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 need --- (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.
UNIT 57. Verb + ~ing or to... (3) (like/would like etc.)
A. like love hate can't bear enjoy dislike mind can't stand
These verbs and expressions all mean 'like' or 'not like'. They are often followed by ~ing:
* Ann hates flying.
* Why do you dislike living here?
* I don't like people shouting at me. (= I don't like being shouted at.)
After love, hate and can't bear, you can also use to ... So you can say:
* I love meeting people. or I love to meet people.
* She can't bear being alone. or She can't bear to be alone.
But after enjoy/dislike/mind/can't stand, we use only ~ing (not 'to ...'):
* I enjoy being alone. (not 'I enjoy to be')
* Tom doesn't mind working at night. (not 'mind to work')
B. Like
You can say 'I like doing something' or 'I like to do something'. Often it doesn't matter which you use, so you can say:
* I like getting up early. or I like to get up early.
In British English, there is sometimes a difference between 'I like doing' and 'I like to do'.
'I like doing something' means 'I enjoy it':
* Do you like cooking? (= do you enjoy it?)
* I like living here. (= I enjoy it)
'I like to do something' means 'I think it is good or right +() do it':
* I like to clean the kitchen as often as possible. (This doesn't mean that I enjoy it; it means that I think it is a good thing to do.)
* Mary likes people to be on time.
C. Would like/would love/would hate/would prefer are usually followed by to ... (infinitive):
* I would like to be rich.
* Would you like to come to dinner on Friday?
* I'd love (= would love) to be able to travel round the world.
* Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?
Compare I like and I would like:
* I like playing/to play tennis. (= I enjoy it in general)
* I would like to play tennis today. (= I want to play today)
Note that would mind is followed by ~ing (not to ...)
* Would you mind closing the door, please?
D. You can also say 'I would like to have done something' (= I regret now that I didn't or couldn't do something):
* It's a pity we didn't see Val when we were in London. I would like to have seen her again.
* We'd like to have gone on holiday but we didn't have enough money.
You can use the same structure after would love/would hate/would prefer:
* Poor old Tom! I would hate to have been in his position.
* I'd love to have gone to the party but it was impossible.
EXERCISES
57.1 Complete the sentences with likes... or doesn't like... + one of the following (in the correct form):
be kept waiting do nothing drive fly solve mysteries take photographs take risks work in the open air
1. George is a detective. He enjoys his work. He _likes solving mysteries._
2. Ann very rarely travels by plane. She _doesn't like flying._
3. Rose always carries her camera with her. She ---
4. Christine doesn't use her car very often. She ---
5. Dave is a gardener. He likes his job. He ---
6. Jennifer is a very cautious person. She ---
7. Ted is extremely lazy. He ---
8. Helen is very impatient. She ---
57.2 Write sentences about yourself. Say whether you like or don't like these activities. Choose one of these verbs for each sentence: (don't) like love hate enjoy don't mind
1. (flying) _I don't like flying._
2. (playing cards)
3. (doing the ironing)
4. (going to museums)
5. (lying on the beach all day)
57.3 How would you feel about doing these jobs? In your sentences use one of these:
I'd like/I wouldn't like I'd love I'd hate I wouldn't mind
1. (a teacher) _I wouldn't like to be a teacher._
2. (a dentist)
3. (a hairdresser)
4. (an airline pilot)
5. (a tourist guide)
57.4 Put in a suitable verb in the correct form, ~ing or to ... Sometimes either form is possible.
1. It's nice to be with other people but sometimes I enjoy _being_ alone.
2. I'm not quite ready yet. Do you mind --- a little longer?
3. When I was a child, I hated --- to bed early.
4. I don't enjoy --- letters. I can never think what to write.
5. I need a new job. I can't stand --- here any more.
6. I would love --- to your wedding but I'm afraid it isn't possible.
7. Caroline never wears a hat. She doesn't like --- hats.
8. 'Would you like --- down?' 'No, thanks. I'll stand.'
9. When I have to catch a train, I'm always worried that I'll miss it. So I like --- to the station in plenty of time.
10. Have you got a moment? I'd like --- to you about something.
.57.5 Write sentences like those in Section D. Use the verb in brackets.
1. It's a pity I couldn't go to the wedding. (like)
_I would like to have gone to the wedding._
2. It's a pity I didn't see the programme. (like)
3. I'm glad I didn't lose my watch. (hate)
4. It's a pity I didn't meet Ann. (love)
5. I'm glad I wasn't alone. (not/like)
6. It's a pity I couldn't travel by train. (prefer)
UNIT 58. Prefer and would rather
A. Prefer to do and prefer doing
You can use 'prefer to (do)' or 'prefer ~ing' to say what you prefer in general:
* I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country. or I prefer living in the country.
Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:
I prefer something to something else.
I prefer doing something to doing something else.
but I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.
* I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
* I prefer driving to travelling by train.
but * I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
* Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.
B. Would prefer (I'd prefer...)
We use 'would prefer' to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general):
* 'Would you prefer tea or coffee?' 'Coffee, please.'
We say 'would prefer to do' (not 'doing'):
* 'Shall we go by train?' 'Well, I'd prefer to go by car.' (not 'I'd prefer going')
* I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
C. Would rather (I'd rather...)
Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive without to.
Compare:
* 'Shall we go by train?' 'I'd prefer to go by car.'
* 'Shall we go by train?' 'I'd rather go by car.' (not 'to go')
* 'Would you rather have tea or coffee?' 'Coffee, please.'
The negative is 'I'd rather not (do something)':
* I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
* 'Do you want to go out this evening?' 'I'd rather not.'
Study the structure after would rather:
I'd rather do something than (do) something else.
* I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
D. I'd rather you did something
When you want somebody to do something, you can say 'I'd rather you did something':
* 'Shall I stay here?' 'I'd rather you came with us.'
* 'Shall I tell them the news?' 'No. I'd rather they didn't know.'
* Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?
In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past.
Compare:
* I'd rather cook the dinner now.
but * I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not 'I'd rather you cook')
The negative is 'I'd rather you didn't ...':
* I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
* 'Do you mind if I smoke?' 'I'd rather you didn't.'
EXERCISES
58.1 Which do you prefer? Write sentences using 'I prefer (something) to (something else)'. Put the verb into the correct form where necessary.
1. (drive/travel by train) _I prefer driving to travelling by train._
2. (tennis/football) I prefer ---
3. (phone people/write letters) I --- to ---
4. (go to the cinema/watch films on TV) ---
Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure 'I prefer (to do something)...'.
5. (1) I prefer to drive rather travel by train.
6. (3) I prefer to ---
7. (4) ---
58.2 Write sentences using I'd prefer ... or I'd rather... + one of the following:
eat at home get a taxi go alone go for a swim listen to some music stand think a out it for a while wait a few minutes wait till later
1. Shall we walk home? (prefer) _I'd prefer to get a taxi._
2. Do you want to eat now? (rather) _I'd rather wait till later._
3. Shall we watch TV? (prefer) ---
4. What about a game of tennis? (rather) ---
5. Shall we leave now? (rather) ---
6. Do you want to go to a restaurant? (prefer) ---
7. I think we should decide now? (rather) ---
8. Would you like to sit down? (rather) ---
9. Do you want me to come with you? (prefer) ---
Now write sentences using than and rather than.
10. (get a taxi/walk home) I'd prefer _to get a taxi rather than walk home._
11. (go for a swim/play tennis)
I'd rather ---
12. (wait a few minutes/leave now)
I'd rather ---
13. (eat at home/go to a restaurant)
I'd prefer ---
14. (think about it for a while/decide now)
I'd rather ---
58.3 Complete the sentences using would you rather I ...
1. Are you going to cook the dinner or would you rather I cooked it?
2. Are you going to tell Ann what happened or would you rather ---?
3. Are you going to do the shopping or ---?
4. Are you going to answer the phone or ---?
58.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.
1. Shall I tell Ann the news?' 'No, I'd rather she didn't know.'
2. Do you want me to go now or would you rather I --- here?
3. Do you want to go out this evening or would you rather --- at home?
4. This is a private letter addressed to me. I'd rather you --- read it.
5. It's quite a nice house but I'd rather it --- a bit bigger.
6. Do you mind if I turn on the radio?' 'I'd rather you --- I'm trying to study.'
UNIT 59. Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + ~ing
A. If a preposition (in/for/about etc.) is followed by a verb, the verb ends in ~ing. For example:
Are you interested in working for us?
I'm not very good at learning languages.
She must be fed up with studying.
What are the advantages of having a car?
This knife is only for cutting bread.
How about playing tennis tomorrow?
I bought a new bicycle instead of going away on holiday.
Carol went to work in spite of feeling ill.
You can also say 'interested in somebody (do)ing .....', fed up with you (do)ing...' etc.:
* I'm fed up with you telling me what to do.
B. Note the use of the following prepositions + ~ing:
before ~ing and after ~ing:
* Before going out, I phoned Sarah. (not 'Before to go out')
* What did you do after leaving school?
You can also say 'Before I went out ...' and '... after you left school'.
by ~ing (to say bow something happens):
* The burglars got into the house by breaking a window and climbing in.
* You can improve your English by reading more.
* She made herself ill by not eating properly.
without ~ing:
* I ran ten kilometer without stopping.
* They climbed through the window without anybody seeing them. (or ... without being seen.)
* She needs to work without people disturbing her. (or ... without being disturbed.)
* It's nice to go on holiday without having to worry about money.
C. To ~ing
To is often part of the infinitive (to do/to see etc.):
* We decided to go out.
* Would you like to play tennis?
But to is also a preposition (like in/for/about/from etc.). For example:
* We drove from London to Edinburgh.
* I prefer tea to coffee.
* Are you looking forward to the weekend?
If a preposition is followed by a verb, the verb ends in ~ing; (in doing/about going etc.- see Section A). So, when to is a preposition and it is followed by a verb, you must say to ~ing:
* I prefer driving to travelling by train. (not 'to travel')
* Are you looking forward to seeing Ann again? (not 'looking forward to see')
For be/get used to ~ing, see Unit 60.
EXERCISES
59.1 Complete the sentences so that they mean the same as the sentence(s) in brackets.
1. (Why is it useful to have a car?)
What are the advantages of _having a car_?
2. (I don't intend to lend you any money.)
I have no intention of ---
3. (Helen has a good memory for names.)
Helen is good at ---
4. (Mark won't pass the exam. He has no chance.)
Mark has no chance of ---
5. (Did you get into trouble because you were late?)
Did you get into trouble for ---
6. (We didn't eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead.)
Instead of ---
7. (Tom thinks that working is better than doing nothing.)
Tom prefers working to ---
8. (They got married. They didn't tell any of their friends.)
They got married without ---
9. (Our team played well but we lost the game.)
Our team lost the game in spite of ---
59.2 Complete the sentences using by ~ing. Use one of the following (with the verb in the correct form): borrow too much money break a window drive too fast put some posters up on the walls stand on a chair turn a key
1. The burglars got into the house _by breaking a window._
2. I was able to reach the top shelf ---
3. You start the engine of a car ---
4. Kevin got himself into financial difficulty ---
5. You can put people's lives in danger ---
6. We made the room look nicer ---
59.3 Complete the sentences with a suitable word. Use only one word each time.
1. I ran ten kilometers without _stopping._
2. He left the hotel without --- his bill.
3. It's a nice morning. How about --- for a walk?
4. I was surprised that she left without --- goodbye to anyone.
5. Before --- to bed, I like to have a hot drink.
6. We were able to translate the letter into English without --- a dictionary.
7. It was a very long journey. I was very tired after --- on a train for 36 hours.
8. I was annoyed because the decision was made without anybody --- me.
9. After --- the same job for ten years, I felt I needed a change.
59.4 For each, situation write a sentence with I'm (not) looking forward to.
1. You are going on holiday next week. How do you feel about this?
_I'm looking forward to going on holiday._
2. Diane is a good friend of yours and she is coming to visit you soon. So you will see her again soon. How do you feel about this?
I'm ---
3. You are going to the dentist tomorrow. You don't like visits to the dentist. How do you feet about this?
I'm not ---
4. Carol is a student at school. She hates it but she is leaving school next summer. How does she feel about this? ---
5. You've arranged to play tennis tomorrow. You like tennis. How do you feel about this? ---
UNIT 60. Be/get used to something (I'm used to ...)
A. Study this example situation:
Jane is American but she has lived in Britain for three years. When she first drove a car in Britain, she found it very difficult because she had to drive on the left instead of on the right. Driving on the left was strange and difficult for her because:
She wasn't used to it.
She wasn't used to driving on the left.
But after a lot of practice, driving on the left became less strange. So:
She got used to driving on the left.