English

Meeting 07
Today’s Lesson

• Structure: Gerund and Infinitives

• Reading: How Generals are Chosen
• Speaking: Culture and Eating Customs
• Listening
• Writing: Emails
Gerunds and Infinitives
Structure
Gerunds

a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a

noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my
asking you?.
Gerunds : Verb + -ing

If these verbs are followed by another verb, the structure is

usually verb + -ing :
• Stop talking !
• I’ll do the shopping when I’ve finished cleaning the flat.
• I don’t fancy going out this evening.
• Have you ever considered going to live in another country ?
• I can’t imagine George riding a motor-bike.
• When I’m on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.
Gerunds : Verb + -ing

• The following expressions also take -ing :

• Are you going to give up smoking ?
• She kept (on) interrupting me while I was speaking
Note the passive form (being done / being seen / being told etc.) :
• I don’t mind being told what to do.
You cannot normally use the infinitive (to do / to dance etc .) after these verbs and expressions :
• I enjoy dancing. (not ‘to dance’)
• Would you mind closing the door ? (not ‘to close’)
• Tom suggested going to the cinema. (not ‘to go’)
Forms of Passive Voice #1

When you are talking about finished actions, you can also say having
done / having stolen etc. But it is not necessary to use this form. You can
also use the simple -ing form for finished actions :
• He admitted stealing (or having stolen) the money.
• They now regret getting (or having got) married.
 
With some of the verbs in this unit (especially admit, deny, regret and
suggest) you can also use a that ... structure :
• He denied that he had stolen the money. (or denied stealing)
• Tom suggested that we went to the cinema. (or suggested going)
Exercise #1

1. Could you please stop ................... so much noise?

2. I don’t enjoy ................... letters.
3. Does your job involve ................... a lot of people?
4. I considered ................... the job but in the end I decided against it.
5. If you use the shower, try and avoid ................... water on the floor.
6. Jack gave up ................... to find a job in Britain and decide to emigrate.
7. Have you finished ................... your hair yet?
8. The phone rang while Ann was having her dinner. She didn’t answer it; she just carried
on ................... .
9. He admitted ................... the car but denied ................... it dangerously.
10. Why do you keep on ................... at me like that?
11. They had to postpone ................... away because their son was ill.
12. If you walk into the road without looking, you risk ................... down by a car.
Exercise #2

1. I don’t want to go out this evening. I don’t fancy ..............................................

2. Are you sorry you didn’t take the job? Do you regret ............................................?
3. Why don’t you go away tomorrow instead of today?
Why don’t you put off ....................................... until ........................................?
4. It’s not a good idea to travel during the rush-hour.
It’s better to avoid ....................................................................................?
5. Could you turn the radio down, please?
Would you mind ................................................................................................?
6. The driver of the car said it was true that he didn’t have a licence.
The driver of the car admitted ...............................................................................
7. Tom said ‘Let’s have fish for dinner’.
Tom suggested .................................................................................................
Exercise #3

Now make your own sentences. Complete each sentence using -ing
Example : I really enjoy going for long walks in the country.
1. At weekends I enjoy ...............................................................................................
2. This evening I fancy ................................................................................................
3. I often regret ............................................................................................................
4. Learning English involves .......................................................................................
5. I think people should stop ........................................................................................
• 
Exercise #3

Now make your own sentences. Complete each sentence using -ing
Example : I really enjoy going for long walks in the country.
1. At weekends I enjoy ...............................................................................................
2. This evening I fancy ................................................................................................
3. I often regret ............................................................................................................
4. Learning English involves .......................................................................................
5. I think people should stop ........................................................................................
• 
c. Verb + infinitive

There is a continuous infinitive (to be doing) and a prefect infinitive (to have done).
We use these especially after seem, appear, and pretend :
• I pretend to be reading. (= I pretended that I was reading)
• You seem to have lost weight. (= it seems that you have lost weight)
After dare you can use the infinitive with or without to :
• I wouldn’t dare to ask him. or I wouldn’t dare ask him.
• But after daren’t you must use the infinitive without to :
• I daren’t tell him what happened. (not ‘daren’t to tell’)
After the following verbs you can use a question word (what/where/how etc.) + to +
infinitive :
ask decide know remember forget explain understand
Also : show/tell/ask someone what/how/where to do
something :
• Can someone show me how to change the film in this camera
?
• Ask Jack. He’ll tell you what to do.
Exercise
In this exercise you have to complete each sentence with a suitable verb.
Example : Don’t forget to post the letter I gave you.
1. Tom refused ................................ me any money.
2. Jill has decided not ................................ a car.
3. The thief got into the house because I forgot ................................ the window.
4. There was a lot of traffic but we managed ................................ to the aiport in time.
5. I’ve arranged ................................ tennis tomorrow afternoon.
6. One day I’d like to learn ................................ an aeroplane.
7. I shouted to him. He pretended not ................................ me but I’m sure he did.
8. Why hasn’t Sue arrived yet? She promised not ................................ late.
9. Our neighbour threatened ................................ the police if we didn’t stop the noise.
10. Ann offered ................................ after our children while we were out.
11. The teacher was very strict. Nobody dared ................................ during his lessons.
Exercise
This time you have to make sentences with seem and appear.
Examples : Is he waiting for someone? He appears to be waiting for someone.
Has she lost weight? She seems to have lost weight.
 
1. Is Tom worried about something? He
seems ...................................................
2. Does Ann like Jack? She appears ................................................
3. Is that man looking for something?He
appears ..................................................
4. Has that car broken down? It seems ........................................................
5. Have they gone out? They appear
Exercise
Complete each sentence using what or how with one of the
following verbs :
do say getuse ride cook 
Example : Do you know how to get to John’s house?
1. Have you decided what ………….. . for dinner this evening?
2. Can you show me ................... the washing machine?
3. Do you know ..................... if there’s a fire in the building?
4. You’ll never forget .................... a bicycle once you have learned.
5. I was really astonished. I didn’t know .......................
Exercise
Now make your own sentences. Complete each sentence with to + infinitive.
Example : This evening I have arranged to go to the theatre.
1.  Not many people can
afford ...................................................................................
2. I would like to
learn .................................................................................................
3. One day I
hope .......................................................................................................
4. I wouldn’t
dare ........................................................................................................
5. Sometimes I tend .........................................................................
Is it Difficult?
Speaking
Exercise
• With your partner, complete the survey below of eating
customs in your country. Tick (√) the appropriate box for each
question. You can tick more than one box, if necessary.
Activity

• Interview your partner to find out

how difficult they find using English in
the following situations. Use the
model in the box below.
• 
• Record the response by putting a tick
(√) in the appropriate column.
• 
• Student A: How difficult is it for you
to have a conversation in English?
• Student B: it’s fairly difficult.
How Generals are Chosen
Reading
Capt Ahmad

Complete the paragraphs with the words: continue, sing, looked forward to,
song, come over, candles, afford.
Captain Ahmed always has fun when friends visit him after class. His friends
like to relax, but they usually can’t (1) __________to visit very long. One cloudy
evening, he asked some friends to (2) __________. His best friend, Captain Piras
was very excited and (3) ___________________ the visit. Captain Ahmed asked
him to come early to help him cook. Right after they started to cook, bad weather
came, and all the lights went out. They couldn’t (4) ____________ to cook.
When the other friends arrived, Captain Ahmed decided that they could still
have fun and entertain each other. He lit a lot of (5) ____________ brought out
some cold food and drinks, and asked each person to sing a song from his
country. They all had a good time.
How Generals are Chosen

General officers, also called flag officers (o-7 to o-10) in the US Military, are promoted in a
different way from other officers of low rank. Instead of passing exams, these officers are
recommended for promotion by other senior officers. The president of the United States is
then given the names of the officers, and he selects from among them.
After that, the president’s selections are sent to the senior lawmakers of the US Senate, and
a meeting is held to approve the president’s choices. Usually, flag officers are promoted
after 24 years of service. Fewer than 1% of all senior officers are promoted to this rank.
In the paragraph above, who …..(by choosing a, b or c)
___ 6. recommends officers for promotion? a. the president
___ 7. sends the officers’ names to the senate? b. the us senate
____ 8. holds a meeting? c. other senior officers
_____9. approves the officers?
Inferring Information
Listening
Listening Practice
Writing Emails
Writing
 Starting and finishing emails
• The following forms are acceptable ways to begin an email if you know the
recipient:
Hi Sophie, Dear Sophie, Hello Sophie
• If you have not met the recipient it may be safer to use:
Dear Sophie Gratton, Dear Ms Gratton, Dear Dr Gratton
• If you need to send an email to a large group (e.g. colleagues) you may use:
Hi everyone, Hello all
• In all cases to close the message you can use:
Regards, Best wishes, Best regards
• You may also add a standard formula before this:
Look forward to meeting next week/Let me know if you need further information
 Main Text
The main text
• Here you can use common contractions (I’ve, don’t) and idiomatic language, but the normal
rules for punctuation should be followed to avoid confusion. Spelling mistakes are just as
likely to cause misunderstanding in emails as elsewhere. Always check for spelling and
grammar problems before clicking ‘Send’. Note that emails tend to be short, although
longer documents may be added as attachments.
Replying to emails
• If you receive an email telling you about an arrangement such as a meeting or lecture that
you expect to attend, or giving you some information relevant to your studies, it is good
practice to acknowledge receipt of the email. It only takes a minute to reply:
 Thanks for letting me know.
 That’s interesting, but I’m busy that morning.
• Your response will tell the sender that you have read and understood their message.
 Sending emails of inquiry
• Try to put down your questions in bullets so the receiver would
understand to reply to all
• Group minor questions to major questions if necessary
 Replying to Emails
• Take note of the points that has been written by the sender
• Reply to each points
• If required, restate the point in question.
 Exercise
Read the following and decide who the sender and recipient might
be. Would Rachel expect a reply?
• Hello Dr Hoffman,
• I’m afraid I can’t attend your Accounting Methods class this week, as I
have to go for a job interview then. However, I will be there next
Tuesday, when I am giving my paper (attached, as requested).
• See you then,
• Rachel
 Exercise
a. You are writing to Mark, a colleague at work, to ask him to suggest a time to meet
you tomorrow.
b. Write to your teacher, Tricia James, to ask her to recommend another book for your
current essay.
c. Write to a group of classmates asking them how they want to celebrate the end of
the course.
d. Write an email in response to the following message. You have never had this book.
According to our records, the copy of Special Needs in Education you borrowed from the library on October 12th is
now overdue. Your fine is currently £2.15. Please arrange to return this book as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
Tim Carey
Library services
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