• Intro

• Home Assignment

• Test Training 3

• Grammar Reference

• Grammar Practice

Task 1. Open the brackets using the verbs in the correct form.

  1. He could smell something (burn) in the kitchen. 
  2. He watched his father (rise) from the chair, (lift) the dog and (place) it in the hall. 
  3. They are never in agreement. You can hear them (quarrel) again! 
  4. They noticed the blood (drip) from his wounds. 
  5. He saw them (tiptoe) from room to room, afraid to speak above a whisper. 
  6. I felt Mary (clutch) my hand. 
  7. Joanne waited until she heard the door of the bedroom (close). 
  8. Sarah watched him (lay) the table for supper. 
  9. George could hear the horse (neigh) in the stable. 
  10. I can’t bear to see people (drink) wine which is not perfect. 
  11. They saw Bob (enter) the building at 8.30. 
  12. She heard Mr Green (say) that the Amazonian rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate. 
  13. Nobody has ever heard him (say) “thank you” in his life. 
  14. Sam saw the stranger (reach) for the bottle and (fill) the glass. 
  15. He saw the detective (leave) the house, (get) into the car and (drive) away.

Task 2. Paraphrase  the sentences  using the infinitive.

  1. Apparently  he has left  without saying  good-bye. (appear) 
  2. It  seems  that you  don’t know  how to make  him happy. 
  3. It  appears  that the  soldiers are  digging a large  trench. 
  4. It  so happened  that Steve met  Jane at a graduation  party. 
  5. I think  she can remain  coolheaded in a crisis. (seem)
  6. It  appears  that the  rate of inflation  has been falling gradually  since the beginning of the year.
  7. I think  he’s reached  a turning point  in his career. (seem) 
  8. It  looked  like he  had been collecting  diamonds for many years. (seem) 
  9. It  so happened  that the ship  had sunk on the  way to Portugal. 
  10. It  turned  out that  his affairs  were in perfect  order.

Task 3. Open  the brackets  using the correct  form of the infinitive.

  1. The discussion  appears (bring)  very good results. 
  2. They seem (take)  a long time to decide. 
  3. Susan  turned out  (be) better informed  than we had expected. 
  4. Yesterday’s  meeting appears  (hold) in a friendly  and cordial atmosphere. 
  5. He doesn’t  appear (want)  to do anything  but have a good  time. 
  6. I keep  sneezing.  I seem (catch)  a cold. 
  7. He appears  (be) sincere  but I don’t completely  trust him. 
  8. When we happened  (meet) again in Cairo,  she said: “It must be fate.” 
  9. They accused  her of being  a witch because  she seemed (have)  the ability to predict  the future. 
  10. The  car doesn’t  seem (suffer)  great damage.

Task 4. Open the brackets using either the gerund or the infinitive.

  1. It’s no use (try) (escape).
  2. I just can’t approve of (kill) animals (make) fur coats.
  3. In Edwardian England, women sometimes used (carry) fans made of ostrich plumes.
  4. The nicest thing about Richard is that he doesn’t mind (criticise).
  5. It is useless (try) (convince) her that she doesn’t need (lose) any weight.
  6. Joanne is considering (move) to London because there are more job opportunities there.
  7. Since she moved from New York, she misses (be able) (see) all her friends there.
  8. It isn’t easy to learn (play) the piano.
  9. If you delay (pay) your rent any longer, you will be evicted.
  10. I appreciate your (help) my mother while I was away.
  11. Whenever we met, she avoided (look) at me.
  12. The BBC suggested (televise) the coronation, but the Prime Minister said no.
  13. I must tell you in all honesty that there is little chance of the scheme (approve).
  14. She demanded (speak) to the manager who refused (give) her a six percent pay rise.
  15. I am sorry, I didn’t mean (hurt) your feelings.

Task 5. Open the brackets using the gerund or the infinitive.

  1. I wouldn’t recommend (stay) at that hotel.
  2. I wouldn’t recommend you (stay) at that hotel.
  3. She doesn’t allow anyone (drive) her car.
  4. They don’t allow (talk) in the examination room.
  5. What would you advise me (do)?
  6. I wouldn’t advise (tell) anyone what’s happened.
  7. He’s always encouraged me (have) confidence in myself.
  8. The teachers of this school encourage (develop) individual interests.
  9. I’d recommend you (see) the film. It’s very good.
  10. I wouldn’t recommend (drive) through the city centre now. The traffic is terrible at this time of the day.
  11. The invigilator didn’t permit anyone (leave) the classroom during the exam.
  12. They don’t permit (use) dictionaries during the exam.

Task 6. Open the  brackets using the  gerund or the infinitive. Add  the necessary prepositions.

  1. Someone stole my stereo, because I forgot (lock) the door of my car.
  2. Jack forgot (ask) by his wife to pick her up on the way from work and drove straight home. When she finally got home on her own she was furious.
  3. I remember (ride) a bicycle for the first time. I kept (fall) off the bike.
  4. Visitors to Great Britain should remember (look) right first before crossing the road.
  5. The examiner filled in his form and without looking at me said, “I regret (inform) you that you have failed (reach) the required standard.”
  6. After his GCSEs, at which he didn’t do very well, Peter said he was fed up with exams and schoolwork, but his parents were sure that later he would regret (leave) school at 16 and insisted on (he, stay) on for two years more.
  7. On the way back we stopped (have) lunch at a small café outside Epsom.
  8. Moving to a foreign country means (change) your way of life.
  9. I’m sorry I meant (tell) you about it earlier, but couldn’t find a suitable moment.
  10. When we moved here we tried (make) the place look more cheerful. We tried (paint) the walls a lighter shade, (change) the curtains, (move) the furniture. Nothing worked, it remained as gloomy as ever.
  11. It was already getting dark, but the boys went on (play) football.
  12. Let’s go on (consider) the next item on the agenda.
  13. I’m ashamed (confess) that I got frightened and ran away.
  14. I’m ashamed (do) such a cowardly thing, but what is done cannot be undone.
  15. I’m afraid (ask) my boss for a pay rise, because I’m afraid (make) him angry.

Task 7. Paraphrase the sentences using the gerund. 

  1. Jacobson admitted that he had given false information.
  2. Both companies denied that they had discharged any toxic waste.
  3. We anticipated that we would meet a certain amount of resistance to our plan.
  4. I dislike it when I’m told what to do.
  5. I clearly remember that I posted your letters.
  6. The room needs to be brightened up a bit.
  7. One or two points about this report need to be discussed.
  8. The youngster deserves to be praised.
  9. The boy has behaved so badly that he deserves to be punished.
  10. Are there any more problems that need to be sorted out?
  11. Niagra Falls is worth (see). It  is one of the most spectacular  sights in the world. 
  12. There’s a  lot of advice in the book on baby  care. Most of it is worth (take). 
  13. It’s stupid of  you not to see that  the car is not worth (repair). 
  14. That  tennis racket  wasn’t worth (buy).  I paid good money for  it and it broke the first  time I used it.
  15. Bob is not  worth (help). In less than three years he  has squandered the entire family fortune.

Task 8. Combine the sentences  using the gerund.

Model:  I  laughed  when I saw  his haircut. I  couldn’t help it.

→ I  couldn’t  help laughing  when I saw his  haircut.  

Я  не мог удержаться от  смеха, когда увидел, как  его подстригли.

  1. I have to pay  taxes for healthcare and then have to pay  again when I am ill. I resent this. 
  2. Bob can no  longer afford to  go to Nice for holiday. He misses  this. 
  3. I have to get  up early in the  morning. I dislike that. 
  4. My daughter  always buys a  thing or two in a duty-free shop. She  can’t resist this. 
  5. His assistant  made telephone calls throughout  the morning. She was busy with that.

Task 9. Open the  brackets using the  gerund. Use prepositions.

Model:     I  am looking forward ___ (see)  you tonight.  

→ I  am looking forward to seeing  you tonight.

  1. She often complains ___ (not  feel) appreciated at work. 
  2. Her parents insisted ___  (speak) to the headmistress. 
  3. Are you accusing me ___ (lie)? 
  4. Pilcher  was suspected ___ (be)  a spy. 
  5. If  you persist  ___ (cause trouble), the company  may be forced to dismiss you. 
  6. Her failure in the very  first interview may discourage her  ___ (apply) to other universities. 
  7. Jack apologised ___ (be)  late saying he had been held  up in a traffic jam.
  8. I disapprove ____ (smoke)  in public places. 
  9. She never  forgave him  ___ (ruin) her  holiday. 
  10. Stella finally  succeeded ___ (pass)  her driving test. 
  11. He objects ___ (speak)  to like that. 
  12. His disability  prevented him ___ (walk). 
  13. She was  looking forward ___ (see)  the grandchildren again.
  14. I really can’t approve ___ (be) criticized in public.
  15. I congratulated her ___ (graduate) the university.

Task 10. Open the  brackets using the  gerund or gerundial  complex with a suitable preposition.

Model: He was in the habit_____ (jog) in the morning. →He was in the habit of jogging in the morning.

  1. Anyone travelling without a passport runs the risk ___ (be) arrested.
  2. He doesn’t like the prospect ___ (have) to live alone.
  3. She didn’t see any harm ___ (let) the children stay up late on Saturday nights.
  4. His overprotective wife took the precaution ___ (burn) all the letters addressed to him.
  5. There’s no interest ___ (go) to a concert when you don’t understand music.
  6. What’s your reason ___ (want) to leave the country? 
  7. The custom ___ (kiss) people under the mistletoe is ancient, dating back to pre-Christian times. 
  8. The idea ___ (go) into the abandoned house alone horrified her. 
  9. They were speaking in a whisper for fear ___ (wake up) the sleeping child. 
  10. Do you have any excuse ___ (be) late for classes two days in a row? 
  11. What was the point ___ (work) for a degree when there were no jobs available?
  12. I’m all in favour ___ (people, go out) and (enjoy) themselves as long as they don’t disturb other people. 
  13. She could not bear the thought ___ (her son, waste) his life over her. 
  14. There is a risk ___ (another accident, happen) in the fog. 
  15. She had great difficulty ___ (understand) his heavily accented English.




• Phrasal Verbs