63. Expressions + -ing ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

                                            ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

63. Expressions + -ing

A	When these expressions are followed by a verb the verb ends in -ing: It's no use /It's no good ... ·         There’s nothing you can do about the situation} so it's no use worrying about it. ·         it's no good trying to persuade me. You won’t succeed. There's no point in ... ·         There's no point in having a car if you never use it . ·         There was no point in waiting any longer} so we left. But we usually say 'the point of doing something}: ·         What's the point of having a car if you never use it?
B	It's (not) worth ... ·         I live only a short walk from here so it's not worth taking a taxi. ·         Our flight was very early in the morning so it wasn't worth going to bed. You can say that a film is worth seeing, a book is worth reading etc. : ·         What was the film like? Was it worth seeing? ·         Thieves broke into the house, but didn't take anything. There was nothing worth stealing.
C	Have trouble –ing, have difficulty -ing etc. Have trouble /difficulty /a problem doing something: ·         I had no trouble finding a place to stay. (not trouble to find) ·         Did you have any difficulty getting a visa? ·         People sometimes have problems reading my writing.
D	Spend time /waste time /be busy spend/waste (time) doing something: ·         He spent hours trying to repair the clock. ·         I waste a lot of time doing nothing. (be) busy doing something: ·         She said she couldn't see me. She was too busy doing other things.
E	Go swimming /go fishing etc. We use go -ing for a number of activities (especially sports). For example, you can say:   ·         How often do you go swimming? ·         I'd like to go skiing. ·         When was the last time you went shopping? ·         I've never been sailing. (For gone and been) see Unit 70.)

EXERCISES

63.1	Make sentences beginning There's no point .... 1 Why have a car if you never use it? ____ There’s no point in having a car if you never use it. ____________________ 2 Why work if you don't need money? _______________________________________________ 3 Don't try to study if you feel tired. _______________________________________________ 4 Why hurry if you've got plenty of time? _______________________________________________
63.2	Complete the sentences on the right. 1 Shall we get a taxi home? No, it isn't far. It's not worth __getting a taxi ____ 2 If you need help, why don't you ask David? It's no use _____ He won't be able to do anything. 3 I don't really want to go out tonight. Well, stay at home! There's no point ____ if you don't want to 4 Shall I phone Lisa now? No, it's no good ____ now. She won't be at home. 5 Are you going to complain about what happened? No, it's not worth ______ Nobody will do anything about it. 6 Do you want to keep these old clothes? No, let's throw them away. They're not worth __________
63.3	Complete the sentences. 1 I managed to get a visa, but it was difficult. I had difficulty ____ getting a visa _____. 2 I find it hard to remember people's names. I have a problem _______________________. 3 Lucy managed to get a job. It wasn't a problem. She had no trouble _______________________. 4 It won't be difficult to get a ticket for the game. You won't have any problem _______________________. 5 Do you find it difficult to understand him? Do you have difficulty_______________________.
63.4	Complete the sentences. Use only one word each time. 1 I waste a lot of time ____doing____ nothing. 2 Every morning I spend about an hour ______________ the newspaper. 3 'What's Karen doing?' 'She's going away tomorrow, so she's busy ______________ 4 I think you waste too much time ______________ TV. 5 There's a beautiful view from that hill. It's worth ______________ to the top. 6 Just stay calm. There's no point in ______________ angry.
63.5	Complete these sentences with the following (with the verb in the correct form): go riding go sailing go shopping go skiing go swimming 1 Ben lives by the sea and he's got a boat, so he often ____goes sailing_____. 2 It was a very hot day, so we __________ in the lake. 3 There's plenty of snow in the mountains, so we'll be able to__________. 4 Helen has got two horses. She __________ regularly. 5 'Where's Dan?' 'He's __________. There were a few things he needed to buy.'

ANSWER KEY