English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 87: Verb constructions 1

Word List
  • agree [say yes]
  • ask sb for sth
  • attempt n, v
  • avoid
  • blame sb for sth
  • consider
  • demand v
  • enjoy (+ -ing)
  • hate
  • hope to do sth
  • imagine
  • insist on doing sth
  • intend
  • mind (+ -ing)
  • offer
  • promise to do sth
  • recommend (+ -ing)
  • suggest (+-ing)
  • think of (+-ing)
Exercises

87.1 ‣ Choose the correct word(s) to complete the sentences.

  1. I hope _____ them.
    • seeing
    • to see
  2. They agreed _____ me.
    • helping
    • to help
  3. We enjoy _____ by the sea.
    • staying
    • to stay
  4. I suggested _____ on the train.
    • going
    • to go
  5. She insisted _____ paying for our meal.
    • in
    • on
  6. We must attempt _____ there on time.
    • getting
    • to get
  7. Have you considered _____ in a bank?
    • working
    • to work
  8. I demanded _____ to the doctor in charge.
    • speaking
    • to speak
  9. I asked _____ help.
    • him help
    • him for
  10. They blamed me _____ it.
    • for
    • of
  11. I don’t mind _____ for you.
    • waiting
    • to wait
  12. I try to avoid _____ in the rush hour.
    • travelling
    • to travel

87.2 ‣ Complete the sentences with the most suitable verb.

  1. Have you the waiter for the bill?
  2. My sister is _____ of spending the summer in France if she can afford it.
  3. I’ve had a computer for about 20 years; I can’t _____ being without one.
  4. We always try to _____ driving into town in the rush hour.
  5. The accident wasn’t my fault but they _____ me for it.
  6. We’re _____ to see my parents later this week. We had _____ to go last week, but Madison was ill and we couldn’t go.
  7. I _____ meeting your friends; they were really nice.
  8. Have you ever _____ moving out of a town and going to live in the country?
  9. I offered to drive, but Mason _____ on taking his car because he said he _____ being a passenger.
  10. Ella’s parents weren’t happy with the school, and they _____ to see the head teacher.
Answer Key
A ‣ Verb + -ing form

A number of verbs are commonly followed by an -ing form.

QUESTIONNAIRE
QUESTIONSANSWERS
Do you enjoy studying?Yes, I do.
Do you mind getting up early? [Is it OK for you, or not?]No, I don’t mind at all.
Do you like or dislike having your photograph taken?I hate having my picture taken.
Do you usually avoid speaking to strangers at parties? [try not to do something]Yes. I prefer to talk to people that I already know.
Can you imagine being without a car? [think of yourself in a situation with no car]No, I can’t. I need my car.
Have you ever considered [thought about] living in another country?Yes, many times. I’d like to live abroad.
Would you recommend [advise] having a holiday in the capital city of your country? If so, would you suggest going at a particular time of the year?Yes, I would, and I would suggest going in spring or autumn.

Common mistakes

I enjoy going there. (NOT I enjoy to go there.)

They suggested leaving early. (NOT They suggested to leave early.)

Here commended staying there. (NOT Here commended to stay there.)

B ‣ Verb + to infinitive

I hope to see them next week. [want to see them and believe I will see them]

They agreed to help me. [said they will help]

I intend to leave next month. [plan]

I offered to help them. [said I was happy to help]

I attempted to cook the dinner, but it was terrible. [tried]

I promised to bring her book back. [said I would definitely bring it back]

The shop assistant was very rude, so I demanded to see the manager. [said in a firm way]

C ‣ Verb + (object) + preposition + noun/-ing

A: Jo has just rung and asked me for advice about Greece. They’re thinking of1 going there.
B: Well, be careful. They went to India last year on your advice and then blamed2 you for the terrible holiday they had.
A: That was their fault. They insisted on3 going in the summer when it was far too hot.

1 thinking about going to Greece (often used in the continuous and followed by a noun/-ing form; NOT I’m thinking to go there.)
2 said you were responsible for something bad, in this case the terrible holiday
3 said they must go (in the summer)

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