57. Verb + ing or to … 2 (try/ need/ help) ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

57. Verb + ing or to … 2 (try/ need/ help)

A	Try to ... and try-ing Try to do= attempt to do, make an effort to do: ·         I was very tired. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn't. ·         Please try to be quiet when you come home. Everyone will be asleep. Try also means 'do something as an experiment or test'. For example: ·         These cakes are delicious. You should try one. (=you should have one to see if you like it) ·         We couldn't find anywhere to stay. We tried every hotel in the town, but they were all full. (=we went to every hotel to see if they had a room) If try (with this meaning) is followed by a verb, we say try -ing: ·         A: The photocopier doesn't seem to be working. B: Try pressing the green button. (=press the green button- perhaps this will help to solve the problem) Compare: ·         I tried to move the table, but it was too heavy. (so I couldn't move it) ·         I didn't like the way the furniture was arranged, so I tried moving the table to the other side of the room. But it didn't look right, so I moved it back again.
B	Need to ... and need –ing I need to do something= it is necessary for me to do it: ·         I need to get more exercise. ·         He needs to work harder if he wants to make progress. ·         I don't need to come to the meeting, do I? Something needs doing= it needs to be done: ·         My phone needs charging. (=it needs to be charged) ·         Do you think this jacket needs cleaning? (= … needs to be cleaned) ·         It's a difficult problem. it needs thinking about very carefully. (= it needs to be thought about)
C	Help and can't help You can say help to do or help do (with or without to): ·         Everybody helped to clean up after the party. Or Everybody helped clean up ... ·         Can you help me to move this table? or     Can you help me move ... I can't help doing something = I can't stop myself doing it: ·         I don't like him, but he has a lot of problems. I can't help feeling sorry for him. ·         She tried to be serious, but she couldn't help laughing. (=she couldn't stop herself laughing) ·         I'm sorry I'm so nervous. I can't help it. (= I can't help being nervous)

EXERCISES

57.1	Make suggestions. Use try+ one of the following: phone his office restart it change the batteries turn it the other way take an aspirin 1 The radio isn't working. Have you ____tried changing the batteries? _______ 2 I can't open the door. The key won't turn. Try _____________________________________ 3 The computer isn't working properly. Have you tried ________________________________ 4 Fred isn't answering his phone. What shall I do? You could _______________________________________ 5 I've got a terrible headache. I wish it would go. Have you ______________________________________
57.2	For each picture, write a sentence with need{s) +one of the following verbs: clean        cut      empty      paint      tighten 1 This jacket is dirty. _____It needs cleaning.______________ 2 The room isn't very nice. It  ________________________________________ 3 The grass is very long. ________________________________________ 4 The screws are loose. ________________________________________ 5 The bin is full. ________________________________________
57.3	Put the verb into the correct form. 1 a.     I was very tired. I tried ____ to keep ____ (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 without success. We had to call the fire brigade. d.     Sue needed to borrow some money. She tried __________ (ask) Gary, 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.     My grandmother isn't able to look after herself any more. She needs _________ (look) after. c.     The windows are dirty. They need ___________ (clean). d.     Your hair is getting very long. It needs ___________ (cut). 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) what they said. 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 really nice holiday.

ANSWER KEY