about these new developments.
b. I find these new developments very alarming indeed.
3a. What a strange way of dealing with young children.
b. I thought it a rather strange way of dealing with young children.
4a. I’m looking forward to participating in this new venture.
b. I’m very eager to participate in this new venture.
5a. I was hoping we could discuss some of the remaining problems.
b. I hope to discuss some of the remaining problems with you.
6a. How unfortunate that so few people turned up in the end.
b. Unfortunately, not many people turned up in the end.
7a. The food on board the plane wasn’t too bad, was it?
b. I really liked the food on board the plane, didn’t you?
8a. Don’t you agree that an alternative approach might have been more appropriate?
b. I don’t think this was the appropriate approach, you know.
9a. The news coming from the Middle East is most disturbing.
b. There is growing concern over the news coming from the Middle East.
10a. If only solar energy could be used on a much wider scale!
b. It’s a bit of a pity that solar energy can’t be used on a wider scale yet.
Task three ***
Rewrite the following dialogue by adding the emotional meanings in brackets to the sentences as they stand. Give for each sentence two ’expanded’ versions, which differ in form and possibly also in terms of emotive strength.
Example: We couldn’t go cycling this afternoon. (disappointment)
→ What a pity we couldn’t go cycling this afternoon.
It would have been more fun if we had been able to go cycling this afternoon.
Walt: Viv, I’m going to indulge in a five-course dinner this evening. (anticipation of pleasure)
Viv: You’ll be stuffing yourself with fattening food again. (disapproval)
Walt: You envy people who like a hearty meal from time to time. (surprise)
Viv: More and more of those people are becoming overweight these days. (concern)
Walt: That’s not going to happen to me. (hope)
Viv: You don’t seem to realize that too much food is bad for your health. (regret)
Walt: YOU don’t seem to realize that I’m taking a lot of exercise now. (surprise)
Viv: You’ve at least changed that part of your lifestyle. (approval)
Walt: Some of the physical activities make me feel exhausted. (disappointment)
Viv: As you lose weight, the activities will seem lighter too. (hope)