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LESSON 9

Lesson At the amusement park

Gerund review
Review of gerunds as subjects of a verb
A gerund can used as a subject.
Riding the ferris wheel makes me dizzy.
Playing games at the arcade is boring for Tim.
Eating caramel apples is wonderful at the amusement park.
Drinking cola isn’t good before you ride the bumper cars.

A gerund may replace nouns or pronouns as subjects, objects or complements.

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with a gerund subject.

Example: _________________ on a roller coaster is exciting.

Going on a roller coaster is exciting.

________________ to eat something on a roller coaster is stupid.

________________ on a gondola can be dangerous.

_________________ money in the arcade is easy.

_________________ money in the arcade is easy.

_________________ in an amusement park is interesting.

_________________ an amusement park is difficult and stressful.

________________ children under 18 go in the bumper cars isn’t allowed.

________________ too many caramel apples is unhealthy.

________________ the whole amusement park takes two to three hours.

________________ the ferris wheel gives me butterflies in the stomach.

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Gerunds with prepositions
We also learned that gerunds can be used as the objects of prepositions
with certain phrases.
John is angry about losing all his money at the arcade.
My friend is nervous about riding on the roller coaster.
Yvonne is interested in going to the park next week.
I’m thinking about working in an amusement park next summer.

When a verb form is used after a preposition, it must be a gerund. Some examples of prepositional
phrases which are followed by gerunds are:
angry about nervous about
excited about talk about
interested in worry about
think about responsible for

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate gerund.

Example: Anna is angry about __________ her tickets for the spook house.
Anna is angry about losing her tickets for the spook house.

Ken is excited about ____________ lots of caramel apples at the park.

John isn’t interested in ____________ the games at the arcade.

Vera is nervous about ____________ with her boyfriend on the merry-go-round.

Jack is worried about his children _____________ ill on the rides.

Ron is thinking about __________ Alicia to the park.

I’m thinking about ___________ my birthday party at the amusement park.

We talked about ____________ on the roller coaster.

Beatrice is responsible for _______________ the picnic.

Bill is worried about ______________ too much money in the arcade.

Kathy is angry at herself for _______________ her ticket.

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LESSON 9
Review of gerunds as objects of a verb
If a verb form follows certain verbs, it must be a gerund.
I finished doing my homework so I can go to the amusement park.
Jack enjoys watching his children on the rides.
Ken always avoids eating cotton candy.
Polly can’t help going on the rides. They area lot of fun.

Examples of verbs to be followed by gerunds are:

avoid finish
can’t help imagine
consider miss
enjoy spend time

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences with an appropriate gerund.

Example: I always avoid _____________on the go-carts.

I always avoid riding on the go-carts.

Dave can’t stand ________________________ to amusement parks. They are a waste of money
for him.
I don’t enjoy _________________________ the spook house anymore.

They enjoy _____________ to the mirror palace at the amusement park.

I miss ________________ games at the arcade.

I considered _______________ the roller coaster, but I was too afraid.

Bob avoids ______________ heavy meals before he goes to the amusement park.

Kate would like to have her own amusement park. She imagined ____________ her own
amusement park.

They spent a lot of time _____________ to go on the merry-go-round.

He can’t help _____________ to play games at the arcade.

I finished ____________ the children enjoy themselves on the rides.

Infinitives
An infinitive is to + simple form of verb.
Here are some examples:
to want
to ride
to go
Infinitives are used the same way gerunds are-- they replace a noun or pronoun.

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Infinitives as subjects
We use an infinitive as a subject when we want to speak formally.
To operate a good amusement park is difficult.
To own an amusement park is a lot of work.

A gerund is normally used in less formal situations.

Operating a good amusement park is difficult.
Owning an amusement park is a lot of work.

Infinitives after adjectives

Infinitives often follow it as the subject of a sentence. They follow the adjective.
It is difficult to make a lot of money working at an amusement park.
It’s exciting to go on the rollercoaster.
It takes three or four hours to see the entire amusement park.
It’s easy to have fun at the amusement park.

In the first sentence, difficult is the adjective. The infinitive to make follows it.
In the second sentence, exciting is an adjective. The infinitive to go follows it.

Negative sentences can also be made.

It isn’t difficult to make a lot of money working at an amusement park.

Exercise 4: Complete the sentences with it + infinitive.

Example: It is difficult _________________ on all the rides in one day.

It is difficult to go on all the rides in one day.

It’s boring _________________________ on the rides.

It is exciting _______________________ all my friends at the park.

It’s easy _________________ money at the arcades.

It isn’t difficult _______________ friends at the amusement park.

It’s enjoyable ____________ the children enjoy themselves on the rides.

It’s funny _______________ the people in the roller coaster scream.

It’s difficult _____________ the go-carts.

It isn’t easy _______________ an amusement park.

It isn’t exciting ____________ home in the evening after a day of rides and amusement.

It is interesting ___________ in an amusement park.

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LESSON 9
Verb + infinitive
When some verb forms are used after a verb, they must be in the infinitive form.
Ollie has decided to go to the amusement park tonight.
I forgot to bring my free tickets to the spook house.
You have to be eighteen to ride the bumper cars.
Pete hopes to win some money at the arcade.

Examples of verbs followed by an infinitive are:

agree have
decide hope
fail manage
forget seem

The infinitives are the objects of the verbs.

Some verbs may be followed by an infinitive or may use a (pro)noun before the infinitive.
I asked to buy some tickets.
I asked Mary to buy some tickets.
Fritz needs to buy a ticket for the ferris wheel.
Fritz needs you to buy him a ticket for the ferris wheel.

In these sentences, a (pro)noun may or may not be used.

Examples of verbs followed by nouns or pronouns plus infinitive are:

ask promise
expect want
need would like

Some verbs must be followed by a (pro)noun before an infinitive when they are in the active
voice.
Examples of these verbs are:
advise invite
convince remind
encourage teach

Let’s see some of these verbs in sentences.

Yvonne advised you to bring a lot of money to the park.
Candi won’t convince Andy to go on the go-carts.
The Smith family has invited Fred to go to the amusement park with them.

When these verbs are used in the passive voice, they may be directly followed by the infinitive.
You were advised by Yvonne to bring a lot of money to the park.
Andy won’t be convinced by Candi to go on the go-carts.
Fred has been invited by the Smith family to go to the amusement park.

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Exercise 5: Fill in the blank with an appropriate verb. Add a noun or pronoun when necessary.

Example: Please tell ______ ________ the tickets now!

Please tell Mark to buy the tickets now!

Don’t forget to remind ________ ___________ the children up early. We want to get to the
amusement park before it opens.

Rita invited ___________ ________ on the merry-go-round with her.

Ben advised __________ ____________ a lot of money.

He was convinced ____________ ______________ with their friends.

Bill asked _________ _________ the tickets on Sunday.

Charlie was afraid. She failed _____________ the spook house.

We encouraged ________ __________ a caramel apple.

My parents reminded _______ __________ careful on the rides.

The amusement park owners advised _______ __________ our bags with us at all times.

The children seem ___________ their day at the park.

Negative infinitives
Not is used before the infinitive to form the negative.
It is important not to be nervous on the roller coaster.
It is good not to forget your money before you go to the park.
*It is important to not be nervous is incorrect.

For and infinitives

For + a noun or object pronoun is often used with an infinitive.
It’s easy for Mike to go on all the rides.
Jim waited for her to buy park tickets.

Uses of gerunds and infinitives

Now, let’s learn when we can use a gerund or an infinitive
I can’t stand to go on that ride.
I can’t stand going on that ride.
I prefer to arrive at the amusement park before it opens.
I prefer arriving at the amusement park before it opens.
Karen loves to ride on the bumper cars.
Karen loves riding on the bumper cars.

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LESSON 9
A gerund or an infinitive may follow some verbs with little difference in meaning.
Some examples of these verbs are:
begin like
can’t stand love
continue prefer
dislike start
hate

Exercise 6: Complete these sentences. In the first sentence, follow the verb with a gerund. In the
second sentence, follow the verb with an infinitive.

Example: You should start _________________ now. We will go on the rides soon.
You should start _________________ now. We will go on the rides soon.
You should start eating now. We will go on the rides soon.
You should start to eat now. We will go on the rides soon.

Fred doesn’t like ___________________ on the ferris wheel.

Fred doesn’t like ____________________on the ferris wheel.

She hates ____________________ her children’s prizes at the park.

She hates ____________________ her children’s prizes at the park.

Lance prefers not ____________ to the amusement park this year.

Lance prefers not ____________ to the amusement park this year.

Mary likes _________ the tickets beforehand.

Mary likes _________ the tickets beforehand.

My friend hates not __________ enough money to take all his kids to the park.
My friend hates not __________ enough money to take all his kids to the park.

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Reading
Read the following story and answer the questions.

T he Coney Island Cyclone is probably the most noted roller coaster in the world. This
roller coaster has seen its good times and bad times and is still around to thrill new
generations of amusement park goers. As George Tilyou once said, "Coney Island, between
June and September, the world."
Jack and Irving Rosenthal wanted to build the highest, fastest and most intense roller
coaster in the world. They hired Vernon Keen to design the ride and the Harry Baker com-
pany to construct it. Construction began in 1926 and was completed in 1927 at a total cost
of $146,000.
The ride debuted in June, 1927. There was an 86-foot hill at an angle of 53 degrees.
After this rapid descent, there was a fan turn where the roller coaster actually seemed to
halt and the train got yanked down and into a large hill that ran parallel to the first hill.
After that, riders were treated to more hills and curves. Finally, riders shrieked as the cars
entered the station and the skid brakes stopped the trains.
The several decades, the Cyclone was "the ride" in United States amusement parks.
However, the sixties were not kind to the Cyclone and Coney Island. The threat of violence
kept many visitors away. The perception of minority citizens and their violent ways gave the
feeling that Coney Island was no longer the place to take a family.
Due to lack of customers, the ride was condemned in 1965. Some entrepreneurs wanted
to move the ride to a different site, but the poor condition of the ride made the move impos-
sible. A "Save the Cyclone" campaign began in 1972. It raised funds to refurbish the ride.
When the ride reopened, it made $125,000 the first weekend. The revival of the famous
ride was complete.
In the 1980s, new events such as Sideshows by the Seashore opened and put new peo-
ple on the seats of the Cyclone. In 1991, the coaster was named a New York City historic
landmark and its security was complete. That same year, it was dedicated as a National
Historic Landmark, ensuring its permanent existence at Coney Island.
The Cyclone has had an unbelievable life and, despite some mid century problems, is still
with us, providing coaster lovers the punishment they love and a ride that many call perfect.

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LESSON 9
Directions: Scan the article to find a word or phrase for each definition.

Paragraph 1:
1). famous ___________
2). excite ____________

Paragraph 2:
3). nerve-wracking, stressed ___________

Paragraph 3:
4). opened ________________
5). a downhill movement ____________
6). stop _____________
7). screamed, shouted ____________

Paragraph 4:
8). idea __________________

Paragraph 5
9). because _____________

Paragraph 7:
10). astonishing, fantastic ______________________

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ANSWER KEY Lesson 9

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with a gerund subject.

Trying to eat something on a roller coaster is stupid.

Standing on a gondola can be dangerous.
Spending money in the arcade is easy.
Losing money in the arcade is easy.
Working in an amusement park is interesting.
Owing an amusement park is difficult and stressful.
Letting children under 18 go in the bumper cars isn’t allowed.
Eating too many caramel apples is unhealthy.
Seeing the whole amusement park takes two to three hours.
Riding the ferris wheel gives me butterflies in the stomach.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate gerund. Your answers might be different.

Ken is excited about eating lots of caramel apples at the park.

John isn’t interested in playing games at the arcade.
Vera is nervous about going with her boyfriend on the merry-go-round.
Jack is worried about his children getting ill on the rides.
Ron is thinking about taking Alicia to the park.
I’m thinking about having my birthday party at the amusement park.
We talked about riding on the roller coaster.
Beatrice is responsible for organizing the picnic.
Bill is worried about spending too much money in the arcade.
Kathy is angry at herself for forgetting her ticket.

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences with an appropriate gerund Your answers might be different.
Dave can’t stand going to amusement parks. They are a waste of money for him.
I don’t enjoy entering the spook house anymore.
They enjoy going to the mirror palace at the amusement park.
I miss playing games at the arcade.
I considered riding the roller coaster, but I was too afraid.
Bob avoids eating heavy meals before he goes to the amusement park.
Kate would like to have her own amusement park. She imagined owing her own amusement park.
They spent a lot of time waiting to go on the merry-go-round.
He can’t help wanting to play games at the arcade.
I finished watching the children enjoy themselves on the rides.

Exercise 4: Complete the sentences with it + infinitive.

It’s boring to go on the rides.

It’s exciting to meet all my friends at the park.
It’s easy to spend money at the arcades.
It isn’t difficult to entertain friends at the amusement park.
It’s enjoyable to see the children enjoy themselves on the rides.
It’s funny to hear the people in the roller coaster scream.

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LESSON 9
It’s difficult to ride the go-carts.
It isn’t easy to own an amusement park.
It isn’t exciting to go home in the evening after a day of rides and amusement.
It is interesting to work in an amusement park.

Exercise 5: Fill in the blank with an appropriate verb. Add a noun or pronoun when necessary.

Don’t forget to remind them to pick up the children early.

Rita invited us to go on the merry-go-round with her.
Ben advised them to bring a lot of money.
He was convinced by them to go with their friends.
Bill asked her to buy the tickets on Sunday.
Charlie was afraid. She failed to enter the spook house.
We encouraged her to try a caramel apple.
My parents reminded me to be careful on the rides.
The amusement park owners advised us to keep our bags with us at all times.
The children seem to enjoy their day at the park.

Exercise 6: Complete these sentences. In the first sentence, follow the verb with a gerund. In the
second sentence, follow the verb with an infinitive.
Fred doesn’t like going on the ferris wheel
Fred doesn’t like to go on the ferris wheel.
She hates to forget her children’s prizes at the park.
She hates forgetting her children’s prizes at the park.

Lance prefers not to go to the amusement park this year.

Lance prefers not going to the amusement park this year.

Mary likes to buy the tickets beforehand.

Mary likes buying the tickets beforehand.
My friend hates not to have enough money to take all his kids to the park.
My friend hates not having enough money to take all his kids to the park.

Reading
1). famous noted
2). excite thrill
3). nerve-wracking, stressed intense
4). opened debuted
5). a downhill movement descent
6). stop halt
7). screamed, shouted shrieked
8). idea perception
9). because due to
10). astonishing, fantastic unbelievable

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vocabulary list
NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS PREPOSITIONS
bumper car avoid dizzy formally about
cotton candy convince frustrating above
dart pop sleepy at
go-cart prefer thrilling by
prize from
in
on
to
with
CONJUNCTIONS QUESTION WORDS
and what
because where
but which
or why

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