-ING OR TO-INFINITIVE
1. Make helpful suggestions. Each time write a sentence using try + one of the
following suggestions:
Phone him at work move the aerial change the batteries
Turn it the other way take an aspirin
1. The radio isn’t working. I wonder what’s wrong with it Have you tried
changing the batteries?
2. I can’t open the door. The key won’t turn. Try
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3. The TV picture isn’t very good. What can I do about it? Have you
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4. 4. I can’t contact Fred. He’s not at home. What shall I do? Why don’t you
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5. 5. I’ve got a terrible headache. I wish it would go. Have you
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2. Write a sentence with need (s) + one of the following verbs:
clean cut empty redecorate tighten
1. Her jacket is dirty. It needs cleaning.
2. The grass is very long. It ___________________________________________
3. The room isn’t very nice. It _________________________________________
4. The crews are loose. ___________________________________________
5. The bin is full. ___________________________________________
3. Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to infinitive.
1.
a) I was very tired. I tried ________________ (keep) my eyes open but I couldn’t.
b) I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. Then I tried _______________ (knock)
on the door, but there was still no answer.
c) We tried _______________ (put) the fire out but we were unsuccessful. We had to
call the fire brigade.
d) Sue needed to borrow some money. She tried _______________ (ask) Gerry but he
was short of money too.
e) I tried _______________ (reach) the shelf but I wasn’t tall enough.
f) Please leave me alone. I’m trying _______________ (concentrate).
2.
a) I need a change. I need _______________ (go) away for a while.
b) She isn’t able to look after herself. She needs _______________ (look) after.
c) The windows are dirty. They need _______________ (clean).
d) Why are you leaving now? You don’t need _______________ (go) yet, do you?
e) You don’t ned _______________ (iron) that shirt. It doesn’t need _______________
(iron).
3.
a) They were talking very loudly. I couldn’t help _______________ (overhear) them.
b) Can you help me _______________ (get) the dinner ready?
c) He looks so funny. Whenever I see him, I can’t help _______________ (smile).
d) The fine weather helped _______________ (make) it a very enjoyable holiday.
REMEMBER AND FORGET
Put in the to-infinitive or the –ing form of the verbs.
Laura: Did you remember to pick (pick) up those photos today?
Trevor: What photos?
Laura: Oh, no. I can remember _______________ (mention) it to you only this
morning.
Trevor: I can’t remember _______________ (agree) to pick up some photos.
Laura: Well, don’t forget _______________ (call) at the shop for them tomorrow.
You’ve got a terrible memory. Yesterday you forgot _______________ (lock) the door.
Trevor: I’m sure I didn’t forget _______________ (lock) it. I can clearly remember
_______________ (look) for my keys. They were in my pocket.
Laura: You ought to write notes to yourself to remind you.
Trevor: That wouldn’t be any good. I’d never remember _______________ (look) at
them!
REMEMBER, REGRET AND TRY
Put in the to-infinitive or the –ing form of the verbs.
I used to like going to our local cinema. It was old and rather uncomfortable, but it had
character. Now they’ve stopped showing (show) films there. The owner would like to
go on _______________ (run) the cinema, but he would need _______________
(make) a lot of improvements, which would mean _______________ (spend) tens of
thousands of pounds. I remember _______________ (watch) the last film at the cinema.
It was a murder mystery. It was five minutes from the end, and we were trying
_______________ (work) out who the murderer was when suddenly all the nights went
out and the film stopped. We sat in the dark for a few minutes, and then the owner
appeared with a torch. ‘I regret _______________ (tell) you,’ he said, ‘that our
electricity has failed. I don’t mean _______________ (disappoint) you, but I’m afraid
we can’t show you the end of the film. We’ve tried _______________ (phone) the
electricity company, but they say they can’t help’. He went on _______________
(explain) to the audience how the film ended. I didn’t understand the story. But I don’t
regret _______________ (go) to the cinema on that last evening.
REMEMBER, REGRET AND TRY
Write each pair of sentences as one. Use a to-infinitiv or an –ing form.
Trevor didn’t ring Laura. He forgot Trevor forgot to ring Laura.
1. Harriet didn’t think she could move the piano. She didn’t even try.
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2. Mike once saw a spaceship. He’ll never forget it.
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3. What about painting the walls? They need it.
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4. Natasha was unkind to Jessica. But she didn’t mean it.
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5. Andrew was studying. He went on through the night.
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6. When Mark was driving, he needed to make a phone call. So he stopped.
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7. Tom and Nick had been playing cards for hours. But they went on with the game.
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