UNIT 8 HUMAN RESOURCES

LANGUAGE REVIEW

-ing forms and

infinitives

We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the
infinitive.
We can't afford to increase their pay.
He intends to sign the new contract next week.
Sometimes the second verb must be in the ing form. This depends o n the first verb.
(See page 149 for a list of verbs that are usually fallowed by the ing form.)
Myjob involves monitoring sickness levels.
Some verbs can be followed by the ing form or the infinitive without a big change in
meaning.
I started working there last month. / I started to work there last month.
With other verbs, however, the meaning changes.
We stopped to have lunch. 0Ne stopped what we were doing in order to have lunch.)
We stopped having lunch. 0Ne stopped our habit of having lunch.)

=:l

EI

Grammar reference page 149

I n each of the sentences, two of the verbs are possible and one is incorrect.
Cross out the incorrect verb.
1

He . . . . . . . . . . . . to review our complaints procedures.

I . . . . . . . . . . . improving interpersonal skills training.

a) undertook

c) wanted

b) delayed

a) promised

c) recommended

b) suggested

. . . . . . . . . . . . to meet the H R Director.

c) arranged

b) didn't mind

a) decided

4 She . . . . . . . . . . . to check the redundancy arrangements.

a) refused
5

We . . . . . . . . . . . . to review our policy for anti bullying in the workplace.

II

III

c) plan

b) hope

a) consider

III

c) put off

b) failed

Match the sentence halves.

1

H R recommends

a) to raise the minimum wage.

2 The company simply can't afford

b) to call me back in a couple of days.

3 This job involves

c) smoking after the programme.

4 The manager seemed impressed

by my CV and promised

d) working weekends sometimes.

Three members of staff stopped

e) to follow a directive given by his superior.

He was fired because he refused

f) using the cheapest form of transport.

Choose the most appropriate form of the verb to complete the sentences.
1

H R 's new computer programme has stopped working / to work.

She was driving in a hurry, but she stopped answering / to answer her mobile phone.

Did you remember calling / to call H R yesterday?

I can't remember offering / to offer you a raise.

I forgot telling / to tell you I'd quit my job.

I'll never forget making / to make my first sale.

Make sentences of your own with the verbs i n bold i n Exercise B, using
either the -ing form or the infinitive.

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UNIT 8 HUMAN RESOURCES

SKILLS

Getting
information on
the telephone

l CD2.9 Cindy Tan calls the Guangdong Trading Company (GTC) to get
i nformation about an advertisement i n the China Post for the position of
Marketing Assistant. listen to her talking to li Ping. a member of the Human
Resources department. Tick the points about which she needs further
information.
a) the closing date

b) what the duties would be

c) if there's an application form
d) when she would be expected to join the company
e) how many days' holiday she would get
f) what the starting salary would be

III

1 CD2.9 listen to the call again and complete the extracts .

Cindy
Li Ping
Cindy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' if you could give me a little more information.

Certainly, what do you need to know?
2?
Well. first of all, am I . . . . . . . . . . .

Cindy

Just one o r two more questions

when the successful candidate has to start work with you. I mean, if I get the
job, will i be able to give my present employer sufficient notice?
OK, that's a good question. How much

Li Ping

. . . . . . . .

. . ......... . .

. . . . . . . . . .. .

. . . . . . . .

. . .

..

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .. .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . ..

.. h ?

Cindy
Li Ping
Cindy
Li Ping
Cindy
Li Ping

OK, so, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " I probably wouldn't

have to start working until February, and maybe even later?
6

One last question. Could I ask you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . .

7?
It wasn't given in the advert.
You're right. It would depend on a lot of things: qualifications, experience,
personal qualities, that sort of thing .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 you can't give me a figure?
That's right. The salary's . . . . . . . . . . . . '
.

Role-play this telephone situation in pairs, A department store will be

hiring a number of temporary workers from Omnia Employment Agency. The
H u man Resources Manager calls the agency to discuss some of the terms
and conditions of the contract. Read your role cards. then role-play the call.
Human Resources Manager: Turn to page 137.
Employment agency consultant: Turn to page 142.

USEFUL LANGUAGE

SAYING WHO YOU

ARE

ASKING FOR
I N FORMATION

CHECKING
I N FORMATION

SHOWING
INTEREST

Good morning, my
name's Lisa Mann.

I was wondering if
you could give me ...?

Just to get this

clear ...

Certainly, what do
you need to know?

Hello, Ben speaking.

Could you tell me ...?

No, don't worry.

STATING YOUR
PURPOSE

Could I ask you ... ?

There's just one

other thing, I'd like
to check ...

I'd also like to know ...

Are you saying ... ?

I'm calling about ...

ENDING A CALL
OK, I think that's
everything.
Right, I think that's
ali i need to know.

I look forward to
getting it.

That's correct.
Good luck.

The reason I'm

calling is ...

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GRAMMAR REFERENCE

II

II

Modal verbs

Advice
1

We can use should and shouldn't to give or

ask for advice.

We sometimes use one verb after another

verb. Often, the second verb is in the
infinitive form.

We are continuing to cut our manufacturing

costs.

You should always learn something about a

country before visiting it.

Management agreed to offer generous

redundancy terms to all staff affected.

Should I invite our agents out to dinner

after the meeting?

The verbs below are often followed by the

infinitive.

He shouldn't ask so many personal

questions.

-ing forms and infinitives

Should often follows the verbs suggest and

think.

intend

attempt

promise

plan

mean

try

arrange

offer

I think we should find out more about them

before signing the contract.

want

pretend

hope

forget

seem

fail

wish

expect

claim

guarantee

For strong advice, we can use must or

mustn't.

They must pay their bills on time in future.

You mustn't refuse ifyou're offered a small
gift

Sometimes, the second verb must be in the

ing form. This depends on the first verb.

The decision involves reducing our heavy

losses.

Obligation/Necessity

The verbs below are usually followed by the

ing form.

1 We often use must when the obligation

admit

appreciate

contemplate

give up

involve

deny

enjoy

consider

carry on

mean

mind

justify

can't stand

don't mind

remember

resent

detest

recommend

risk

delay

miss

suggest

avoid

put off

comes from the person speaking or writing.

We must ask them to dinner when they're

over here.
2 We use mustn't to say that something is
prohibited, it is not allowed.

You mustn't smoke in here.

3 We often use have to to show that the
obligation comes from another person or
institution, not the speaker.

You have to renew your residence permit

after three months. (This is the law.)

lack of obligation / lack of necessity

We use don't have to when there is no need or
obligation to do something.

You don't have to wait for your order. You can

collect it now.
Compare the uses of must not and don't have
to here.

We mustn't rush into a new partnership too

quickly. We don't have to make a decision for at
least six months.

look forward to
Some verbs can be followed by the ing
form or the infinitive form without a big
change in meaning.

She started loading the software. /

She started to load the software.
Sometimes, however, the meaning changes.

She stopped to read the manual.

(She stopped what she was doing in order
to read the manual.)
She stopped reading the manual.
(She no longer bothered to read the
manual.)

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