Verb + ING or infinitive.

How to say it: Verb + ING or infinitive.

VERB + -ING. VERB + TO + INFINITIVE. VERB + INFINITIVE VERBS FOLLOWED BY

(WITHOUT TO). EITHER -ING OR TO +
INFINITIVE.
Some verbs are followed by Some verbs are followed Some verbs are usually Some verbs can be
-ing by to + infinitive. followed by an object + followed by either -ING
admit, deny, dislike, feel like, advise, choose, help, bare infinitive (without or the full infinitive.
give up, mind, avoid, discuss, afford, decide, hope, to). - With some verbs, the
enjoy, finish, mention, agree, expect, invite, let, make, help (Help is meaning is the same or
practise, suggest, take up, learn, manage, offer, followed by to + infitive or nearly the same. These
miss, understand, plan, pretend, promise, without to) include: begin, continue,
recommend. refuse, seem, teach, tell, Example: I let him take my hate, like, love, prefer,
Example: I avoided talking to want, would like. book home for one night. start.
him Example: James agreed to Example: I started liking
help me / to like Sarah after she
helped me with my
problem.
- With some verbs, the
meaning changes.
These include:
remember, forget, stop
and try.

After a preposition, we
usually use -ing.
Example: I'm afraid of flying.
We can also use the -ing
form as the subject of a
sentence.
Example: Gardening is great
fun!
Exercise:

Gerund or Infinitive

Exercise 1. Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets in the appropriate form.

1 I wouldn't like ________________ in his shoes. ( to be )

2 Jim loves ________________ in Thailand. ( to work )

3 I hate ________________ the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )

4 In the end we decided ________________ in. ( to stay )

5 My parents like ________________ for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )

6 Tony gave up ________________ years ago. ( to smoke )

7 I wanted ________________ and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )

8 Mrs Leith offered ________________ us to the airport. ( to take )

9 Do you mind not ________________ ? ( to smoke )

10 Everybody really enjoyed ________________ the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )

11. I drank a cup of tea before _____________ (to leave)

12. ___________ is good exercise (to swim)

13. They keep on __________ (to fight)

14. I want ____________ free (to break)

15. ___________ is not allowed (to smoke)

Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 1 answers

1 I wouldn't like to be in his shoes. ( to be )

2 Jim loves working/ to work in Thailand. ( to work )

3 I hate doing/ to do the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )

4 In the end we decided to stay in. ( to stay )

5 My parents like going for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )

6 Tony gave up smoking years ago. ( to smoke )

7 I wanted to go and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )

8 Mrs Leith offered to take us to the airport. ( to take )

9 Do you mind not smoking ? ( to smoke )

10 Everybody really enjoyed dancing the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )

11. I drank a cup of tea before leaving (to leave)

12. Swimming is good exercise (to swim)

13. They keep on fighting (to fight)

14. I want to break free (to break)

15. Smoking is not allowed (to smoke)

How to say it: Countable and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns Uncountable nouns Both, countable/uncountable

nouns
Countable nouns refer to things we Uncountable nouns refer to things Some nouns can be either countable
can count and therefore, they can we cannot count, so they cannot or uncountable, depending on the
take the plural form. take the plural form. context in which they are used.

There are a few plural quantifiers Only a few singular quantifiers can Examples: I went to the supermarket
which are only used with countable, go with the uncountable nouns. to buy two cheeses. / Can I have
plural nouns. some cheese, please?
Examples: Examples: I bought some coffee from El
Many students Much water Salvador last week. / Can I have two
Few minutes Little money black coffees, please?
A few friends A little time

Lots of, a lot of, plenty of: They are used with countable or uncountable nouns and are normally used in
affirmative sentences.
Examples:
 A lot of / Plenty of / lots of sugar / water / information.
 She has got a lot of brothers. There are plenty of students here.

Some is usually used in positive sentences before uncountable or plural countable nouns.
Examples:
 I bought some wine yesterday.
 We read some English books every year.

Note: Some is used in interrogative sentences when we expect the answer "yes" or when we offer something.
 Can I have some cake? Would you like some tea?

Any is usually used in negative or interrogative sentences before uncountable or plural countable nouns.
Examples:
 I haven't got any time. Is there any water?
 There aren't any people. Have you got any children?

Note: Any is used in the affirmative form:

 When it means cualquier / cualquiera: I can do sport any day of the week.
 In conditional sentences: If you have any questions,...
Exercise 2. Choose the correct alternative

1. This bag is very heavy because it has got __________ books in it.

A) a little B) a lot of C) a few

2. Meral and Ahmet have got _________ friends from America.

A) any B) much C) a few

3. Have we got _________milk in the fridge, mother?

A) many B) a few C) any

4. How ______money have you got in your purse?

A) many B) any C) much

5. My mother has got _________ friends.

A) a little B) a lot of C) much

6. We have got ________ apples and ________ oranges in the fridge.

A) a little / some B) many / a little C) a few / some

7. Are there ________ children in the school garden?

A) a little B) any C) much

8. My teacher hasn’t got _________ 6th grade student this year.

A) some B) any C) a few

9. Sam, ____ there _____ milk in the fridge?

A) are / any B) is / any C) is / a few

10. How _______ cheese has she got in the basket?

A) many B) much C) any

11. There are _______ English teachers at this school this year.

A) many B) much C) a little

12. We haven’t got ______ toothpaste but we have got _______ toothbrushes.

A) some / some B) some / any C) any / some

Exercise 2. Choose the correct alternative

1. This bag is very heavy because it has got __________ books in it.

A) a little B) a lot of C) a few

2. Meral and Ahmet have got _________ friends from America.

A) any B) much C) a few

3. Have we got _________milk in the fridge, mother?

A) many B) a few C) any

4. How ______money have you got in your purse?

A) many B) any C) much

5. My mother has got _________ friends.

A) a little B) a lot of C) much

6. We have got ________ apples and ________ oranges in the fridge.

A) a little / some B) many / a little C) a few / some

7. Are there ________ children in the school garden?

A) a little B) any C) much

8. My teacher hasn’t got _________ 6th grade student this year.

A) some B) any C) a few

9. Sam, ____ there _____ milk in the fridge?

A) are / any B) is / any C) is / a few

10. How _______ cheese has she got in the basket?

A) many B) much C) any

11. There are _______ English teachers at this school this year.

A) many B) much C) a little

12. We haven’t got ______ toothpaste but we have got _______ toothbrushes.

A) some / some B) some / any C) any / some

How to say it: Articles.

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE <A/AN>

We use a/an with singular countable nouns:

1. The first time you mention a thing/person  I saw an old man with a dog
2. When you say what something is or what somebody does (job)  it’s a nice house. She’s a lawyer. George
is a student
3. In exclamations with What…!  What an awful day! What a pity!
4. In expressions of frequency  I have classes three times a week
5. With a singular noun to say something about all things of that kind, when we are speaking in general A
man needs friends. (= All men need friends)

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE <THE>

1. When we talk about something we have already mentioned I saw and old man with a dog. The dog was
barking
When we are talking about something specific; when the noun is known to the listener because it has been
mentioned before  I received a letter and a postcard on my birthday. The letter was from my parents and
the postcard was from my sister.
2. When it is obvious from the context. It is clear what you are referring to Can you open the door, please?
3. When something is unique, there is only one of something  The moon goes round the Earth.
4. With superlatives  He’s the most respected man in the company. [Notice that when ‘most’ is followed by
a noun it does not take ‘the’] Most people are not interested in politics
5. With places in a town such as cinema, theatre…  I’m going to the cinema tonight

ZERO ARTICLE

1. When we are speaking in general (with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns) 
Money is the root of all evil
Time flies
I love flowers (flowers in general) vs I love the flowers in my garden (the specific flowers in my garden)
With some nouns, (e.g. home, work, school, church) after <at, to, from>
She’s not at home today
I get back from work at 5.30
2. With the names of sports, games, days, months, colours, meals and languages (when they are not followed
by the word ‘language’)
I play football on Sundays.
I never have breakfast
We speak French.
The French language is spoken in some parts of Canada.
3. Before <next> / <last> + day, week, etc.
See you next Friday
Exercise 3. Complete with <a / an>, <the> or < ------ > if no article is needed.

1. Paris is ……….capital of France. I’d like to visit it one day.

2. Bruce is the only boy at school who can speak …….. Chinese.

3. My grandmother has been playing ……….tennis since she was 12.

4. Peter is blind and has got …….guide dog that goes with him everywhere. ……..dog is a collie. He couldn’t live
without it.

5. Anna’s cat is sitting on ……..window ledge looking at ……..moon.

6. Yesterday John and Larry went to ……zoo.

7. David always has ………breakfast in ……kitchen.

8. .......... children like.............. sweets.

9. ............ cats love.............. fish.

10. Smoking................ cigarettes is unhealthy.

11. .................. students read.................... books.

12. .................. student was reading.................book you gave him.

13. . ................. world is coming to an end on..........Friday.

14. He goes to............... work while Mrs Jones stays at................... home.

15. .................... Queen will speak on....................Christmas Day.

Exercise 3. Complete with <a / an>, <the> or < ------ > if no article is needed.

1. Paris is ……the….capital of France. I’d like to visit it one day.

2. Bruce is the only boy at school who can speak …zero article….. Chinese.

3. My grandmother has been playing …… zero article ….tennis since she was 12.

4. Peter is blind and has got …a….guide dog that goes with him everywhere. …The…..dog is a collie. He couldn’t live
without it.

5. Anna’s cat is sitting on …the…..window ledge looking at …the…..moon.

6. Yesterday John and Larry went to …the …zoo.

7. David always has … zero article ……breakfast in …the…kitchen.

8. .... zero article...... children like..... zero article......... sweets.

9. ..... zero article....... cats love.... zero article.......... fish.

10. Smoking...... zero article.......... cigarettes is unhealthy.

11. ........ zero article.......... students read......... zero article........... books.

12. ........The.......... student was reading........the.........book you gave him.

13. . ......The........... world is coming to an end on..... zero article.....Friday.

14. He goes to...... zero article......... work while Mrs Jones stays at....... zero article............ home.

15. .......The............. Queen will speak on........ zero article............Christmas Day.

Verb or adjective + preposition.